Accidental Hat Design

 

Please note:  I make all my hat patterns free of charge to inspire crocheters to make hats for charity, particularly for Hat Not Hate.  Please feel free to redistribute this pattern, so long as you include this note.

Bottom-up ribbed hat

While working on a hat designed by another, I added more and more variation as I crocheted.  I soon realized I liked my variations more than the pattern I was working with, and voila! I had a hat of my own design! This design borrows only the bottom/hem start from the original pattern.  I’ve seen many top-down ribbed hat patterns, but this is the first bottom-up ribbed hat pattern I’ve seen.

Yarn:  Worsted (4) weight, such as Wal-Mart Mainstay or Caron One Pound; use other yarns if desired. 

This pattern works well with solids and variegated colors.  I haven’t tested with self-striping yarn, but I suspect the user would be better off manually controlling color in order to produce stripes than using self-striping yarns.

Hook:  J (6mm); if other yarns are used, size up at least 1 mm from the recommended hook specified by the yarn manufacturer

Special stitches or stitch patterns:

It is assumed the reader is familiar with front-post double crochet (FPDC)

For decreases (FPdec), rather than using the tradition DC2tog, simply perform a FPDC using two front posts from previous row.

SSTJ = slip stitch to join

[: :] = repeat sign in music.  Repeat what is within the brackets the number of times indicated.

Method:

All measurements and counts are given in ranges. User must determine correct measurement/count for the intended end user.  Hat can be either tight-fitting beanie or slouch hat, depending on number of rounds worked.

Measure circumference of a hat that fits the head you intend to cover.  (Or the head itself.)  Usually this is 20-21 inches, but there is no wrong answer.

1. Create a chain as long as the circumference you measured, usually 58-62 ch.  Ensuring the chain is not twisted, slip stitch to join (SSTJ); ch1
2. Single crochet (SC) in every chain; SSTJ, ch1*
3. Double crochet in every SC; SSTJ, ch1
4. FPDC in every DC; SSTJ, ch1  [Hint:  For any FPDC row, especially the first, ensure you have drawn enough yarn through before you complete the stitch. This is the best way to avoid curling of the fabric.]
5. Repeat step 4 until work measures 5-6 inches or until desire pre-decrease height is achieved..
6. [:FPDC in next (or first) 4 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1 OR see alternative procedure below.
7. FPDC in every st.; SSTJ, ch1
8. Repeat step 7 until work measure 7-8 inches or other desired height; SSTJ, ch1
9. FPdec in every 2 st.; if one FPDC remains, FPDC in that st.; SSTJ, ch1
10. Repeat step 9, SSTJ.   Tie off, leaving tail long enough for sewing top together.
11. Using tapestry/yarn needle and the long tail left from step 10, st. in top of every stitch.  Pull together gently to avoid breaking yarn.
12. Make additional stitches ad lib. to secure yarn.  It is useful to do steps 11 and 12 from the inside of the hat.

Optional steps 6ff for a long, slow decrease:

1. [:FPDC 10 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
2. [:FPDC 9 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
3. [:FPDC 8 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
4. [:FPDC 7 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
5. [:FPDC 6 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
6. [:FPDC 4 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
7. [:FPDC 2 st., FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, ch1
8. [:FPdec in next 2 st.:] repeat until end, FPDC any st. that remain; SSTJ, tie off
9. Using tapestry/yarn needle and the long tail left from step 8, st. in top of every stitch.  Pull together gently to avoid breaking yarn.
10. Make additional stitches ad lib. to secure yarn.  \

Sew in loose ends.  Optional:  Add a pom-pom, if desired.

Bribe someone to model the hat for Instagram pictures.  

*It is possible to start with the round of DC and add the round of SC after completing the hat, but the only reason I can imagine for doing this is to use a different yarn. Even that could be accomplished by manually changing the yarn.

Please address any questions or comments to beardedyarndudes@deb8.biz.