Sometimes in life, the small comforts are the most appreciated and are what make the hard days easier. A hot cup of tea on a rainy day, a rhythmic project to escape to, an encouraging text from a friend. This hat would make a perfect “small comfort” for any one–a chemo patient, a “just because” gift, or a warm hug for your head. The textured stitches used are engaging but also quickly become intuitive as you work the hat.
This hat is worked bottom up, starting with a simple brim (two options are given, either back post double crochet or back loop only single crochet), then transitioning to the repeated textured stitch, which can easily be made to the length you want. I love the 2-color version especially, but it can also be made in 1 color or in as many colors as you would like!
Materials:
- Yarn: 200-250 yards/183-229 meters total of #4 medium weight yarn
- Version 1 (solid color)
- Fair Isle Yarn Liberty in the Arctic Ice Heather colorway [353 yards/322 m; 7 oz/200 g]; I used less than half a skein for this solid colored hat.
- Version 2 (two colors)
- Main Color (MC): Fair Isle Yarn Liberty, Arctic Ice Heather. I used app. 150 yards.
- Contrast Color (CC): Lion Brand Feels Like Butta [218 yards/199 m; 3.5 oz/100g]; I used less than half a skein, app. 100 yards.
- Hook: J (6 mm)
- Scissors, yarn needle, optional pompom
Skill Level:
Intermediate.
Sizing:
- This hat fits a variety of adult head sizes and can easily be adjusted either in pattern multiple or hook size to fit smaller or larger sizes.
- The solid color hat with bpdc will fit a woman’s med/large to a man’s small/med (head circumference 22” to 24”).
- The 2-color hat with sc in blo will fit a woman’s small to large (21”-23”). It can also fit a 24” head, but snugly. For larger sizes with multiple colors, go up a hook size.
Notes:
- Hat is crocheted bottom up, and each round is joined with a slip stitch.
- ch 2 and ch 1 throughout pattern do NOT count as stitches.
- Pattern multiple is 2.
- Asterisks *…* denote the stitches to be repeated in the round.
Special Stitches and Abbreviations:
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- rnd = round
- rpt = repeat
- fsc or fdc = foundation single crochet or foundation double crochet (optional)
- bpdc = back post double crochet or sc in blo = single crochet in the back loop only
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
- espsc = extra extended spike single crochet [See Figure A below]. This is a combination of the extra extended sc and the spike st.
- Figure A: 1) Insert hook into sc 1 rnd below the next sc. [This is the “spike” aspect of the stitch]. 2) Yarnover hook and draw up a loop. 3) Yarnover hook & draw through 1 loop [i.e. chain 1]. 4) Repeat Step 3 [i.e. chain another]. 5) Yarnover hook & draw through the remaining 2 loops on the hook to complete the stitch.
- Conceptual Tip: Notice in pattern that the espsc are staggered, so you are only working them into single crochets [between previous espsc].
Version 1 (Single color with bpdc brim)
Brim:
Start: Fdc 62 (or any multiple of 2), leaving a beginning tail of yarn roughly 6” inches long. Slip st to join in the rnd, being careful not to twist work. [Alternately, ch 64 and then dc in the 3rd ch and every ch across for 62 dc.]
Rnds 1-3: ch 2 [does NOT count as a st], *bpdc around 1st st and every st around*, sl st in top of 1st bpdc to join.
Hat Body:
Rnds 1-2: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Rnd 3: ch 1, *sc, espsc*, rpt around, sl st to join. Rnd 4: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Rnd 5: ch 1, *espsc, sc*, rpt around, sl st to join. Rnd 6: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Rnds 7-22: Rpt Rnds 3-6 four more times. (Or as many times as desired.)
Rnd 23: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Scroll down for Crown Instructions.
Version 2 (2-color with sc in blo brim)
Brim:
Start: With MC, Fsc 62 (or any multiple of 2), leaving a beginning tail of yarn roughly 6” long. Slip st to join in the rnd, being careful not to twist work. [Alternately, ch 63 and then sc in the 2nd ch and every ch across for 62 sc.]
Rnds 1-6: ch 1, [does NOT count as a st here or throughout pattern], *sc in blo in first st and every st around*, sl st in top of 1st sc to join.
Hat Body:
Rnds 1-2: Continuing with MC, ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join, changing color to CC on last loop.
Rnd 3: With CC, ch 1, *sc, espsc*, rpt around, sl st to join. Rnd 4: Continuing with CC, ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join, changing color to MC on last loop.
Rnd 5: With MC, ch 1, *espsc, sc*, rpt around, sl st to join. Rnd 6: Continuing with MC, ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join, changing color to CC on last loop.
Rnds 7-18: Rpt Rnds 3-6 three more times. (Or as many times as desired.)
Rnds 19-20: With CC, rpt Rnds 3-4 once again, changing to MC on last loop.
Rnd 21: With MC, ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Crown Instructions (for both Versions)
Rnd 1: Continuing with MC, ch 1, *sc2tog*, rpt around, sl st to join. (31 st) Rnds 2-3: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Rnd 4: ch 1, *sc2tog*, rpt to last st, sc in last st, sl st to join. (16 st) Rnds 5-6: ch 1, *sc in every st around*, sl st to join.
Rnd 7: ch 1, *sc2tog*, rpt around, sl st to join. (8 st) Rnd 8: ch 1, *sc in every st around *, sl st to join.
Finishing
Fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn roughly 12”. Using yarn needle, weave tail through all 8 st at the top of the hat. Pull tight and fasten securely. Close up bottom of foundation row using beginning tail of yarn. Weave in all ends. Block hat and add pompom if desired.
As with all of my patterns, you are more than welcome to sell any finished item made with your personal copy of the pattern. Attribution to the pattern designer or a link to my website or Etsy is appreciated. 🙂 Please do not sell the pattern itself. Thank you.
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