Why You’ll Love This Pattern
This crochet baby hat is simple, quick, and so cozy. It is worked in the round with half double crochet, finished with a ribbed brim and a pretty scalloped row just above it. It is the kind of small project that feels special without taking all week.
Whether you are making a hat for a newborn, a baby shower gift, or a little one in your own family, the pattern comes in five sizes, from preemie to 18/24 months. Most crocheters can finish one in a few hours, so it is easy to make a few in different sizes.
What the Finished Hat Looks Like
The finished hat is soft beige with a snug ribbed brim made with front post and back post stitches. A row of scalloped double crochet shells sits right above the ribbing, then the body is worked in classic half double crochet and gently shaped into a rounded crown. If you follow the pattern as written, your hat will look just like the one in the photo.
Pattern Overview
The hat is worked from the bottom up in joined rounds. You will start with a foundation chain, work the ribbed brim, add the scalloped row, build the body in half double crochet, and then decrease evenly to shape the top. The main stitches are half double crochet (hdc), front post and back post hdc for the brim, and a few double crochet (dc) for the scalloped row.
Skill level: confident beginner. You will need to know how to work around the post of a stitch and how to decrease, and the instructions below explain both.
Supplies List
- Yarn: Bernat® Baby Sport™ (12.3 oz / 350 g; 1256 yds / 1148 m) in a soft beige or taupe shade. Any similar sport weight (#3) baby yarn will also work.
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US G/7) crochet hook, or the size that gives you a firm but soft fabric.
- Other tools: yarn needle, scissors, and a stitch marker to mark the start of each round.
Yarn amount: One ball is more than enough for any size, and it will make several hats.
Gauge tip: Make a small swatch before you begin. If the fabric feels loose or has big gaps, try a smaller hook. If it feels stiff, try a larger one.
Sizes and Measurements
| Size | Foundation chain | Length before shaping the top |
|---|---|---|
| Preemie | 36 | 3 in / 7.5 cm |
| Newborn | 42 | 3½ in / 9 cm |
| 3/6 months | 54 | 4½ in / 11.5 cm |
| 6/12 months | 60 | 5½ in / 14 cm |
| 18/24 months | 66 | 6½ in / 16.5 cm |
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- FPhdc (front post hdc) = yarn over, insert the hook from front to back to front around the post of the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
- BPhdc (back post hdc) = yarn over, insert the hook from back to front to back around the post of the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
- hdc2tog (hdc 2 together) = (yarn over, insert the hook in the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop) twice, yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on the hook.
Instructions
Instructions are written for the smallest size first (Preemie), with the other sizes in parentheses in this order: (Newborn – 3/6 months – 6/12 months – 18/24 months). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. The starting ch 2 of each round does not count as a stitch.
Body (worked in rounds)
- Foundation: Ch 36 (42-54-60-66). Join with a sl st to the first ch, making sure the chain is not twisted.
- Round 1: Ch 2. Work 1 hdc in each ch around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 36 (42-54-60-66) hdc. - Rounds 2–4 (ribbed brim): Ch 2. *FPhdc around the next stitch, BPhdc around the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first FPhdc.
- Round 5 (scalloped row): Ch 1. Skip the next 2 stitches. *(3 dc in the next stitch) twice, skip the next 4 stitches.* Repeat from * to * until 4 stitches remain. (3 dc in the next stitch) twice, skip the last 2 stitches. Join with a sl st to the first dc.
You will have 36 (42-54-60-66) dc. - Round 6: Ch 2. Work 1 hdc in each dc around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 36 (42-54-60-66) hdc. - Round 7 and following: Ch 2. Work 1 hdc in each hdc around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc. Repeat this round until the hat measures 3 (3½-4½-5½-6½) inches [7.5 (9-11.5-14-16.5) cm] from the foundation chain edge.
Shape the Top
- Decrease Round 1: Ch 2. *1 hdc in each of the next 4 (5-7-8-9) hdc, hdc2tog.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 30 (36-48-54-60) hdc. - Decrease Round 2: Ch 2. *1 hdc in each of the next 3 (4-6-7-8) hdc, hdc2tog.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 24 (30-42-48-54) hdc. - Decrease Round 3: Ch 2. *1 hdc in each of the next 2 (3-5-6-7) hdc, hdc2tog.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 18 (24-36-42-48) hdc. - Decrease Round 4: Ch 2. *1 hdc in each of the next 1 (2-4-5-6) hdc, hdc2tog.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 12 (18-30-36-42) hdc.
Preemie and Newborn: go straight to “Finish the Crown.” - Decrease Round 5 (3/6, 6/12 and 18/24 months only): Ch 2. Hdc2tog around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc.
You will have 15 (18-21) hdc.
Finish the Crown
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto a yarn needle and pass it through the front loops of the remaining stitches. Pull tight to close the top, then secure the yarn on the inside. Weave in all ends.
Stitch Count Check
Count your stitches at the end of each round. If your numbers match the table, you are on track.
| Size | Round 1 | Decrease Rd 1 | Decrease Rd 2 | Decrease Rd 3 | Decrease Rd 4 | Decrease Rd 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preemie | 36 | 30 | 24 | 18 | 12 | – |
| Newborn | 42 | 36 | 30 | 24 | 18 | – |
| 3/6 months | 54 | 48 | 42 | 36 | 30 | 15 |
| 6/12 months | 60 | 54 | 48 | 42 | 36 | 18 |
| 18/24 months | 66 | 60 | 54 | 48 | 42 | 21 |
Ways to Use Your Finished Hat
This hat is a sweet handmade gift for a newborn or a baby shower basket. It also makes a cozy everyday hat for chilly outings, and it looks adorable in baby photos. Make a few sizes ahead of time so you always have a gift ready.
How to Care for Your Crochet Hat
- Always check the yarn label first. Bernat Baby Sport is an acrylic yarn, and many acrylics can be washed gently by hand or on a delicate cycle.
- To hand wash, use cool water and a mild detergent. Do not wring or twist the hat.
- Gently reshape the hat while it is still damp, then lay it flat on a towel to dry, away from direct sunlight.
- Avoid high heat and hot irons, which can damage acrylic yarn.
- Store it folded flat in a cool, dry place so it does not stretch.
Helpful Crochet Tips
- Keep your tension even so the post stitches in the brim look neat.
- Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round so you always know where the round starts.
- Count your stitches after each round to catch mistakes early.
- For the front post and back post stitches, look for the “post” of the stitch below. It is the vertical part of the stitch, below the top loops.
- Weave in your ends securely, especially on baby items.
- Reshape the finished hat gently with your hands to give it a smooth, rounded shape.
Creative Variations
The pattern as written gives you the hat in the photo. If you want to make it your own, here are a few ideas:
- Try a different yarn color to match a season or an outfit.
- Work the brim in a contrasting color for a playful touch.
- Make a few in different shades for a matching set of gifts.
- Add a simple embroidered initial on the brim, stitched on securely.
Keep in mind that a different yarn or hook size can change the size and drape of the hat, so make a swatch first.
Safety Note
Avoid buttons, beads, or other small parts on baby hats, as they can be a choking hazard. Use embroidery instead, and never leave a baby sleeping in a hat unsupervised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this crochet pattern beginner-friendly?
It is great for confident beginners. If you know how to chain, slip stitch, hdc, and dc, you only need to learn two new skills: working around the post of a stitch and decreasing. Both are explained above.
What yarn works best?
Bernat Baby Sport is soft and made for baby items. Any sport weight (#3) baby-friendly yarn will work, and a smooth, light-colored yarn shows the stitch details best.
Can I use a different hook size?
Yes, but it will change the size and feel of the hat. Make a small swatch first. If your fabric is looser or tighter than you like, adjust your hook size until it feels right.
How long does it take to make?
Most crocheters finish this hat in a few hours, depending on their speed and the size they choose.
How do I make the hat fit better?
Choose the size by the baby’s age, then check the length before you start the top shaping. If you want a slightly longer hat, add extra rounds of hdc in Round 7 before you begin decreasing.
Why does my hat look different from the photo?
Check that your brim uses alternating front post and back post stitches for exactly three rounds, and that the scalloped dc row comes right after it. Also count your stitches against the table above after each round.
Now grab your hook and yarn and make a cozy little hat for someone special. Happy crocheting!
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