Crochet a cute little hat to help provide comfort and support for premature newborns and their families. If you aren’t already familiar with sites collecting donations in your community, you might want to try local churches, hospitals, or your local yarn store. If you don’t mind mailing them, I know my local yarn shop, Close Knit Yarns, would be happy to receive your hats (I asked them!) and arrange for their donation at a local hospital. Just click on the link here for their shipping address. In addition to preemie sizes, I know they also accept standard newborn sizes as well. You can also use this handy free printable Hat Sizing Guide to easily modify the hat to fit any size you would like.
Preemie Crochet Hat Pattern
Here’s what you will need:
- approximately 38 yds cotton or acrylic worsted weight yarn (no wool; shown here in Berroco Remix in the colorway Old Jeans 3927)
- US I-9 / 5.5 mm crochet hook
- 1.25 in. (35 mm) pom pom maker (optional)
- yarn needle and scissors
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this crochet pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart, How to Make a Magic Ring {photo & video tutorial}.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Available as a convenient, ad-free pdf download here.
Gauge: approximately 11 hdc and 9 rows = 4 in.
Since premature infants can vary in size, I have included two hat sizes that you can choose from.
The first is designed to fit babies of approximately 3 to 5 lbs and measures approximately 4 in. from crown to brim (not counting the pom pom) and 9 in. circumference when finished.
The second is designed to fit babies of approximately 5 to 6 lbs and measures approximately 4.5 in. from crown to brim (not counting the pom pom) and 10 in. circumference when finished.
Sizing can be easily modified to fit any size with this handy Hat Sizing Guide.
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.
Designed to fit babies of approximately 3 to 5 lbs.
Make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can also ch 4 and join in the furthest ch from hook to form a ring).
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout), work 8 hdc in ring, join — 8 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 16 sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next, *2 hdc in next, 1 hdc in next, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 24 sts.
Rounds 5 through 7: Repeat Round 4.
Round 8: 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 — 24 sts.
Round 9: 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 — 24 sts.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Add a decorative pom pom if desired.
Designed to fit babies of approximately 5 to 6 lbs.
Make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can also ch 4 and join in the furthest ch from hook to form a ring).
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout), work 8 hdc in ring, join — 8 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 16 sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next, *2 hdc in next, 1 hdc in next, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, work 2 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 32 sts.
Round 5: Ch 1, work 1 hdc in same st as join and in each st around, join — 32 sts.
Rounds 6 through 9: Repeat Round 5.
Round 10: 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 — 32 sts.
Round 11: 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 — 32 sts.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Add a decorative pom pom if desired.
Such a cute pattern, thank you! I made the 5-6lb one but will have to make it larger & was hoping you could give advice for that. Should I double row 2? Or repeat row 3 or 4?
Thank you for this pattern. In the beginning this states design one for both sizes. I finally figured out what you meant. Did you mean design two for the larger design? Thank you again…. So cute!
Thanks, Susan! Yes, I meant the second design. I have corrected the post.
Thank You for the pattern. Making hats for premies, in memory of a Friend”s Grandson for giveaway boxes. Much appreciation.
Can I just check that on the instructions for the larger size (5-6lbs) Row 4, 10 and 11 should that be 36 stitches?
Hi Patricia 🙂 Thanks for the question … those rows should have 32 sts in each. Hope that helps!!
same with me.. i also get 36 stitches
Thank you it’s cute
Fp dc means front post double crochet Ann meadows
What does fp dc mean
Kara, I work at a senior citizens center and I’m going to pass your pattern onto them….they have a crochet circle!
Another place to check is the a local Senior Center which may have an active knitting or crocheting group. Our group, The Chain Gang, crochets for local hospitals, schools, and other institutions.