Easy Baby Beanie
Worked from the crown down in joined rounds of half double crochet, this beanie is a clear introduction to making hats: grow a flat circle until it is the right size, then work straight down to the brim.
- Skill level
- Easy
- Finished size
- Newborn: 12 in (30 cm) around · 0–3 months: 14 in (35.5 cm) · 3–6 months: 16 in (40.5 cm)
- Yarn weight
- Light
- Hook
- 4 mm (US G-6)
- Time
- About 1½–2 hours
- Terminology
- US terms
Gauge: 16 hdc = 4 in (10 cm) worked in rounds. Check your gauge — it determines the finished size.
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About this pattern
Most top-down crochet hats start with the same idea. You increase evenly in a flat circle until the circle matches the hat's circumference, then stop increasing and work even rounds to build the height. A short single crochet brim finishes the edge neatly.
Sizes are given for newborn, 0–3 months and 3–6 months. Babies vary a lot, so measure the head if you can — a hat slightly smaller than the head circumference stays on best.
For safety, skip pompoms, buttons and other small attachments on hats for babies, and choose a soft, washable yarn.
Why you'll love it
- Three sizes in one simple pattern
- Teaches the flat-circle method used for almost every hat
- Finishes in an evening
- A classic baby shower gift
Materials
DK-weight yarn
Estimated
About 90–150 yd (82–137 m), depending on size
4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
Stitch marker and tapestry needle
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- hdc
- half double crochetUK: htr
- sc
- single crochetUK: dc
- sl st
- slip stitchUK: ss
- inc
- increase — work 2 stitches in the same stitch
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- rnd(s)
- round(s)
- [ ]
- repeat the instructions inside the brackets the number of times stated
This pattern uses US terms. Convert US ↔ UK terms
Stitches used
Notes before you start
- Sizes are written as Newborn (0–3 months, 3–6 months). Follow the numbers for your size throughout.
- Rounds are joined. The ch 2 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch — work the first hdc into the same stitch as the join.
- Here, inc means 2 hdc in the same stitch.
- Place a marker in the first stitch of each round so the join is easy to find.
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The pattern
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Tick rows and rounds as you finish them — your progress is saved on this device.
Crown
Body
Brim
Finishing
Tips
- If the crown ruffles, your tension may be loose — try a smaller hook. If it cups, try a larger one.
- Measure the height from the very center of the crown, laying the hat flat.
- Keep a note of your size and hook so matching gifts come out the same.
Variations
- Fold-up brim
- Work 6 extra even rounds of hdc before the brim, then fold the bottom edge up.
- Stripes
- Change color every 2 rounds on the body, joining the new color with the slip stitch at the end of a round.
- Ribbed brim
- Replace the sc brim with 3 rounds of ribbing. In each round, alternate one front post double crochet and one back post double crochet all the way around, keeping front posts above front posts and back posts above back posts. Every size has an even stitch count, so the ribs line up.
Common questions
Should I add a pompom?
We don’t recommend pompoms, buttons or other small attachments on hats for babies — they can come loose and become a choking hazard.
Which yarn is best for baby items?
Choose something soft, smooth and machine washable, such as a cotton blend, bamboo blend or superwash merino. Avoid fuzzy yarns that shed.
My hat came out too big. What happened?
Your gauge is probably looser than 16 hdc per 4 in. Try a smaller hook, or follow the instructions for the next size down.
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