A simple and quick baby and toddler hat

A really simple and quick baby hat pattern today...helping out a friend from Facebook who has like a lot of people, come unstuck with the US and UK terminology

So let me clarify terms first

I think and work in US Terms, on my blogs it is always US terms, but the books and most of the patterns I write for commissioned work are in UK Terms.

So i am always converting my patterns from US to UK terms.

It has become a simple process for me.....

BUT lots of people can find it a really confusing and difficult task to do.

Couple of golden rules to help

1: If the pattern says single crochet (sc) its an American pattern, sc as a term does not appear in UK patterns.

2: Look carefully at any pictures you can usually tell what the stitch is with a little practise.

Most patterns say, but not all....an assumption is made that you will know and that leads to wasted time and frustration.

Please don't give up if you make this mistake I would hate for anyone to give up on one of the most wonderful of craft skills.

above is a medium size in Stylecraft Special weighs 29g

SIMPLE BABY TO CHILD HAT PATTERN

US terms

dk and a 4mm hook.

I've had years of making hats not just crochet one either and head sizes vary a huge amount but as a guide I'm adding the list below

APPROXIMATE SIZE CHART FOR CHILDREN

SMALLEST SIZE is about 14" (35.5cm) circumference, stretching to about 16" (40.5cm)

about 0-6months

MEDIUM SIZE is about 16" (40.5) circumference, stretching to about 18" (45.75cm)

12months +

LARGE SIZE is about 18" (45.75cm) stretching to about 20" (49.75cm) and maybe even into 21" a small adult size depending on your yarn and tension

After that you start to get into adult sizes, my head is small and measures 21" but I have made toddler hats bigger than my head...so you can see how they can vary.

I usually make my hats in stripes changing colour every round but for this pattern i will write it as if you are using one colour only

DC in US Terms is 3 sts on hook, yo through 2 sts, yo through 2sts, stitch made.

PATTERN smallest size

Worked in the round, no turning and can be made with a colour change for every round

ch4, do a magic circle or a 1 finger wrap of 4 wraps (my favourite, no ends to deal with)

FINGER WRAP

Round 1: ch2 (counts as first dc, i wont repeat this again) 11dc into circle, sl st to complete. (12dc)

12DC

Round 2: 2dc in all sts, sl st to complete. (24dc)

24DC

Round 3: 2dc, in first st, 1dc into next st, repeat this 2, 1, 2, 1 for the round. (36dc)

36DC...you can see that the 2sts line up with the 2sts of the round below

Round 4: 2dc in the first st, 1dc in the next 2 sts repeat this 2,1,1,2,1,1 for the round, sl st to complete. (48dc)

48DC..again you can see that the 2sts in one st line up so you can always tell how many stitches you should be doing, ie: 2 in 2 and 1 in 1

Round 5 - 16: 1dc in each st, sl st to complete. (48dc)

This hat can be finished here with no extra edging stitch or you can add your favourite stitch, so long as it fits to 48sts.

SHELL STITCH EDGING

Shell stitches use 4 stitch per shell so anything that can be divided by 4 will take a shell edging that will be evenly spaced.

SHELL EDGING

Round 17: Continue from the sl st you finished round 16, miss a st, do 5dc into the next st, miss a st, sl st into next st, repeat for the round. (12shells)

TO MAKE THE BIGGER SIZES

Repeat above pattern to round 4

Medium size

Round 5: will be 2dc, 1dc,dc1,1dc repeat giving (60dc)

Shell stitches use 4 stitch per shell so anything that can be divided by 4 will take a shell evenly.

Large size

Round 5: will be the 2dc,1dc,1dc,1dc repeat (60dc)

plus

Round 6: will be 2dc, 1dc,1dc,1dc,1dc (72dc)

I will say that in between sizes can be done but that might make it complicated for the beginner so i will keep it to 3 sizes for now.

Hope that helps

 This 2colour stripe is in Stylecraft Alpaca, and Aran, weighs 29g too, but is the small size

I'm making a rainbow one at the moment in the medium size..picture to follow

Happy Hooking