Crocheted baby hat - Instructions and pictures for beginners

Here's a quick and easy newborn baby hat that can be whipped up in a flash (about 2 hours) using up leftover yarn, and it is the perfect gift to bring to the hospital for that sweet little bundle of joy.


I used Lion Brand's Baby Soft yarn for mine, but you can use any sportweight yarn you have. This can also be done using several colors. Just make up a stripe pattern as you go along, or as you run out of one color just move on to another! I like this yarn because it is very soft, just like the name says, and it flows nicely through my fingers. I never have a problem with it splitting. I used a size G hook for this project.


Start at the top of the hat by making 4 chain stitches. Make a slip stitch through both loops of the first chain. This will form a ring.



For Round 1, make two chain stitches, then work 13 double crochets into the middle of the ring, like so:



Put your hook through both loops of the first double crochet and make a slip stitch to join. You will have 13 stitches. Note here that the beginning chain 2 of this row is not counted as a stitch.



This is what your piece will look like after Round 1:



Round 2: Chain 2, do not turn your work around. Continue crocheting in the same direction until instructed to turn. Make 2 double crochets into each stitch around the circle and join with a slip stitch into the first double crochet, just as you did in the previous round. You will have 26 stitches and this is what your piece will look like:



Round 3: Chain 2, then make 1 double crochet in the first stitch, 2 double crochets in the next stitch, 1 double crochet in the next stitch. Continue around the circle making 2 double crochets, then 1 double crochet, ending with 2 double crochets for a total of 39 stitches. Join as before. This is what your piece will look like:



Round 4: Chain 2, then make 1 double crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, then 2 double crochets in the next stitch. Continue around the circle making 1, then 1, then 2, and join as before. You will have 52 stitches and this is what your piece will look like:



Round 5: Chain 2, then work 1 double crochet in each stitch around and join as before. You will still have 52 stitches and this is what your piece will look like:



Repeat Round 5 until you have 13 rounds total. Now it's starting to look like a hat!



Round 14: Chain 2 and turn your work around. Make 1 double crochet in each stitch around and join as before.

Rounds 15 and 16: Chain 2, do not turn work. Make 1 double crochet in each stitch around and join as before. You will still have 52 stitches and this is what your work will look like:



Round 17 (edging): Do not turn work. Chain 1, then make one single crochet in the first stitch. Continue around doing 1 chain, then 1 single crochet, 1 chain, then 1 single crochet without skipping any stitches in the previous row. This will make a little bump between each single crochet. Join with a slip stitch in the first single crochet. You will have a nice decorative edge on the hat that looks like this:



Cut your yarn and pull the tail through the loop on the hook and tighten to make a knot. Weave the loose ends into a few stitches. Turn up the cuff made by the last 3 rows of double crochet being done in the opposite direction from the rest of the hat. Now you have yourself a cozy little infant hat that looks like this:


Congratulations!

Next time I will share this pattern with you in a more condensed version so you can print it out and tuck it into your crochet bag. This is a great take-along project and a good one for those hot summer days when you just need something light and easy to work on. Enjoy!

NOTE: I came up with this pattern after making a similar baby hat pattern by Susan Kraus which can be found here. Susan has other patterns and tips, and lots of information about crocheting for charity.

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