Friday 6 December 2013

Free pattern Friday: Baby and Toddler hat

Hello! Welcome to a new 'strand' on my blog- free pattern Friday! I've been promising this free crochet baby hat pattern for a couple of weeks now, so here it is! It's a super simple, quick project, perfect for a baby stocking filler or gift for a niece or nephew, grandson, god daughter...

NOTE: I've amended the pattern to include a different hook size! My children and nephews have large heads so please be aware that these hat sizes are approximate. 
I've sized up to aged 3, though obviously every child's head is different so go for whichever size you think will be best for the poppet who will be modelling it. I've used a 3.5mm hook and double knit yarn, you shouldn't need more than a 50g ball for a baby so use something soft and washable. Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino is perfect. I would recommend using wool or acrylic (or a mix) for this hat; cotton just isn't stretchy enough and you want this hat to be snug with some stretch in it for warming cold little heads over the coming months. 





You will need:-
1 x 50g ball of DK-weight yarn (yarn A), such as Annell Rapido in Ochre (Ages 0-6 months, 6-12 months)
2 x 50g ball of DK-weight yarn (ages 1-2 years, 2-3 years)
a small amount of contrasting DK-weight yarn for trim and pom pom (yarn B)
3.5mm or 4mm hook
Pom pom maker or two cardboard discs
Scissors and Tapestry needle

I have used UK crochet terminology throughout.

ch= Chain
tr= Treble crochet
Sl st = Slip stitch
dc= double crochet
RS= Right side (front)
st= Stitch
tr2tog=

Baby 0-6 Months
To begin: With yarn A 4 ch, sl st to form a ring
Round 1: 3 ch (counts as 1 tr), 11 tr into ring. Join with sl st to 3 ch. (12 sts)
Round 2: 2 ch (counts a 1 tr), 1tr into first st , *2 tr into next st. Repeat from * around, join with sl st into 2 ch.  (24 sts)
Round 3: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next st, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last st, join with sl st into 2 ch.

Round 4: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 2 sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 2 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.
Round 5: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 3sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 3 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.
Round 6: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 4 sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 4 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.
Round 7- 17: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into each st around. Join with ss to 2 ch. Fasten off yarn on final round.

For earflaps: With RS facing, locate the centre 13 stitches of the side of the hat (where the ears usually are on the head!).
Join in yarn A. 2 ch, 1 tr into each of the next 12 sts. Turn
2 ch, miss 1, 1 tr into next 9 sts. tr2tog into last 2 sts. Turn.
2ch, miss 1, 1 tr into next 7 sts, tr2tog into last 2 sts. Turn.
2 ch, miss 1, 1 tr into next 5 sts, tr2tog into last 2 sts. Turn.
2 ch, miss 1, 1 tr into next 3 sts, tr2tog into last 2 sts. Fasten off yarn A.

For trim: Join yarn B at back of hat, ch 1, 1 dc into each st around. Make pom pom in yarn B and stitch securely to top of hat.

Baby 6-12 months
Rounds 1-6: as 0-6 months 
Round 7: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 5 sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 5 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.

Rounds 8-19: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into each st around. Join with ss to 2 ch. Fasten off yarn on final round.

Work earflaps as before, working with 15 stitches to begin, and decreasing at the start and end of each row. Work trim as before

Toddler 1-2 years
Rounds 1-7: As 6-12 months
Round 8: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 6 sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 6 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.
Rounds 9-21: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into each st around. Join with ss to 2 ch. Fasten off yarn on final round.
Work earflaps as 6-12 months.

Toddler 2-3 years
Rounds 1-8: As 1-2 years
Round 9: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into next 7 sts, 2 tr into next. Repeat from * around. 1 tr into last 7 sts, join with sl st into 2 ch.
Rounds 10-22: 2 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into each st around. Join with ss to 2 ch. Fasten off yarn on final round.
Work earflaps as before, beginning with 17 sts.

Here's George modelling his very own bobble hat! He is small, so he is wearing the 0-6 month size. You could add some little felt ears, instead of a pom pom if you like...or perhaps add a braid to the ear flaps for a little trapper hat vibe (I didn't add braids to George's as it could potentially be a safety issue for small babies). 

Happy hooking y'all! 
xxx

4 comments:

  1. my hat is looking abit odd so far... making a toddler 1-2, followed pattern religiously and am up to row 12 now. but its very crinkly, like there is too many stitches. it looks quite big too! what do you think I've done wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry Mrs AS I am rubbish- how do I reply directly to your comment? It sounds like either too many stitches (unlikely if you've followed the pattern correctly) or perhaps your tension is a little too loose. This can also happen if you're using a different kind of yarn. Rounds 1-8 should basically create a flat circle, then rounds 9-12 simply make the 'bowl' shape of the hat Do bear in mind, too, that I have written the pattern in UK crochet terminology! So a treble crochet is what US crocheters would call a double crochet. Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a sweet pattern... and a pom-pom! I discovered the joys of the clover pom-pom maker this summer - which resulted in similar scenes to those seen in Kirstie's handmade Christmas! Such joy from plastic circles. Popped into the local wool shop this week, they were wondering why they had sold loads in a few days...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just made this for my daughter. Thrilled with how it turned out. Thanks so much for the pattern

    ReplyDelete

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