How to Crochet a Baby Hat Under an Hour: Simple Pattern

Learn how to crochet a baby hat with any yarn! A crochet baby hat is an ideal garment for a beginner crocheter. It is one of the easiest things you can make, and it is super quick to make because it is so small! Whether you are creating the hat for your own infant, or whether it will be a gift, you will get a lot of satisfaction from using this crochet baby beanie pattern!

Crochet Baby Hat Pattern

Aside from making the baby look super cute, hats are also essential for babies. Because their heads are larger relative to their bodies than adults, they can lose heat much faster than adults.

They need to have their little heads insulated so that they don’t lose too much warmth via heat transfer.  For these reasons (plus the fun of creating them!), you will want to make a whole wardrobe of hats for any baby during winter.

For even more free crochet winter hats and beginner-friendly projects, check out these crochet beanie patterns for beginners

To crochet a baby hat, you will start with a flat circle for the crown of the head and then continue without increases until the infant hat is the correct length. All it takes is a few simple measurements. This is called the top down method of crocheting infant hats.

Here’s a brief step-by-step guide to crochet a baby hat using the top-down method:

1. Start with a Magic Circle: 12 double crochets into the circle.
2. Increase Rounds: In each subsequent round, increase stitches evenly. For example: Round 2 – 2 dc in each stitch, Round 3 – 1 dc, then 2 dc in the next, and so on.
3. Continue Until Desired Diameter: Keep increasing until the diameter of the crown matches the size needed for the baby’s head.
4. Work Even Rounds: Once you’ve reached the crown’s size, stop increasing and continue crocheting evenly in each stitch (no increases) until the hat is the desired height.

Materials for Crochet Baby Hats

• YARN: Soft, warm baby yarn. This baby hat pattern uses measurements, so you can use any weight yarn. Choose a yarn that won’t be scratchy or itchy, like cotton or acrylic. I used worsted weight yarn. Most sizes will just use one skein.
• HOOK: Crochet hook size suitable for the thickness of your yarn. The label of your yarn should give you a recommendation for the hook size. A worsted weight yarn will need a 5 mm hook size.
• NEEDLE: Tapestry needle or yarn needle to weave in the ends.
• STITCH MARKERS: These can help you keep track of the beginning and ends of rounds.
• SCISSORS

Easy Crochet Baby Hat Abbreviations

We will be working with US terms for this pattern.

• st – stitch
• ch – chain stitch
• dc – double crochet stitch
• sl st – slip stitch crochet
• sc – single crochet stitches
• sp – space
• Fpdc – front post double crochet

How To Crochet a Baby Hat – Step by Step Instructions

You will make this hat by crocheting in the round and will start with a flat circle. For this example, we will use double crochet, but it can just as easily be made using single crochet or any crochet stitch of your choice.

Crochet Baby Hat Pattern Sizing

This table is a guide to creating the correct size of hat for the baby. Keep in mind, however, that babies vary greatly in size for their age! You can actually use this tutorial to make a hat of any size by varying the circumference and length using my crochet hat sizing calculator and chart.

I know of many crocheters who have made adorable, teeny newborn hats as a gift, only to find that the hat never fits the baby! Rather, make the hat a little large, as babies grow rapidly, and at least it will grow into its cute hat!

This tutorial gives measurements for a newborn crochet hat pattern to an 18 month old.

Here is my infant crochet hat sizing chart:

Age	Hat Circumference	Crown Diameter	Length of Hat
0-3 month	14” (35.5cm)	4-4.5” (10-11.5cm)	6” (15cm)
3-6 month	15” (38.1cm)	5” (12.7cm)	6.25” (16cm)
6-12 month	16” (40.6cm)	5.25” (13.4cm)	6.5” (16.5cm)
18 months	17” (43.2cm)	6“ (15cm)	6.75” (17cm)

Step 1 – Crochet the Crown

Here, we will make a flat circle to start the crochet baby hat. Keep crocheting until you get the correct crown diameter from the chart above.

Round 1:

• Make a magic ring (magic circle), work 10 double crochet into the ring, and pull tight. (OR: Ch3, work 9 dc into the 3^rd ch from the hook.)
• Slip stitch to close the circle.

Round 2:

• Ch3 (Counts as first dc), 1 dc into same stitch.
• 2 dc into each remaining stitch around.
• Slip stitch into the top of the ch3 to close. (This is 20 dc.)

Round 3:

• Ch 3 (1^st dc), 2 dc into next stitch.
• * 1dc into next st, 2 dc into following st.
• Repeat from * around. (Here you are working 1 dc, then increasing 1 dc by working 2dc into the next stitch.)
• Sl st to close round. (This is 30 dc.)

Round 4:

• Ch3 (1^st dc), 1 dc into same stitch.
• *1 dc into each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc into following st. (So now you are working dc2, inc 1 all around.)
• Repeat from * all the way around.
• Close with a sl st. (This is 45 dc)

Measure the Crown:

You can see in this picture that I have reached the 4” (10cm) diameter of the crown needed for a newborn hat pattern. I can stop increasing now if I am making a newborn-size hat. If making a larger baby hat, continue increasing your crochet until you have the correct diameter of the crown, as per the table above.

Round 5+

• Ch3 (1^st dc), 1 dc into same st.
• * 1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc into following st. (This is the same as dc 3 increase 1, all around.)
• Close round with a sl st. (50 sts)
• You will see the pattern for increasing here. Row 6 would be dc 4, inc 1. Row 7 would be dc5, inc 1, and so on.
• Continue working rounds like this until you have reached the required crown diameter (see table above) for the size of crochet baby hat you are making.

Step 2 – Continue with No Increases

• Once you have reached this measurement, you will continue to crochet in rounds without any increases. (So simply work 1 dc into each st as you go around. You will see a cup shape forming.)
• Repeat this round until the hat reaches the required length. (See table above.)
• You can simply stop here, end off your yarn and weave in your tails. You will have a basic baby beanie.

Embellishments for Crochet Baby Hats

You may want to make this simple baby hat a little more elaborate. Here are some easy ideas for doing this.

Simple Edging

You can make a simple edge for your infant crochet hat by adding one more round in a different stitch. So for the hat explained above, you could add 1 row of sc. If you change the color for this row, it will show the edging up nicely.

Adding Ears

To make each ear:

• Ch 3, 2 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 2 sc into next ch. (4 sc)
• Ch1, turn. 2 sc into each of the 4 sts. This will make a half circle shape.Repeat for a larger ear. Leave a long tail for sewing, end yarn off.
• Thread a yarn needle with that long tail, make a line of running stitch along the base of the ear. Pull tight to gather the ear. Using the same yarn, sew the ear onto the top of the hat.
• Make another ear in the same way.

Adding Flowers

Add a simple flower, stitched into place. See my tutorial on how to crochet flowers for several different types. I crocheted style 1 which is a simple flower made with half double crochet and double crochet stitches.

Add a Pompom

Pom poms are a classic look for crochet hats for all ages. Learn how to make a pom-pom using several methods.

Add Stripes

While crocheting stripes change colors every row or second row to create a lovely bright stripey hat. Learn how to change yarn colors easily.

How to Crochet a Baby Hat – In Conclusion

These are all very easy modifications to change up the look of your baby beanie. You can use these precious little hats you have made for adorable photo shoots, or to keep the baby warm, safe, and comfortable in winter.

The baby’s head grows rapidly, so you will need to make up a variety of different sizes! A crochet baby hat also makes a wonderful gift for a new mom, especially if you haven’t had the time or inclination to make a baby blanket! Using this same basic pattern, you can mix up the colors and embellishments, and enjoy experimenting with various crochet baby hats! See more crochet beanie patterns.