Sugar Skull Winter Mask Pattern

Sugar Skull Winter Mask
by Kourtney Moon

 I initially wanted to make this piece because I NEEDED to keep my face warm in the cold months whilst riding on my bicycle. I also wanted to think of an additional way of helping crazy drivers notice little ol me and not run me over, because lights and reflective fabric just don't seem to be enough. Also, this is the first time I am sharing this pattern and I have not replicated it following this pattern, so there may be some kinks to be worked out.. hopefully not! That's also why I made it available for free. I'll try to answer any questions that come in. I have directed all comments to come straight to my email now.

Size: To fit an average sized adult’s noggin.

Gauge:

2 rows - 1”
3 stitches - 1”

Materials:

• J hook (6mm)

• Stitch markers

• 1 skein worsted weight yarn in colors:
black, white, pink

• 1 sheet of felt in each colors:
black blue, pink, red

• Sewing needle and thread in colors:
black, blue, orange, pink, red, yellow

*colors for felt and thread can vary if you take creative liberty- which i greatly encourage- and design your own appliques.

Abbreviations/Special stitches:

• CH- chain
• SS- slip stitch
• SC- single crochet
• DC- double crochet
• TR- treble
• DTR- double treble
• DTR TOG- double treble together
• ST(S)- stitches
• PM- place marker

Colors are assigned as follows:

• Color A- white
• Color B- black
• Color C- pink
• Color D- red
• Color E- orange
• Color F- yellow

The mask is started from the top of the head and increases are worked over the crown.

With Color A CH4 and join with a slip stitch to work in the round. CH3, 15DC into the ring.

Round 1- 2DC into top of ch3, PM to establish beginning of round.

Work increases as follows:

*1DC into next st, 2DC into next st*; repeat from * 7 times. (23 sts)

Round 2- *1DC into next st, 2DC into next st*; repeat from * 10 times ending with 1DC in last st. (34 sts)

Round 3- 1DC into next st, *2DC into next st, 1DC into each of next 2 sts*; repeat from * 10 times (45 sts)

Round 4- (Continue with same repeat at beginning of round) 2DC into next st, 1DC into each of next 2 sts*; repeat 14 times. (60 sts)

Rounds 5 - 10: work evenly around.

Round 11- PM, *1SC into each of next 7 sts, PM, (this marks the first eye hole), 1DC into each of next 4 sts, PM, 1SC into each of next 7 sts, PM. Work remainder of round in DC.

Round 12- CH3, turn work; work evenly across back of hat to marker.

Round 13- CH3, turn work; work evenly across back of hat back to the other marker.

Leave this row for now and join a new piece of yarn to work the space between the eyes. Join a new piece of yarn at the top of the first dc (of four) and CH 3; 1DC into each of next 3 sts; cut yarn.

Round 14- Return to the live row and CH7, 1DC into top of ch3 (between the eyes) 1DC into each of next 3 sts, CH7. 1DC into top of next ch3, *1DC into next st*; repeat from * to marker at first eye hole. Work 1DC in each ch across (7 sts), 1DC into next 4 sts, 1DC in each ch across (7 sts). 1DC into top of ch3, 1DC in each of next 10 sts, 1SC into each of next 6 sts, 1SS, cut yarn.
From this point on, the rest of the mask will be worked flat, back and forth and no longer in the round. Fold piece in half, making sure to line the eyeholes together. Establish the very center of the stitches at back of the mask. There should be 6. Count three on either side, and PM at each end; DO NOT WORK OVER THESE 6 STS. Join color B in the very next stitch.

Row 15- CH3, 1DC in each of next 9 sts across (10 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work 1DC into each of next 32 sts across. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 10 sts.

Row 16- CH3, turn. Work the same as previous row.

Row 17- CH3, turn. 1DC in each of next 10 sts across (11 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work 1DC into each of next 30 sts across. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 11 sts.

Row 18- CH3, turn. 1DC in each of next 11 sts across (12 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work 1DC into each of next 28 sts across. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 12 sts.

Row 19- CH3, turn. 1DC in each of next 12 sts across (13 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work 1DC into each of next 26 sts across. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 13 sts.

Row 20- CH3, turn. 1DC in each of next 13 sts across (14 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work 1DC into each of next 24 sts across. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 14 sts.

Row 21- CH3, turn. 1DC in each of next 14 sts across (15 sts in black total). Switch to color A and work *1DC into each of next 2 sts, skip 1 st, 1DC into each of next 3 sts, skip 1, 1DC into next 2 sts, skip 1 (3 times), 1DC into each of next 3 sts, skip 1, 1DC in each of next 2 sts. Switch back to color B and work 1DC into each of next 15 sts.

Row 22- CH3, turn. Work an even row of DC across.

Row 23- CH3m turn. 1 DC in each of next 17 sts; 1SC in each of next 10 sts; 1 DC in each of next 18 sts. Skip the next 10 sts (10 sc) and work 1DC into the next dc, 1DC in each of next 17 sts.

Row 24- CH3, turn. Work DC evenly across; cut yarn.

Row 25- Count 10 sts in from the end; join a new piece of yarn in (same color b) and CH3, 1DC in each of next 15 sts; cut yarn and tie off.
Weave the space under the chin where the 10 sts were skipped closed with a new piece of yarn and a crochet hook. Tie off.

Spinal Column

Row 1: Join color C at the bottom corner of one of the flap openings in the back of the neck of the mask. CH1, and 1SC along the edge around the post of each dc stitch. (10 sts)
(diagram here)
When you reach the top at the white part of yarn (bottom of skull), skip the first st, 1SC into the next st, skip 1, 1SC into each of next 2 sts, skip 1, and continue down the other edge for 11 sts.

Row 2: CH1 turn; 1 SC in each of next 9 sts, skip 1, 1SC in each of next 11 sts; tie off and weave in the end.
Before continuing on to embellish the mask, with color B, join a new piece of yarn to one end along the very bottom of the mask and work 1SC evenly into the top of each st to the end; tie off and weave in the end.

Draw String

CH76 sts, 1SC into second ch from hook; work 1SC in each chain to end, weave in end. Starting at the top of the column (at the bottom of the skull) lace the draw string through the top of every other sc as if to thread shoe string.

Mouth

Lay the mask down flat facing you, and starting where the black switches to white, count 4 rows up. Along the top of row 4 (which is also the bottom of row 5) crochet a chain clear across the face of the mask to create the mouth, starting where the black meets the white.

With the same type of stitch, chain vertical lines, roughly 1.5” long and about 3/4” apart (roughly two sts across) for as many teeth as you like, or the standard 32, consisting of 16 on top and 16 on the bottom, folks.

Appliques

Cut out the appliques and pin them to the mask, next sew them on with with matching needle and thread in a blanket stitch. You can follow the shapes I used for the mask here, or experiment with your own ideas. For the back of the head, I cut out a large flore from the colors red orange and yellow to make a marigold, but you can make a variety of smaller flowers or shapes if you'd like. The advantage to this being a crocheted piece is that there is not as much elasticity in the crocheted fabric (as opposed to knit), so it's very forgiving when sewing on the appliques.

Comments

[Ash071404]

Can you post a picture of the back possibly? I'm on row 15. I start in black on one side of the marker then go around, 9 st, 32 st, then 10, I'm assuming that's supposed to take me to the side of the other marker, but I have two extra st. I've started over from the point where we fold in half twice, but keep running into the same problem. Any advice?

[Super Happy Fun Knitty Time!]

hey, ash, i will post a picture as soon as i get a chance. off to class at the moment and the mask is at my friend's house. i just texted her asking her if i could pick it up to send you a photo. i'll post as soon as i get it. :)

[Ash071404]

I'm confused about row 23. Once I dc 17 then sc 10, then dc 18, that was the end of the row, but it says skip ten. Sooo, do I turn and do that or what?

[Super Happy Fun Knitty Time!]

i will take a look at that as soon as my friend can get me the mask back. we are supposed to meet up this week. she works nights and i am in school full time, so we aren't going to be able to see each other until thursday or friday. then i can not only post photos of the back, but i can also look over the stitches and rows in question and get back to you on that. as i said, i made this mask once, a year ago, and i haven't duplicated it yet. this will be a good excuse to now. thank you so much for the feedback, it helps a lot to work out the kinks and make sure the pattern is as clear as can possibly. so sorry for the delay.

[Ash071404]

No problem. I understand. :)

[Ash071404]

I finished!!! I decided to take the instructions I didn't understand (row 23 and down) and give it my own twist. I am so happy with how it turned out. I crocheted a large flower for the back. My kid sister is a biker, and I am so excited to see her reaction :) I will continue to check back though for the update to see how it's done properly, but thank u for all your help :)

[Super Happy Fun Knitty Time!]

dude! that's fantastic! post pictures whenever you can, i would love to see. and i should get my hands on the mask by tomorrow. :)

[Ash071404]

Lol, can't figure out how to post the pics. I must be "special". Do you know how to do that or have an email I can send them to?

[Ash071404]

I emailed you through the website with all the pictures :)

[Hollowfyre]

Thanks for the pattern its awesome. I'm stuck on row 23 too right now, but I'm going to play around with it and see what I can do. It just seems there are more stitches listed than there are on the row. I'll let you know how it turns out =]

[Natasha]

I am also confused about row 23 and below. Do you turn the work and then skip 3 or continue on so that you are crocheting in the round? Some clarification would be lovely =)

[Rose Yell09]

Didn't get the same amount of stiches on first rounds, but close enough.
On rounds 5-10 though, what does work evenly around, mean? Dc in each stitch?
Thanks :)

[Super Happy Fun Knitty Time!]

rosie, yes.. work one stitch in each following stitch. and sorry for no update, trying to ind my skull mask is like trying to find jimmy hoffa's body! i will EVENTUALLY get it back from my friend.. i think she's wearing it around town for the holidays... hrrmmm...