Crochet Penguin Hat

It's finally March.  Spring is so close I can smell it in the air, but it's still really cold outside.  On that note, I'd like to share my newest crochet hat with everyone.

My lovely model L. is sporting the latest in penguin fashion.  She even has a matching penguin sticker, so you know that this girl is serious about her penguins :)

This hat is my own pattern.  The body is made with a black worsted weight yarn and a size G crochet hook.  The base for most of my earflap hats is a 12 DC round increased to the correct diameter and then taken down to the desired length.  For those who want to make their own crochet hats, there are plenty of basic beanie patterns on the internet in all sizes.  I personally recommend that all crocheters and knitters check out Ravelry as an incredible source of free and commercial patterns for beginners and more advanced yarn artists.

The magic of animal hats is in the appliques and accents.  The white penguin face, the eyes, the nose, the ears, and the bow are all made separately and then sewn onto the hat base.  Final touches like the edging and braids can also make an good hat into something really special.  

Personally, I just love the little yarn ears and the heart shaped beak.  I loved creating this pattern and I'm glad that my customer was happy with the result :)

Since I'm going to be doing some more crochet soon, I'm just wondering what you all would like to see in the future.  Is there an interest in patterns, tutorials, or does anyone have a specific crochet question that they want answered?