I’ve used a favorite free crochet hat pattern, and I thought I’d show you my results and some of the changes I’ve made to make them unique.

How to Crochet: Making Changes in Patterns for Unique Looks

The cute pattern is from Naztazia. The video below shows the stitches and describes the pattern – it’s an excellent beginner’s tutorial, and since I’m new to hat making, I found it very helpful! The hat is worked in a series of single crochets in the round after doing a simple single crochet ribbing stitch.

I tried her paperclip method of marking the rows but found that purchased stitch markers were better when setting aside my work or storing it until my next crochet session. I also occasionally tie a spare piece of contrasting yarn to the stitch marker and use it as an anchor and then mark the rows with the yarn. I’ve accidentally pulled out yarn in the past, and that’s frustrating! Using the stitch marker as an anchor prevents that.

I used Caron Simply Soft Print Yarn and found that the sizing needed to be adjusted. I should have changed to a larger hook, added stitches, or crocheted with multiple strands at the same time (up to 3 to get the gauge right). Still, since I’m donating hats and not trying to fit a particular person, the sizing was fine. They just became infant hats instead of kids’ hats.

Crochet How To: Free Hat Pattern and My Variations

This teal and gray hat was made with the same pattern as the elf hat, but I used with Red Heart Soft Yarn which worked up beautifully. I didn’t  turn up the brim, I crocheted only in the back loops every few rows to add a horizontal line, and I added a flower for a cloche hat instead. I think it turned out cute! The flower was done freehand (i.e., I was too lazy to look up a pattern). I just worked at it until it looked like a flower, left long tails at the start and finish of crocheting, and used them to sew it in place.

 How to Crochet: Yarn Used in these Projects

  • Caron Simply Soft Print Yarn C97003 – the color is Embroidery (also check out Simply Soft Paints line of variegated yarns)
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B001ICLFGW’ text=’Red Heart E728.9520 Soft Yarn, Seafoam’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a956377c-1c19-11e8-859d-31c834a43d63′]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B001685OHE’ text=’Red Heart E728.9440 Soft Yarn, Light Gray Heather’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b0e8b154-1c19-11e8-9cf5-75d674753db3′]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B000BY4Q5A’ text=’Red Heart E728.4600 Soft Yarn, White’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b928831b-1c19-11e8-a427-c97dfd6e434f’]
[amazon_link asins=’B001ICLFGW,B001685OHE,B000BY4Q5A’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ee50e8cc-1c19-11e8-800c-b5549457a4a4′]

We suggest the following yarns for this project:

[amazon_link asins=’B06XK3KZ8W,B0033PMMNC,B01N5WC56Y,B013Z1CW4W,B0033PFL6W,B01IONU2Q6,B00K13I9U4,B017IZH28W,B01AJ3JLI4,B072367PB1′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’87adbbba-1c19-11e8-b1f9-cd306c7e5fbb’]

HOW TO CROCHET: My Must-Have Tools

  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B0016N3PKW’ text=’Clover Takumi Getaway Soft Touch Crochet Hooks’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c932004c-1c18-11e8-be7d-cd7bc4bb7bec’], 8 Sizes
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B00114M20A’ text=’Clover Chibi with Darning Needles’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d6e64c64-1c18-11e8-9cf1-2513c25cdc30′]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B0019KAEEC’ text=’Clover Lock Ring Marker’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’df71cd16-1c18-11e8-9bca-83bfe0158cdf’]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B00114TK46′ text=’Fiskars 5-Inch Scissors’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f7622fd5-1c18-11e8-a59b-510b92b44ce8′]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B002Y2GY7U’ text=’Dritz Crafters Comfort Glove’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’00030cb8-1c19-11e8-b6eb-c729f9a49605′]- I wear a Large
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B000WV1XGC’ text=’Clover Large Pom Pom Maker’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’associateslinkbuilderplugin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’15949825-1c19-11e8-bf9d-d1a142579703′]
I have ten hats now ready for donation. I’m doing about one every other day. It’s addicting!