Intro
Ever wanted to know how to crochet a hat? Crocheting a hat is a fun and rewarding project that a beginner can learn quickly.
In today’s post, we will look at the various ways of crocheting a hat. whether you are making a last minute gift for yourself or seeking to just gain a skill, this tutorial has you covered.
Crochet hats especially baby hats are ideal projects for left over yarn as they do not need a lot of yarn.
It is good to know the difference between beanies and slouchy hats. Beanies are shorter and snug, fit the head closely.
Slouchy hats have more room at the back hence the term slouchy.
Okay let’s get started.
Know who are you designing for
Obviously, babies and adults have different head size measurements. It is important to consider the person you are designing for.
Someone with long hair or braids or locks might want a slouchy hat so that they can have room for their hair.
Consider other things that they might like too such as do they want hats with or without pompoms?
Do they want a brim that they can fold?
All these considerations help you determine how much yarn to use.
The table below gives head circumference for children and for adults
| Age group | Measurements |
| Child | 18- 20 inches |
| Adult | 22- 24 inches |
A detailed chart for measurements for head circumference for babies and adults can be found here https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/head-circumference-chart
Yarn considerations
Since it a piece to be worn on the head, it is best to choose yarn that is gentle to the skin, crochet not too tightly. If you do consider using a larger hook size. No one wants a stiff hat.
For babies I highly recommend baby yarn as they are made with the baby in mind. They are soft for their tender skin. Check if the baby has any reactions to yarn or if they find it itchy. I found that cotton yarn and wool works well for baby hats.
If this your first hat, consider colours that allow stitches to be more visible so that you can easily check your work as you crochet. Bright or neutral colours make it easier to count too!
How to crochet a hat: 3 methods
Generally there are 3 main ways to design a hat. By this I mean the direction of your pattern: where you start and end.
(Definitely, there are other ways, but I wrote for the beginner and I did not want to overwhelm them with too much info.)
1. Bottom Up: Circular from brim to crown
In this method, you start with the brim and then work the body followed by a few rounds of decreases and seaming off at the crown.
To be able to work this, you need to know how to decrease.
Steps to follow:
- Choose the head measurements
- Choose yarn and hook according to yarn label
- Chain number of stitches. This should be the same size of the head circumference minus 2-3 inches because hats are made to fit (negative ease)
- Work in rounds until piece measures approximately 6- 8 inches. Add 2 more inches for slouchy hats
- Cinch off to form crown or skip step 5 and go to step 6
- Start decreasing evenly: this could be every other row
- Bind off when left with 6-5 five stitches
- Weave in ends
The hat below was made using this technique, from step 1 to 5. Find the pattern here Cute Purple Free Crochet Shells Hat Pattern
This is the opposite of the circular from top to brim technique discussed below.
2. Top Down: Circular from top to brim
Here, you start with a circle, followed by rounds of increases, and a section where you work evenly (no increases). This is the body of the hat.
You would continue till the desired length is achieved. If a folded brim is desired, you would make your hat slightly longer.
To work increases, two stitches are worked in the same stitches. For example 2dc into dc results in one extra dc, (an increase).
3. Sideways: Seamed Rectangle
In this method, you crochet a rectangle, then join the first and last rows to form a tube, then seam one one ends.
This is the easiest method for someone who has not yet learnt decreases or increases. It is also simple and works quickly.
Step by step instructions
- Determine head size
- Crochet a rectangle approximately 8-9 inches wide and 21 inches
- Seam the first and last rows
- You should have a tube
- Seam one of the ends
- Weave in ends.
The first image below shows a rectangle folded in to and I did not cut the yarn as I wanted to use it to seam the hat as seen in the second image. I seamed by working slip stiches cross then cinched the end to form the crown.
Conclusion
Do not let all the specifics intimidate you. I hope you are able to design your own hat using the tips in this post. I recommend making a hat for yourself because while you are working on it you can keep trying your hat. This allows you to make changes as you go.
You can also embellish your hat by adding a flower, a ribbon or buttons. Alternative methods to add a wow effect would be to work the brim in a different colour.
You can start with free patterns such as Easy Beginner Crochet Griddle Stitch Hat or the Cute Purple Free Crochet Shells Hat Pattern.
Happy Crocheting
