Free Crochet Hat Instructions

"How to crochet a hat”

Here are the crochet hat instructions for what I call my “30 Minute Hat” because that’s all the time it takes to make one up. My favorite pattern though is for this fast little crochet hat.

Free crochet hat pattern

This hat would be great for either a baby doll or a preemie. It is a very quick and easy crochet pattern that even beginners should have no trouble with.

Crochet hook: size H

Yarn: Simply Soft yarn

Skill: Easy

Ch 4 join with a sl st

1 – ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2 join

2 – ch 2 turn, 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc in corner, 1 dc in each dc to next corner, 3 dc ch 2, in corner, repeat from * around. Sl st to first dc.

3 – ch 2, * 1 dc in each dc, 2 dc in corners. Repeat * around, join with sl st.

4 – Repeat row 3 but dec 1 st in each corner

5 – Repeat row 4

6 – Ch 2, dc around.

Fasten off.

This pattern will show you how to crochet a hat beginning with a simple granny square. This pattern begins like any regular granny square. You can simply make this crochet hat larger by making the first or top granny square a bit bigger. Repeat row 2 a couple of times and to accomplish the size you want.

Then it continues with just the double crochet stitch. I love the simplicity of the pattern. It is the perfect project for when you want to make something but don’t want to spend the evening studying a pattern.

A hat is a must for a lot of people in the winter and preemies need a hat all year long. If you help with the charities for the neo natal units, you could make a lot of hats in no time at all. Today there are numerous free patterns online readily available for use. These patterns cover a variety of styles in hats and many different yarns can be used.

I like to use the Simply Soft yarn because it is so soft and gentle on the babies’ tender skin. Baby yarn is made by many manufacturers and is softer and kinder to the skin that other yarns. Just be sure if you are making preemie hats never use yarn with a shinny thread through it. This is metallic and will get very hot in an incubator.

Another charity idea is to make them up for baby dolls. Add a pair of booties and or a sweater and some little girl will be thrilled. Christmas Charities takes donations all year long not just at Christmas.

You can make a hat using a waffle-stitch pattern out of 4-ply worsted weight yarn. I can find this type yarn in many different brands and colors. Some of the yarns are softer than others and is personal preference which type should be used. An “H” crochet hook needs to be used for this particular cap.

With softer baby yarn I have found many styles of baby caps that can be made. I often use a size “F” hook with these yarns to get the right sizes for a baby. I usually measure the baby's head when I can so I know exactly how big to make the cap.

Another type of cap I like to make is a basic cloche. This can be made using bulky yarn. The bulky yarns can be found in various brands and textures. A pattern can turn out with a different look each time making it with different yarns.

You can just take any favorite 5-inch or 6-inch pattern for a granny square and crochet 5 squares. Then stitch the 5 squares together 1 in the center (for the crown) and 4 around the edges. Then place a simple border of several rows of single crochet around the outside of the attached squares. This is such a fast project to make that you can do it easily in a day.