crochetguideKnow these stitches: back loop only, single crochet
Materials and yarn planning
Yarns we’ve reviewed that suit it: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn, Lion Brand Heartland yarn, Lion Brand Wool-Ease DK yarn. For the hook, choose by size and handle.
For an exact figure in your own yarn, weigh a washed swatch in the pattern stitch: the weighed-swatch yarn calculator scales it to each flat panel or strip. Allow a little more for seams, edging and tails.
Finished size and gauge
The worked plan uses 40 stitches by 60 rows. Hat height before gathering or folding = 400 ÷ S cm. Unseamed circumference = 600 ÷ R cm, where S and R are BLO single crochets and rows per 10 cm. Change the counts to your chosen measurements and check the wrapped rectangle before sewing.
The shape of the hat.
Sizes from your swatch
Example: 12 back-loop single crochets and 14 rows in 10 cm. Type your own swatch over it to see your counts.
| Size | Hat height | Around the head | Stitches | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 15.2 cm (6 in) | 35.5 cm (14 in) | 18 (chain 19) | 50 |
| Toddler | 17.1 cm (6.75 in) | 40.8 cm (16 in) | 21 (chain 22) | 57 |
| Child | 18.4 cm (7.25 in) | 45.8 cm (18 in) | 22 (chain 23) | 64 |
| Tween | 19.7 cm (7.75 in) | 51 cm (20 in) | 24 (chain 25) | 71 |
| Woman | 21 cm (8.25 in) | 53.3 cm (21 in) | 25 (chain 26) | 75 |
| Man | 22.2 cm (8.75 in) | 56 cm (22 in) | 27 (chain 28) | 78 |
Counts are rounded to whole stitches and rows. Check the first rows against your swatch.
The gauge calculator compares your swatch with the pattern. A stitch name you do not know is in the abbreviation chart; a UK pattern’s names are in the US/UK term reference.
The pattern
Count rows for this patternMake and measure the rectangle
- Chain 41. Single crochet in the second chain and across: 40 stitches.
- Chain 1 and turn without counting it. Work one back-loop-only single crochet in each stitch: 40 stitches.
- Repeat for 60 rows total, or the circumference count you calculated from the washed ribbing. The stitch direction sets hat height; the row direction travels around the head.
- Fasten off with enough tail for sewing. Finish the rectangle by the yarn label, then wrap it to check the planned fit before continuing.
Sew and gather
- Match the first and last rows and sew their corresponding stitches together to form a tube. Keep the seam flat enough to open.
- Thread yarn through stable row-end loops all around one open end. Draw it gradually together, keeping the fabric gathers distributed around the crown.
- Pass through the gathered edge again where needed to close a remaining gap. Secure and weave the tail through the inside stitches in changing directions.
- Turn the hat so the seam is inside. Fold the brim only if that was included in your planned height. Check the final fit and crown before use.
Check the work
The two seamed edges each have 40 stitches. The crown gathers row ends, while the other row-end edge remains the opening.
- If the opening is too small, undo the seam and add rows instead of pulling the finished hat harder.
- If the crown is too bulky, reconsider the yarn and rectangle height before adding a decorative cover.
Updated . Stitch counts checked row by row; we haven’t crocheted a sample of this one yet. How the patterns are checked. Keep your yarn label, hook and swatch on the printable project worksheet.