After being unable to find a true zebra stripe pattern on any site and after being unsuccessful at following a graph due to the decreasing needed for a stocking cap, I decided to try to achieve the curving stripe by adjusting the height of the stitches in each row. For example a slip stitch is the thin end of a stripe and a treble crochet is the thick end. Every color is at least two rows so that the yarn can be carried along one side of the hat.

For an infant, chain 50 with black. Turn. SC across. Turn. With White SC across (for small white stripe). With Black begin zebra striping as described above.

The hat is worked flat and the decreases are worked evenly across beginning at about the crown and again at no set spacing.

When a large triangle is achieved, fold it in half and sew it up the back, leaving a hole at the top just large enough to insert a large knotted end of appx 20 tails through for braiding.

Cut 20-25 black and white pieces of yarn to a length 3X the length that you want your braid. Tie a large knot in one end. Insert the knot into the top of stocking cap and secure with a stitch through the knot. Braid to desired length and tie a knot in the end, leaving a 4 in. tail.

Make a large pom-pom, using additional types of black and white yarn for added texture if desired. (To make a pom pom, wrap yarn around and around a piece of cardboard the size of your hand, then slide it gently off the board, tie a string tightly round the center and then cut the loops on both ends.)

Tie several of the ends from your braid to strands of your pom pom to secure.

Weave in ends and trim on the inside of the hat.

I know it’s not a perfect, stitch by stitch pattern and I do hope it isn’t frustrating for any beginners. I only even post it due to my own frustration at finding any zebra patterns at all. This technique is very similar to any other crochet trim where you start with a sc, then a hdc, then dc, then trc and then back down to form a fan. It is just that done randomly in black and white, atop each other, reducing to keep the shape in mind.

The hat made up in less than 2 hours!! Best of luck to you!