How to Crochet a Hat for Beginners

Co-authored by Lindsey Campbell

Last Updated: October 3, 2024 Fact Checked

Whether you're looking to save money on your own accessories or you want a custom gift for a friend, crocheting a hat from scratch can be a great project. If you're new to crocheting, making a whole hat may seem intimidating. However, it is easier than it might seem. With some simple directions and a bit of time, you can crochet a lovely, unique hat.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Designing Your Hat

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1
Choose your yarn. To create a basic beanie, you can use any type of yarn. However, it is generally easier for beginners to choose a style that has a good amount of elasticity, isn’t too fluffy, and isn’t too thick. Aim for a 4-ply knitting worsted yarn made out of acrylic or wool.
- The color doesn’t matter, but it is harder to see and count stitches with a darker color, so you may consider using a lighter hue for your first hat.
2
Determine the size of your hat. Before you can begin crocheting your hat, you need to determine how large or small to make it. There are two options: you can use general guidelines to choose your size, or take a head measurement for a more specific fit. Either will work well enough, but you probably won’t be able to get an exact measurement for a hat that’s being gifted. The circumference (forehead to back of the head) and the height (ear to top of head) must be measured, but here are the average sizes:
- Preemie: circumference = 12-inches, height = 4.25-inches
- Newborn: circumference = 14-inches, height = 5-inches
- Baby (6-months +): circumference = 16-inches, height = 6-inches
- Child and youth: circumference = 20-inches, height = 7.25-inches
- Adult: circumference = 22-inches, height = 8.5-inches
- Large adult: circumference = 24-inches, height = 9.25-inches
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3
Pick your crochet hook. The size of your crochet hook depends on the size of your yarn. For a 4-ply knitting worsted yarn (recommended), you will need to use an H/8 made of aluminum. This size hook is a good choice for beginners, because it will work with multiple sizes of yarn and is comfortable to hold. Further, make sure that you hold your hook the right way. There are two general holds:^{[1]
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- The knife hold (hook held like you would hold a knife to cut something).
- The pencil hold (hook help like you’re going to write something with it).

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making the Base Chain

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1
Tie your slipknot. The slipknot is the start to your crochet pattern – the knot that holds the yarn to your needle as you work. To tie the knot:^{[2]
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- Drape the yarn with the tail end in the palm of your hand, wrapped around the top of your index finger and under your middle finger.
- Wrap the yarn back over the top of your index, behind the first loop.
- Pull a loop from the center of the piece of yarn, and tuck this through the center of the large loop you’ve made around your fingers.
- Place the new small loop on the crochet hook, and pull the tail of the yarn to tighten it.
2
Create your foundation chain. The foundation chain is simply the first row of chain stitches you create.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Lindsey Campbell
Weaving Instructor

Expert Interview. 9 October 2019.} Because you’re crocheting a hat, the foundation chain will not be very long – only five stitches to start.
- To crochet your first stitch, hold the tail end of your slipknot and slide the hook forward, so that there is plenty of space on the end. Wrap the yarn around the end of the hook once, and then pull the hook backwards through the original slipknot. You’ve completed your first stitch! Repeat this five times to create your foundation chain.^{[4]
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Make a slip stitch to join your end to the first chain you made. This will finish your foundation row, by hooking it back in a loop. Stick the end of your hook through the center of the first stitch, and do a single stitch (as per usual).^{[5]
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As you crochet, you’ll need to keep count of your stitches. To do so, you’ll need to know where your row started.^{[6]
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Research source} There are two general methods for marking the starting point: tie a piece of string around the first stitch in the second row, or slide a bobby pin over the stitch. When you get back to this part of each row, you will know you’ve completed an entire row of stitches.

EXPERT TIP

Sarah Stearns
DIY Specialist
Sarah Stearns is a DIY Specialist, Artist, Maker, Blogger, and the Founder of SarahMaker.com. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in fun, approachable crafts like crocheting, making polymer clay jewelry, quilting, and creating Cricut projects. Her work has been featured in several publications, such as Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, and Apartment Therapy. Sarah holds a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University.

Sarah Stearns
DIY Specialist

Master gathering in order to crochet a hat. One easy way to crochet a basic hat for a beginner is to first crochet a simple long rectangle, about the circumference of the head by the desired hat height. Join this rectangle into a tube, then gather up one end by cinching it closed. This gathered end will form the crown of the hat.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Building Your Base Chain Into a Hat

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1
Crochet in the round. To build your base chain into a hat, you will need to crochet in the round. Crochet in the round means to crochet a small circle – the base for your hat (the part at the very top). When you pull the hook through, you’ll have started a second row that is adjacent to the first, in a spiral.^{[7]
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Lindsey Campbell
Weaving Instructor

Expert Interview. 9 October 2019.}^{[8]
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- As you crochet your hat, make sure that you continue to crochet in a spiral. Do not change the direction at any point.
2
Crochet your second row using a double stitch. From now on, you’ll have to use a double stitch for your hat. This will attach all your new rows of stitches to the spiral in the center, so that you don’t end up with multiple loose rows.
- To do a double stitch, you start with your hook with a single loop on it.
- Slip the hook through the loop and into the chain under/next to it (attached to the spiral). You now have two loops on your crochet hook.
- Finish by doing a regular stitch; wrap the yarn around the hook, pull this yarn through the two loops on your hook. You’ll always end with a single loop on your hook when you complete one double stitch.^{[9]
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Once you’ve made the base round, you’ll change your stitch pattern just a bit to increase the body of your hat. For every row of stitches, you’ll start with a double stitch, do a single stitch, double stitch, single stitch, et cetera until you complete the row.
4
Count your stitches. The first few rows are easy, but as you move on you’ll need to begin counting your stitches.^{[10]
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Research source} A double stitch counts for 2 stitches, and a single stitch counts for 1. For example, if you were doing a row of five, it would be 1 double stitch, 1 single stitch, one double stitch - finished. Here is how your counting should go:
- First row: 5 stitches
- Second row: 10 stitches
- Third row: 30 stitches
- Fourth row: 45 stitches
- Fifth row: 60 stitches
- Sixth row: 75 stitches
- Seventh row: 90 stitches
5
Continue with single stitches after the seventh row. To complete your hat, you’ll do additional rows of single stitches. This will add length to the hat, rather than continuing to make it wider and wider. Start your rows of single stitches when you reach the desired circumference. To finish your hat completely, you’ll need to tie a slipknot and hide the tail end of the yarn by weaving it back into the hat with your hook.
- To hide the end piece of your hat, you can weave it into the hat. Leave about 6” of yarn after you tie the slipknot and then use an embroidery needle to weave the end through the edge and into the inside of the hat. Then, tie off the end after you have woven it a few inches into the inside of the hat.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Why is my hat not round?

Community Answer

If you started with a simple chain (or magic circle) and haven't missed any steps or made it too tight or too loose, it should form a circle. Practice some rows before making the hat. The center is the hardest part. If you pick the stitches from the inside of the previous row of chains, it will start to form a bowl shape and not lay flat.

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Is the hat supposed to curl up when crocheting it? I have my base made differently, as told by a friend, but it's starting to curl up. Is that completely wrong?

Community Answer

It is not supposed to curl at all. Try doing a more gradual increase or just keep following the steps.

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What am I doing wrong that my hat didn't go out wider and just up?

Community Answer

If you were starting from the top of the hat, you did not do your increases. If you were following the pattern and the hat looks narrow, try it on, because some stitch patterns are very stretchy.

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Tips

If this is your first hat, then you may want to do a practice round before making a hat you plan on wearing or gifting.

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You can also check crochet charts or diagrams to crochet more hats from more complex patterns.

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Tips from our Readers

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Try joining crochet clubs to help you improve your crochet skills. This will also give you the opportunity to meet other people with the same interests!
Don't give up! It can take a few tries to get it right when you're first learning how to crochet, but if you hang in there, it will get easier.
If you get frustrated, take a deep breath, walk away, and come back to it later. Crocheting is supposed to relieve stress, not cause it!

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