Free Crochet Waffle Stitch Pattern for Kids

A young girl wearing a bright teal winter coat and hot pink crochet waffle stitch pattern hat, mittens, and scarf. She stands in a yard with brown winter grass and a sidewalk in the background.

Crochet waffle stitch pattern for kid’s accessories

This crochet waffle stitch pattern for kids includes a winter hat, mittens, and scarf to fit children ages 4-12. The crochet waffle stitch pattern makes an extra thick fabric that is cozy and extra warm for winter wear.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for details.

A note about sizing for this accessories set

Monkey Bars Winter Set is a crochet winter accessories set designed for children. The waffle stitch hat is made to fit children from ages 4 to 12. However, the hat is stretchy enough to fit an adult, but you may want to make it a bit longer for this. My daughter wore this hat at age 7, but the same hat fit around my head as well. I just wished for it to be an inch or two longer to completely cover my ears.

The mittens should fit most children between the ages of 4 and 12.

The scarf could be used for anyone, but again, an adult might want theirs a bit longer. This scarf is about 50 inches long when finished. Adult scarves are often in the neighborhood of 65 inches or more.

If you decide to make any of these items larger, you will, of course, need more yarn than the pattern calls for. I haven’t worked out the math, so you’ll have to make your best guess.

What yarn should I use for this crochet waffle stitch pattern?

The Bernat Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) yarn that I used for the original has been discontinued, unfortunately. It was a soft, slightly fuzzy, single ply, worsted weight, machine-washable, wool blend. I used five skeins, or about 835 yds, to make the whole set.

I have not found a yarn that is worsted weight, single ply, acrylic and wool, and machine washable, but Lion Brand Wool-Ease comes really close, so that’s what I would encourage you to use. Get five skeins if you are making the whole set.

What skills and techniques are used for this pattern?

This children’s crochet hat, mitten, and scarf set uses the crochet waffle stitch. There are different varieties of waffle stitch. This one alternates groups of three post stitches with groups of three standard stitches, so I refer to this as a 3×3 waffle stitch.

The crochet waffle stitch pattern uses front post double crochet stitches. If you aren’t familiar with those, or if you feel like you could use some help with this stitch pattern, see my crochet waffle stitch tutorial here.

Basically, post stitches are worked around the post or body of the stitch below instead of into the top of it.

The alternating groups of standard and post stitches are what create the recessed and raised squares that look like a waffle. It makes the fabric extra thick, so it’s a really great choice for winter wear, blankets, and hot pads, among other things.

Where can I get this crochet waffle stitch pattern?

You can get this crochet waffle stitch pattern free right here in this post! Just scroll down for the free version.

If you decide to use the free version, please bookmark this page and come back to it when you work on your project rather than trying to print or screenshot the page. Your time on this page helps me get paid for my work, so thank you!

You also have the option to purchase a PDF that is easy to download and print. This crochet pattern is available individually or as part of an ebook of 7 crochet patterns for children. You can purchase either the one pattern or the ebook on Etsy or Ravelry.

Buy on Ravelry

Buy on Etsy

Monkey Bars Winter Set, a crochet waffle stitch pattern

By April Garwood of Banana Moon Studio

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Available Sizes: One size to fit children ages 4-12.

Finished Measurements: Scarf 50 x 7 1/4 inches; Hat 16 inch circumference x 7 3/4 inch height; Mittens 5 1/4 inch wrist circumference x 6 inch length from wrist to fingertip.

Yarn: Bernat Sheepish (70% Acrylic, 30% Wool; 167 yds; 85 g; yarn weight category: 4/Medium/Worsted): 5 skeins #7 Hot Pinkish.

Crochet Hook: J (6 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Tapestry needle.

Gauge: 15 sts x 10 rows = About 4 inches in 3×3 waffle stitch. To make a gauge swatch, ch 17 and work in the scarf pattern for 10 rows.

Notes

This pattern uses standard US terms. For help with abbreviations, get my free, printable crochet abbreviations list here.

See this tutorial for help with basic crochet stitches.

See this tutorial for help with the 3×3 waffle stitch.

Special Stitches

Front post double crochet (fpdc): Yo, insert hook around post of the designated st from right to left starting from the front of the fabric, yo, pull up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 2 times.

Double crochet two stitches together (dc2tog): Yo, insert hook in first designated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, insert hook in second designated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Decrease (dec): Yo, insert hook in first designated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, insert hook around post of second designated st from right to left starting from the front of the fabric, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Scarf

Ch 29

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 3rd ch from hook (skipped ch 2 does not count as a st), dc in each remaining ch, turn – 27 sts.

Row 2: Ch 2, dc in first 3 sts, *fpdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, fpdc in first 3 sts, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * across, turn.

Rows 4-125: Alternate repeating Rows 2 and 3. Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

Hat

Ch 60, taking care not to twist ch, join to first ch with sl st.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc in each ch around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 60 sts.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn.

Rnds 3-14: Repeat Rnd 2.

Rnd 15: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, dc in next st, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 50 sts.

Rnd 16: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, dc in next st, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 40 sts.

Rnd 17: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 30 sts.

Rnd 18: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, fpdc in next st, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 20 sts.

Rnd 19: Ch 2, dec around (see Special Stitches), join to first st with sl st, turn – 10 sts. Fasten off with a long tail.

Use tapestry needle to weave long tail back and forth through tops of sts of last rnd and pull to close center hole. Go around through stitch tops once or twice more to secure. Take tail to inside of hat and weave in.

Mittens

Left Mitten

Ch 20, taking care not to twist ch, join to first ch with sl st.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 2, dc in each ch around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 20 sts.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, *dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn.

Rnds 3-7: Repeat Rnd 2.

Rnd 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 25 sts.

Rnd 9: Ch 2, *dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn.

Rnd 10: Ch 2, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st tih sl st, turn.

Rnds 11-12: Repeat Rnds 9-10.

Rnd 13: Ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in next st, fpdc in next 3 sts, *dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 23 sts.

Rnd 14: Ch 2, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * to ch sp, 2 dc in ch sp, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in last 2 sts, join to first st with sl st, turn – 25 sts.

Rnds 15-19: Alternate repeating Rnds 9 and 10, ending with a Rnd 9 repeat.

Rnd 20: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, dc in next st, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 20 sts.

Rnd 21: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 15 sts.

Rnd 22: Ch 2, *dc2tog over next 2 sts, fpdc in next st, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 10 sts. Fasten off with long tail.

Turn mitten WS out. Fold mitten in half so that the joins of each rnd are in the center of the palm. Using long tail and tapestry needle, stitch top opening closed and weave in end.

Thumb

Rnd 1: With mitten RS out, join to edge of thumbhole with sl st, ch 2, 8 dc around thumbhole, join to first st with sl st, turn – 8 sts.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, *dc in next st, fpdc in next st, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn.

Rnds 3-5: Repeat Rnd 2.

Rnd 6: Ch 2, 4 dec around (see Special Stitches), join to first st with sl st – 4 sts. Fasten off with a long tail.

Weave in any remaining ends.

Right Mitten

Work as for Left Mitten through Rnd 12.

Rnd 13: Ch 2, *dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * to last 6 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in next st, fpdc in last 3 sts, join to first st with sl st, turn – 23 sts.

Rnd 14: Ch 2, dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next st, 2 dc in ch sp, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st, turn – 25 sts.

Work all remaining rnds, thumb, and finishing as for Left Mitten

And that completes this crochet waffle stitch pattern for children’s winter accessories. I hope you enjoyed working on it! Please share your finished projects with me by posting on Instagram and tagging me, or by joining my Facebook group and sharing it there. It makes my day when someone shares a project made from my patterns!

Happy crocheting!