How to Crochet a Hat in Any Size

Hats are probably one of the simplest crochet projects. Once you understand the basic patterns, you can modify them to get the effect you desire. There are three ways to work a hat: top down, bottom up, and sideways. Today we are doing top down as it is most common.

Hats are constructed by creating a ring of stitches. You increase every round afterwards until you reach the desired crown width. Then, you simply crochet into each stitch around and around until your hat reaches the desired length.  It can be done with any stitch, the only thing that changes is the starting number of stitches for the initial ring.  Although it is not set in stone, it is generally accepted that a hat made in single crochet starts with six stitches, half double crochet uses eight, and double crochet uses twelve.  You then increase six, eight or twelve times each round, depending on the stitch you started with. The stitch you choose will affect how fast you reach your desired size, and the look of your finished product

Left: double crochet ponytail hat.
 Middle: single crochet basic hat.
 Right: half double crochet basic hat

Once you become confident, you can start using more intricate stitches or combine several stitches together.

Three styles of hat

Most people don’t really care, but I prefer to use single crochet or half double crochet because they produce a tighter fabric. If I do use double, I like to do it with a smaller hook size so that the fabric is not so open. Its all personal preference, and like I said, most people don’t care, they are just happy to have a hat.

When working on a basic hat, gauge isn’t hugely important. So long as you meet the measurements and like how your stitches look you will be fine.

Crochet hat size charts give you the average measurements for hat sizing.  They are extremely easy to look up and I suggest that you look at a few. However, because they only tell you the average size its best to measure the head yourself. For example, the average adult woman head is 22” but my mother is 23” and I’m 21”. My friend’s mom is even smaller. That being said, crochet naturally has some elasticity so a 22” hat will fit all of us.

Baby hats are a little different story.  Not only are the babies constantly growing, they are all growing at a different rate. The difference can be significant. On occasion I will have to remake hats because it fails to measure their head. Always try to measure. If you can’t for some reason, then I suggest going a size larger.

Whew, that was a lot. Let’s get to the fun part: crocheting.

The pattern here is for a child whose head is 18 inches around, a 1-2 year old. No matter how ugly a hat is, it will always be adorable on a child. Perfect for beginners, right? But as I just explained, you can make it to fit any size head.

Material:

Yarn - I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret and a Yarn Bee Sweet Mini because I ran out of my original color. (whoops).

Hook - I used a  4. 25 mm hook which is slightly smaller than the yarn manufacturer suggests; but again, I like my stitches to be nice and tight. If your not sure which hook to use, then use the one the manufacturer recommends..

Darning needle.

Measuring tape or ruler.

Scissors.

Stitches used:
       Ch = chain
       Sl st= slip stich
       Hdc= half double crochet

Notes:

This hat is worked in rounds with half double crochet.  The chain at the beginning of each round is not counted as a stitch.  The fist stitch of each round will always be into the stitch where you slip stitched. Make sure to keep you slip stitches nice and tight to help hide the transition between the end of one round and the beginning of the next.

If you would prefer to do this has in single or double crochet, then go ahead and do it! Just make these adjustments:

Single crochet: Single crochet 6 into the magic circle or first chain. The amount of chains will remain the same.

Double crochet: Instead of starting with a chain 2, chain 3 and crochet 12 double crochets into the first chain. For every turning chain afterwards chain 2 instead of one.

Then just follow the instructions, using your desired stitch instead of a half double crochet.

Rnd 1:  Chain 2, hdc 8 in to first ch. Sl st to fist stitch and ch 1. (8)

You will probably have a large hole in the top. Don’t worry about it, this is perfectly normal. We will fix it when we tie in the ends.

Rnd 2: 2 hdc into each stitch around, sl st into first stich and ch 1. (16)

Rnd 3: *2hdc into one stitch, hdc in next stitches *. Repeat form * to * all the way around, sl st into first stich and ch 1. (24)

Rnd 4 * 2 hdc into 1 stitch, hdc in next 2 stitches*. Repeat from *to * all the way around. Sl st to first stitch and h 1 (32)

Rnd 5: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 3 stitches*. Repeat form * to * all the way around. Sl st into fist stich and ch 1. (40)

Rnd 6: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 4 stitches*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. Sl st into first stich and ch 1. (48)

Rnd 6: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 4 stitches*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. Sl st into first stich and ch 1. (48)

Rnd 7: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 5 stitches*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. Sl st into first stich and ch 1. (56)

Rnd 8: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 6 stitches*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. Sl st into first stich and ch 1. (64)

Rnd 9: * 2 hdc into one stitch, hdc into next 7 stitches*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. Sl st into first stich and ch 1. (72)

Notice a pattern here? Every row you do 2 hdc into one stitch, and then hdc into the same amount of stitches in the previous row plus 1. This ensures you increase evenly around and prevents you from getting a ripple effect. Your hat will probably have a little bit of a bow to it, but that’s completely normal.

Once you have reached the desired crown size, 5.75-ish inches for me, you start adding length to it.

Rnd 10: hdc into each stitch around, sl st into first stitch and ch 1. (72)

That’s it. Repeat that round until you reach the desired length of the hat. For this hat I did 12 repeats of round 10, so I finished on row 23.

If you are able too, I suggest trying it on before cutting the yarn and tying in the ends. If any adjustment needs to be made, make them now.

If it fits, great! Cut then ends and tie ‘em in!

If you chose to use the beginning chain method, then you probably noticed a big hole in the top. To fix this, thread the tail through the darning needle. Now thread the needle through the first row. Be careful not to thread is through the yarn itself. You will probably need to go through a few stitches at a time to make it all the way around. Once you are back at the beginning pull it tight! The hole won’t close all the way, but it will shrink significantly! Then just tie in the remaining tail like normal.

And that’s it! You now know how to make a basic hat in any size and any stitch. Next weeks post will have some ways to dress up this basic pattern and make it look like you really know what you’re doing!