How to Crochet Children's Ski Masks

Make a crochet ski mask so your kids can stay warm on the slopes or the sledding hills in chilly weather. Pattern can be adjusted for any size, depending on the hook and yarn you use; you will need a working knowledge of increasing and decreasing stitches in the round to complete this pattern.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Crochet a Ski Mask

Things You’ll Need:

Worsted weight yarn
"H" hook or size appropriate to yarn
Scissors
Yarn needle

Step 1

Prepare to make your mask. Essentially you will make a hat that extends down the face, including a hole for the eyes along the way. To make this mask, use an "H" hook and worsted-weight yarn in a wool or wool blend for warmth. For a larger mask, go up to an "I" or "J" hook; for a smaller mask, go down to a "G" or "F" hook.
This hat will use a single crochet (sc) stitch, chain (ch) stitch, and slip (sl st) stitch. You can modify the pattern by replacing the single crochets with double crochets or half double crochets, or any stitch pattern you prefer.

Step 2

Begin your mask at the crown. Make a magic circle (see references) and crochet 5 sc stitches into the circle. This is round one.
R2: 2 sc in each sc around. Join with a sl st into the first sc, ch 1, do not turn.
R3: [2sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next sc] around. Join with a sl st into the first sc, ch 1, do not turn.
R4: [2sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next two sc] around. Join with a sl st into the first sc, ch 1, do not turn.
Continue to increase in this manner until your mask is the desired circumference for the head of the person you're making it for. Then sc in each stitch around until the hat measures the correct distance to the person's brow.

Step 3

Make the eye opening. On the next round, you will sc around approximately two-thirds of the round and sl st the rest. You will leave a hole in the front for the eyes; measure how many stitches you will need based on the size of the child's head. Sc around approximately a third of the round, sl st in the stitches across the distance of the eyes, and continue to sc around the rest of the round until you reach the beginning. Join with a sl st, ch 1, and do not turn.
On the next round, sc in each sc from the last round. When you reach the sl stitches, ch that many stitches, and then join with a sc to the next sc stitch after the sl stitches. Continue to sc around until the beginning of the round; join with a sl st, ch 1, and do not turn.

Step 4

Continue the rest of the mask. Sc in each stitch around, including the ch stitches. Continue in this manner for a few more rounds, until you have reached the length you need to reach the person's chin.

Step 5

Finish the mask. For the next four rounds, decrease your stitches in every row. This will help the mask fit more closely around the person's neck. Continue to sc in every stitch around after your decreases until you have reached the desired length for the person who will wear the ski mask. Bind off, cut your yarn, and weave in ends.

Tips & Warnings

Switch to an acrylic yarn if someone in your family has a wool allergy.

Do not be afraid to rip out stitches and start over if your mask isn't the right size or shape.

Resources

Article Written By Jessica Cook

Jessica Cook has been writing since high school when she wrote for TeenGrrl.com and GirlZone.com. During college she wrote for her university's e-zine, department newsletter and an education journal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio Northern University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Grand Canyon University and an Educational Specialist's degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University.

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