How to Crochet a Hat

How to Crochet a Hat

Learn how to crochet a hat and you’ll keep both you and your loved ones warm and shaded year-round! Crochet is a needlework craft that allows you to create stunning scarves, blankets, toys, and more with just a crochet hook and yarn.

Super quick chunky beanie
Image source: Crochet Dreamz

Learning how to make a crochet hat will allow you to make fashionable hats for yourself, create practical handmade gifts for your loved ones, and even turn your hobby into a side hustle by selling hats online. Knowing how to crochet is truly the gift that keeps giving!

If you’re ready to discover the answer to the question, “How do I crochet a hat?”, continue reading. We’ll cover the following topics:

    • Basic elements to consider when designing your crochet hat
    • How to crochet a hat for absolute beginners
    • How to crochet a simple beanie
    • How to crochet the perfect beanie with a bit more detail
    • How to crochet a cozy winter hat

How to Crochet a Hat for Beginners: Designing Your Hat

Before you can learn how to crochet a simple hat, you must first decide on several important design elements for your hat. Step one is to determine what size hat you want to create. Crochet hats are popular with everyone of all ages, from newborn babies to full-grown adults.

Crochet hat size chart by age
Image source: Crochet n Crafts

Size

Head Measurement

Hat Crown Size

Hat Height Size

Adult large

23 inches

7.5 to 8 inches

9 to 9.5 inches

Adult medium

22 inches

7 to 7.5 inches

8.5 to 9 inches

Adult small

20 to 21 inches

6.5 to 7 inches

8 to 8.5 inches

Child

19 to 20 inches

6.25 to 6.5 inches

7.5 to 8 inches

Toddler

18 to 19 inches

6 to 6.25 inches

7.25 to 7.5 inches

Having selected your hat size, you will next need to choose your yarn. You have many options to choose from, but there are three major considerations to keep in mind:

    • Weight (determines warmth and texture)
    • Material (determines warmth)
    • Texture (determines texture)
    • Color (determines how easily you can see your stitches while working)

Best yarn for crochet hat
Image source: The Spruce Crafts

Advanced crocheters most frequently recommend light-colored, low-textured worsted weight yarns for beginner crochet hat projects

How to Crochet a Beanie for Beginners

Easy peasy beanie pattern
Image source: Heart Hook Home

Learning how to make a beanie in crochet is the simplest way to answer the question, “How do you crochet a hat?.” Beanies are fashionable, practical, and simple to make. 

You can start learning how to make a beanie hat in crochet with this simple crochet pattern. Once you’ve gotten the hang of this method, you can move on to more advanced techniques.

    1. Pull yarn from both ends of one skein (for a solid colored hat) or pull one strand from two separate skeins (for a textured color effect).
    2. Create a magic circle or create a starting ring to begin crocheting in the round.
    3. Continue row one by chaining two and double crocheting eight stitches around the circle. Join the round with a slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet.
    4. Work row two by chaining two and working two double crochets into each stitch. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet.
    5. Work row three by chaining two, double crocheting in the first stitch, and working two double crochets in the next. Repeat this process around the circle and then join with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    6. Work row four by chaining two, working double crochets in the first two stitches, and then two double crochets in the next stitch. Repeat this process around the circle and join with a slip stitch in the top of the first double crochet.
    7. Work row five by chaining two, then working double crochets in the first three stitches, then two double crochets in the next stitch. Repeat around and join the round with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    8. Work row six by chaining two, double crocheting in the first four stitches, and then working two double crochets in the next. Repeat around and join with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    9. For rows seven through thirteen, chain two and then double crochet around. Always join the rows with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.

Easy crochet beanie
Image source: Heart Hook Home

For a polished final look, add crab stitch border after chaining one. Secure the yarn by weaving in the ends.

Congratulations, you’ve just learned how to make a crochet hat in the beanie style. Crochet hats don’t get any simpler than this. By being creative with a bit of border and cleverly stitching with two colors at once, you can effortlessly create a visually interesting hat.

You could try working the same pattern with a triple crochet stitch for a different effect, but the textile will be more open and less warm.

These hats are so cozy and versatile, and they would make excellent gifts with the addition of personalized woven labels.

How to Crochet a Beanie with Detail

If you’re comfortable crocheting in the round and ready to create a crochet beanie with more details, try out this circle button hat pattern. The finished hat measures approximately 22 inches in circumference and eight inches tall, making it a good fit for older children and smaller adults.

How to crochet a hat
Image source: Easy Crochet

Grab your crochet hook and yarn along with a coconut shell button (in whatever size you prefer) and a yarn needle

This beginner-friendly crochet beanie pattern requires the following stitches and crochet techniques:

The steps of this crochet beanie are quite similar to the first hat pattern above. To complete this hat, you will crochet two separate pieces and then attach them together.

    1. Chain three.
    2. Work round one by stitching 11 double crochets in the third chain away from the hook. Join the round by slip stitching to the top of the first double crochet.
    3. Work round two by chaining two, then working two double crochets into every stitch around the hat. Join by working a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    4. Work round three by chaining two, stitching one double crochet in the next stitch, then two double crochets in the stitch after. Repeat this process all the way around and join as usual.
    5. Work round four by chaining two, then working two double crochets in the next stitch and working one double crochet in the following stitch. Repeat this process around, join as usual.
    6. Work round five by chaining two, then working a double crochet in every stitch around the circle. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    7. Repeat step 6 for rounds six through eleven.
    8. For rounds 12 and 13, chain one then single crochet in every stitch around the hat. Slip stitch to the top of the first single crochet.
    9. Weave in any loose ends through the hat using the yarn needle.

Double crochet beanie pattern
Image source: Easy Crochet

The body of the hat is now complete, and the next step is to whip up the small circular decoration.

    1. Chain three, then work 11 double crochet stitches in the third chain from the hook. Slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet.
    2. Chain one. Work two single crochet stitches in every stitch around.
    3. Slip stitch to the top of the first single crochet. Fasten off leaving a long yarn tail.
    4. Use the long yarn tail through the yarn needle, attach the circle to the hat.

Add the finishing touch by stitching the button to the center of the small circle with your yarn needle. Now you know a second method for how to crochet a cap! 

If you decide to sell these from your crochet store, add care labels and hang tags for an extra professional touch that’s sure to impress your customers.

How to Crochet a Winter Hat: Easy Step by Step Instructions

If you’re eager to learn yet another way to crochet a hat, try out this cozy winter hat pattern. With or without the pom-pom on top, this wool hat feels just as warm and comfortable as it looks. This unisex hat fits most adults and works fast with super bulky yarn.

Easy hat crochet
Image source: Jonna Martinez

Materials needed:

    • 120 yarns of super bulky (size 6) yarn
    • 8 mm crochet hook (size L)
    • Scissors
    • (optional) 4-5 inch pom pom

You’re probably thinking, “show me how to crochet a hat already!”. Without further ado, read through the instructions below.

    1. Create a slip knot.
    2. Chain 27.
    3. Half double crochet into the third chain away from the hook. Continue working half double crochets into each chain. Chain two for your turning chain.

How to crochet a hat for beginners
Image source: Jonna Martinez

      4. Work rows two through 23 by half double crocheting (back loop only) into each stitch. Chain two to turn.

How to make a crochet hat
Image source: Jonna Martinez

      5. Fold the hat in half so that the ribs are vertical.

How to make a beanie for beginners
Image source: Jonna Martinez

      6. Slip stitch up the work to close. Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 inch tall to close up the top of the hat.

How to make a beanie crochet
Image source: Jonna Martinez

      7. Weave the yarn around the top of the hat using the crochet hook. Hook on the ribs only for a cleaner finished look.

How to crochet a cap
Image source: Jonna Martinez

      8. Optionally, stitch the pom-pom to the top of the hat for a festive finish.

If you prefer to follow along with video instructions, you can watch the video tutorial for the cozy winter hat.

Final Thoughts: How to Crochet a Hat

There are infinite different ways to crochet a hat. More complex crochet hat patterns include techniques such as granny squares and decreases. Simple, beginner-friendly crochet hats can look just as impressive with careful attention to detail.

When you’re just starting out, it’s best to follow patterns written for the specific hat size you want to make. As you become more comfortable with sizing in crochet, you can start to make sizing adjustments to patterns on your own.

Sizing matters the most for baby crochet hats. Refer to the table below and don’t be afraid to size up when crafting for kids and babies.

Size

Head Measurement

Hat Crown Size

Hat Height Size

12 to 24 months

17 to 18 inches

5.5 to 6 inches

6.5 to 7.25 inches

6 to 12 months

16 to 17 inches

5.25 to 5.5 inches

6.25 to 6.5 inches

3 to 6 months

14 to 15 inches

5 to 5.25 inches

6 to 6.25 inches

Newborn to 3 months

13 to 14 inches

3.5 to 5 inches

4.5 to 6 inches

Preemie

12 to 13 inches

3 to 3.5 inches

4 to 4.5 inches

Smaller preemie

10 to 12 inches

2 to 3 inches

3.5 to 4 inches