Winter Horseback Riding Helmet Cover Pattern
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This post includes my free Winter Horseback Riding Helmet Cover Pattern. I designed this warm helmet cover to protect my daughter’s face from the cold.
She started horseback riding lessons a little over a year ago. Last winter was SO cold, I was sure she would decide riding was not for her! But she insisted on going to her riding lessons even when it was minus 30 degrees outside.
In an attempt to keep her somewhat warm during her winter riding lessons, I whipped up a helmet cover with some scrap bulky weight yarn last year.
This year I needed to crochet a new equestrian helmet cover for her (her other one was getting quite worn looking after her weekly riding lessons). I decided to write the pattern down in case anyone else needed to make themselves a helmet cover too!
This helmet cover will stretch to cover many sizes of equestrian helmets. Darla’s helmet is the IRH Equi-Lite Small Size helmet but the stretch in this yarn is generous. I suspect it will stretch easily to cover up to the 61 cm helmet size. It requires less than 1 ball of Red Heart Super Saver Chunky yarn to make and just a couple hours of time.
The helmet cover will stretch to go under your chin if you would prefer to have your face uncovered. It does not interfere with the straps or closures on the helmet and the brim section ensures the hat does not slide down over the face when you are riding. The yarn I chose to use is machine washable and dryable, which I think is something you will want to look for in your yarn, if you are substituting to make your project.
Winter Horseback Riding Helmet Cover Pattern
Supplies
-
- Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Chunky. 5 oz (141 g) and 173 yds (158 m). 100% acrylic. Bulky Weight Yarn [5]. Machine wash warm; tumble dry; do not bleach; do not iron; dry cleanable.
- Colors: 1 skein in Dark Orchid – E306_0776.
- Hook: 8 mm (L-11). I used this hook.
- Finished Project Yardage: One Size Fits Most less than 123 g (151 yds)
- Scissors, Yarn Needle, Stitch Marker
Difficulty Level
Easy
Finished Size
26 inches circumference, 15 inches height
To Cover Horse Back Riding Helmets. Small to XL. For the large and XL size you may wish to repeat a few more rounds for length to allow it to reach to cover the base of the neck.
Gauge
Approximately 2 rounds per 1.5 inches and 2 sts per inch
You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern – just remember when you substitute if your gauge is different, the finished size, and amount of yarn used for your project will also be different.
Abbreviations
US Terminology used
bef- before
beg – beginning
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
DMR – double magic ring
R – round
rem – remaining
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st/sts – stitch/stitches
* to **– Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain of multiple instructions.
[] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
() – important notes AND sets of stitches to be worked within one stitch, or space
Helpful Tutorials
Helpful Video Tutorials
Watch the Horseback Riding Helmet Cover Brim Demo Video on YouTube
Beginner Ski Mask Video Tutorial
Notes:
- You can begin by using a ch 3 and sl st to join to form a ring and then work your stitches into the ring instead of using the double magic ring, or magic ring technique to start.
- Ch 3 does not count as a stitch and we do not work into it.
- The sl st to join is worked into the first dc of the round. Skip over the ch 3 completely (pretend it isn’t there).
- Looking for a regular ski mask? This pattern includes the full written instructions in multiple sizes: Beginner Ski Mask Pattern
- I’ve included the video for the brim (peak) of the helmet in this post and on YouTube (coming soon!).
Winter Horseback Riding Helmet Cover Pattern Instructions
The helmet cover is worked in joined rounds from the crown (top) of the hat, downward.
Part 1. The Main Hat.
Using your 8 mm (L-11) hook (or size required for gauge).
R1: In a DMR, ch 3 and work 12 dc. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [12]
R2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each dc around. Sl st to the first dc to join. [24]
R3: Ch 3, *2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st**. Rep from * to ** around. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [36]
R4: Ch 3, *2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts**. Rep from * to ** around. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [48]
R5-R9: Ch 3, 1 dc in each st around. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [48]
R10: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 16 sts, ch 14, sk 14 sts, 1 dc in each of the remaining 18 sts. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [34 dc, 14 ch]
R11: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 16 sts, 1 dc in the back bar of each of the 14 chs, 1 dc in each of the next 18 sts. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [48]
R12-19: Ch 3, 1 dc in each st around. Sl st to the first dc of the round to join. [48]
If you would like a longer hat, keep repeating until you reach your preferred length.
Finish off.
Part 2. The Helmet Brim / Peak Cover.
Using your 8 mm (L-11) hook (or size required for gauge).
With the hat facing you like this, with the RS facing out (toward you):
R1: Join your yarn with a standing dc stitch (Or you can join with a sl st and ch 3. If you use this sl st method you will need to count the ch 3 as a 1 dc) in the first sk ch from R10. 1 dc in each ch across. Turn. [14]
R2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st across. Sl st to the next dc of the main hat. Ch 1 and turn. [14]
R3: 1 sc in each st across. Sl st to the next dc of the main hat. Ch 1, turn. [14]
R4: 1 sl st in each st across. Sl st to the same dc of the main hat (same as previous row). Finish off.
Finishing Instructions.
Weave in all remaining ends.
That’s it! You are all done and ready to brave the cold winter air. Have fun riding your favorite pony!
Hi Daniella, The tube shape will start to form after you begin crocheting the same number of stitches for each round. It should be almost perfectly flat while you are still adding extra stitches to increase the size at the beginning. You aren’t doing anything incorrectly 🙂 If you get further a long (past the part where the opening is for the face) and it is still not taking shape into a ‘hat’ then it could be that you have too many stitches per inch (with the yarn and hook you are using) for the gauge. This can happen for a couple of reasons, including if you substitute the yarn or hook being used for a different kind. If you gauge is the same as the one listed in the pattern the hat will take shape and start to make a bowl like shape when we aren’t adding any extra stitches in the rounds. Hope this helps!! Rhondda
Hello, I’m blind and trying to make this. I just started learning to crochet. Right now, I’ve just finished row 4 and I’m getting ready to start rows 5-9. Right now my piece looks like a flat circle, not anything tube shaped like a hat. Am I doing something wrong? I’m not sure how to do the double magic ring, so I chained three then slipped stitched to join to make a ring. Thank you for all your help! Daniella