When I teach my Beyond Basics crochet classes I like to incorporate fun projects to help students learn the techniques I cover. This basic striped crochet hat pattern is worked in half double crochets (hdc) and helps give my students a better understanding of gauge, working in the round, clean color changes, increasing, and creating a ribbed effect with post stitches. They get to learn all this while also creating something they can actually wear or give as a gift!
So whether you are trying to build on your basic crochet knowledge or just want a cute crochet hat, give this hdc hat pattern a go. You may also like my one color easy crochet hat pattern here.
Basic Striped Crochet Hat Pattern
Here’s what you will need:
- 2 colors worsted-weight yarn (shown here in Cascade 220)
- US H-8 / 5 mm crochet hook
- tapestry needle and scissor
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this free pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Note: I prefer starting rounds with a ch-1 followed by the first st of the round because I feel it leaves a less obvious “seam”; however, if you prefer the more traditional ch-2 start, count the ch-2 as a stitch and use it in place of the ch-1 and the first hdc (end of round stitch counts should remain the same).
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): Yarn over and insert hook from the front around the back and to the front again around the post of the stitch in the previous row. Complete as a regular double crochet.
Gauge: 13 hdc and 11 rows = 4 in.
Sizing: pattern as written will yield a standard adult size but can be easily modified to fit any size with this handy Hat Sizing Guide; finished circumference is approx. 20 in.; crown to brim is approx. 8 in.
With CA make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can ch 2 and work Round 1 in the second ch from hook).
Round 1: Continuing with CA, chain 1 and work 8 hdc in ring, join in top of 1st hdc with CB, tug tail gently to close up hole — 8 sts.
Round 2: Continuing with CB, ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout; see note), work 2 hdc in same st as join and in each st around, join with CA — 16 sts.
Round 3: Continuing with CA, ch 1 , work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next st, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next, rep from * around, join with CB — 24 sts.
Round 4: Continuing with CB, ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join with CA — 32 sts.
Round 5: Continuing with CA, ch 1 , work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 3 sts, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join with CB — 40 sts.
Round 6: Continuing with CB, ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 sts, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around, join with CA — 48 sts.
Round 7: Continuing with CA, ch 1 , work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 5 sts, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in each of the next 5 sts, rep from * around, join with CB — 56 sts.
Round 8: Continuing with CB, ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 6 sts, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in each of the next 6 sts, rep from * around, join with CA — 64 sts.
Round 9: Continuing with CA, ch 1 , work 1 hdc in same st as join and each st around, join with CB — 64 sts.
Round 10: Continuing with CB, ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join and each st around, join with CA — 64 sts.
Rounds 11 through 18: Repeat Rounds 9 and 10. After completing Round 18, fasten off CB only.
Round 19: Continuing with CA, ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join and each st around, join — 64 sts.
Round 20: Ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 FPdc around next hdc, *1 hdc in next st, 1 FPdc around next, rep from * around, join — 64 sts.
Rounds 21 and 22: Ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 FPdc around next FPdc, *1 hdc in next st, 1 FPdc around next FPdc, rep from * around, join — 64 sts.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Hi and thanks for the pattern! I’m still not sure how to close the rounds – do I do it with a slip stitch (in the new color) and then do a CH 1 etc.?
Thanks!
Hi,
Can you please explain how to do the ribbing with the correction
Thanks
Hi! I love the look of this pattern, but I would like to do it all in one color. Do I still need to join with a slip stitch and chain one every round, or can I go with a more modern, seamless style where I just crochet in continuous rounds? Additionally, would it be possible for you to post the same pattern with the hat done up in all the same color?
Thanks,
Gen
Hi Gen 🙂 You can absolutely work up this hat in one color and work in a spiral instead of joining rounds. You would probably want to use a stitch marker so you can keep track of your rounds though. I don’t have this pattern worked up in one color to post at this point.
Hi, my name is Khara and I just made this pattern. It was easy to follow which I loved, but for some reason, it turned out really loose. Am I supposed to keep the yarn tight while working or what? Help please!
Hi I’m having trouble with the ribbing. Could you should us how to obtain this please
Hi, thank you for the pattern. As I was working along I realized my hat was turning more into a bowl-shape! I think i was placing the stitches in the wrong loops. Since it’s HDC, are we working the hook into the front two, back two, or all 3 loops of the HDC stitch? I think I was working in the two front (inner part of the hat) which is why it was curling. Thank you 🙂
Hi Stacy 🙂 You should be working through the top two loops of the stitch … not the back or front bars. Hope that helps!
Thanks for a hat pattern with a good ending stitch count! So many crochet hat patterns do not have that and usually result in larger hats than needed. I’ve made many hats for my two grown daughters and their group of friends and will always remember when one of them posted a photo on facebook of him wearing a hat I had made him that was very loose. I’ve since learned to make adult sizes of small, medium and large with ending (or beginning if bottom up) stitch counts of 60, 64, and 68. Not everyone likes a loose fitting hat!
So happy the fit worked out the way you like it 🙂
Thank you for pattern it was real simple to understand.
Kara, please clarify. When changing color of yarn, is the working yarn dropped and carried along inside hat? This would be versus breaking yarn with each color change. If so, do you have any hints how to carry the non-working yarn so it is undetectable? Thanks. -Rosemary
Hi Rosemary 🙂 Yes, I carry the colors on the inside of the hat, without cutting each time. Since it doesn’t carry up multiple rounds I don’t use any special trick or technique since it’s only on the inside of the hat and the floats are not too long.
THANK YOU thank you thank you! Decided to try to bust my “leftover” stash by making hats and came across your pattern. I have been crocheting for many years but had never heard of the ch1 verses ch2 on starting rounds. I have always used ch2, but never again. What a big difference. No more seam. I love it! Thanks for sharing your pattern.
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it!!
Leaves a very obvious seam. Perhaps I did something wrong…
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What is CA and CB?
CA = color A; CB = color B 🙂
Just made 2 hats for the Veterans in the same colors before I saw your Post in my News Feed and Yarn Whisperers of Baltimore, MD.
We enjoy following you. Great Minds think alike!
Howdy…Saw your hat post on on my news feed after I made 2 hats for the Veterans in the identical colors. Great Minds think alike.
Is there a video tutorial for the ribbing on the bottom…confused on where the stitches go
Never mind. …took me a couple tries but figured it out!
what did you do to figure it out?mine is still not right??
What is CB and CB?
Just finished this hat. It was easy quick and fun to make.I plan to make a few more for my daughters. I love wearing this of course I made a matching scarf
So glad you liked it, Debra 🙂
Thanks for this pattern! It’s my first time crocheting a hat and I used a wool yarn to make a nice beanie for my husband. I think I might make one for myself too 🙂
So glad you like it!
Thank you for the beautiful pattern, I featured it on my blog 🙂 http://www.colorfulcanary.com/2016/01/14-fashionable-crochet-hat-patterns-for.html
Thanks so much for featuring me! I will be sure to share your post on my social media outlets!!
I just completed a hat from this pattern. It’s so cute, and I’m wearing it right now. I found an error, though, in the pattern. In the last 2 rows, you do fpdc around each fpdc and hdc in each hdc in order to get the ribbed look as shown in the picture. Otherwise, the stiches are staggered, which I don’t think is the intent.
You are correct … I updated the pattern to correct it 🙂 Thank you!
Where is the updated pattern shown then?
Cute pattern. I did change the ribbing tho’ I did fpdc around ea. fpdc and hdc in ea. hdc to get my ribs to line up.
I love this hat design, it’s just what I’ve been looking for. I’d really love to make a newborn size version of this hat, don’t suppose you have any tips for me on how best to do this? Thank you 🙂
Hi Rosie 🙂 This guide will help you work the pattern in any size you like. Just stop increases once your beginning circle measures what is indicated on the chart for newborns. Hope this helps! … http://www.petalstopicots.com/2015/09/hat-size-chart-for-preemie-through-adult-free-printable/
It waves as I crochet it
I take it you’re just carrying the two strands along the inside seam, rather than cutting the yarn for each transition? Every time I try this I end up with a very, VERY obvious seam, I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong…I take you have a guide for this sort of thing already, though, so I’m going to investigate!
Great pattern, my favorite hats are simple and clean like this one!
This is a lovely pattern ~ thanx for the generous share!!! My husband adores this sort of cap and though Ive tried several attempts in the past this one has exactly the look he prefers!!!!