Design Your Own Hat – Basic HDC Pattern for all sizes…You customize!

Once you know how to make a basic hat, you can design your own masterpiece to fit any personality or situation. Add flowers, stripes, ears, eyes, braids, initials or more. These can easily be made into baby hats, gifts for all ages, chemo caps, and more.

This hat is made using half double crochet stitches. You can also make them with double crochets, but I like this better because the stitches aren’t quite as tall…making for better head coverage.

A couple of elements that I like:

• I always start with a magic circle or magic loop. You can always chain 3, join, and then crochet into the hole, but I like the magic circle better because there isn’t a hole in the top of the hat.
• I’ve seen many patterns where the first chain 2 in the round counts as a HDC. Mine doesn’t. By ignoring that chain 2, and slip stitching to the top of the first HDC, it puts the chain behind the join. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I like this join a lot better!

Some of the ways I personalized these hats:

• Change colors every row. You don’t even need to cut the yarn. Just crochet over the yarn from the previous row for 2 stitches to keep it nice and clean, then continue around with your new color. Pick up the old one and do it again.
• Replace the last row of SC with a crab stitch or reverse single crochet. This gives a nice finish for baby hats. That’s what I did on the purple and yellow one.
• Eliminate 2 rows of HDC and add 4 rows of SC to the bottom. This is a nice finish for a man’s hat.
• Eliminate 2 rows of HDC, and add a DC, CH 1 round. You can then weave a ribbon around the hat.
• Eliminate 1 or 2 rows of HDC and add 2 rows of SC in a contrasting color. Then continue to finish the hat as directed.
• Eliminate 1 or 2 rows of HDC and add a shell using 5 DC, SK 1, 1 SC, SK 1 around the hat.
• Eliminate 3 rows of HDC and replace them with 3 rows of alternating Front Post Double Crochet and Back Post Double Crochet. Then finish with a row of SC. This gives the ribbed look on the gray hat.
• Replace 1 row of HDC with 2 rows of SC through the back loop only. This provides a nice texture on the hat.
• Eliminate 2 rows of HDC and add a row of skip 2 stitches, DC, the DC in first skipped stitch. I combined this with the SC through the back loop only on the red hat to create the X Pattern.
• Eliminate 1 row of HDC and SC at the bottom of the hat, and replace with a row of SC and 2 rows of alternating Front Post Single Crochet and Back Post Single Crochet. This is what I did on the Dark Blue and Gray hat.

Gauge

• 13 stitches and 10 rows = 4” in HDC. Use whatever size hook you need to obtain gauge.

What You’ll Need:

• 32 – 130 yards of Worsted Weight Yarn depending on size. Some of the yarns I used were: Cascade Avalon, Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme, Berroco Modern Cotton, and The Sassy Skein Worsted Weight
• Crochet Hook Size I (5.5 mm)
• Yarn Needle to weave in ends

Abbreviations

• MC = magic circle
• CH = chain
• HDC = half double crochet
• SS = slip stitch
• SC = single crochet
• ST = stitch
• DC = double crochet
• SK = skip

Preemie (Pink Hat) (10” circumference, 4” length)

• Requires 32 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 7.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (36)
• Rounds 6-12 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (36)
• Round 13 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (36)
• Finish off. Weave in ends. 

Newborn (Purple & Yellow Hat) (13” circumference, 4 3/4” length)

• Requires 53 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Rounds 6 – 13 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 14 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (40)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

3-6 Months (Purple Hat with multi-colored stripe) (14 1/2” circumference, 5 1/2” length)

• Requires 67 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Rounds 7 – 15 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 16 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (48)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

6-12 Months (Yellow Hat) (16” circumference, 6 1/2” length)

• Requires 81 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 7 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 11.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (52)
• Rounds 8 – 17 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (52)
• Round 18 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (52)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Toddler 1-3 years (Gray Hat) (18” circumference, 7” length)

• Requires 88 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 7 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 5.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (56)
• Rounds 8 – 18 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (56)
• Round 19 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (56)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Child 3-10 years – (Red Hat) (20” circumference, 7 1/4” length)

• Requires 95 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 7 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 5.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (56)
• Round 8 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 13.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (60)
• Rounds 9 – 20 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (60)
• Round 21 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (60)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Teen or Small Adult (Light Blue Hat) (21” circumference, 7 ½” length)

• Requires 108 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 7 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 5.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (56)
• Round 8 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 6.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (64)
• Rounds 9 – 21 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (64)
• Round 22 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (64)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Large Adult (Dark Blue & Gray Hat) (23” circumference, 8” length)

• Requires 130 yards worsted weight yarn.

Pattern

• Magic Circle
• Round 1 – 8 HDC IN MC , SS to 1^st HDC to join (8)
• Round 2 – CH 2. 2 HDC in each ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (16)
• Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (24)
• Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 2.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (32)
• Round 5 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 3.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (40)
• Round 6 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 4.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (48)
• Round 7 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 5.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (56)
• Round 8 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 6.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (64)
• Round 9 – CH 2. *2 HDC in first ST, 1 HDC in next 9.* Repeat for a total of 6 times. 1 HDC in next 4 ST. SS to 1^st HDC to join (70)
• Rounds 10 – 22 – CH 2. HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (70)
• Round 23 – CH 1, SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC to join (70)

Finish off. Weave in ends.