Pattern Description:
The Retro Hat is a vivid, vintage-inspired crochet beanie featuring a stretchy ribbed brim and a colorful dotted body.
Worked with tapestry crochet and the waistcoat stitch, it mimics a knitted look while showcasing bold contrast accents.
The hat is constructed from a ribbed band joined into a loop, then crocheted upward in rounds, finishing with a gathered top and optional pompom.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Yarn:
- Type/Weight: Caron Simply Soft yarn, medium size 4.
- Main Color (Color A): Off White. One ball is sufficient.
- Solid ball size is 170g / 6oz, 288m / 315yd, or 141.7g / 5oz, 228 m/ 250 yds.
- Dot Colors (Contrast Colors B–G):
- Kelly Green (B)
- Plum Wine (C)
- Country Blue (D)
- Lemonade (E)
- Persimmon (F)
- Red (G)
Tools and Notions:
- Crochet hook size 4.5 mm.
- Stitch marker (helpful for keeping track of rounds).
- Tapestry needle (used for finishing, specifically stitching the top closed and weaving in ends).
- Pompom (optional, can be added to the top of the hat).
Measurements/Stitch Counts:
- The ribbed brim starts with a chain of 8.
- The ribbed brim is worked for 80 rows.
- Round 1 of the hat pattern results in 80 single crochet stitches.
- The pattern continues until 35 rounds are completed, followed by a decrease round (Round 36).
Abbreviations Used:
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- blo = back loops only
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch
Special Stitches:
- Crochet knit stitch (aka waistcoat stitch): With each single crochet stitch, insert the hook between the 2 vertical loops of the sc on the previous row instead of under the horizontal loops as usual.
Pattern Notes
- Follow the color chart on all rounds from right to left.
- Use the crochet knit stitch starting from Round 2 until the last round.
- Cut off the contrast color yarn at the end of each round.
Instructions for Making the Retro Hat Pattern:
Ribbed Brim (Worked in Rows)
The ribbed brim is worked in rows using Color A (Off White).
- With color A, ch 8.
- Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each next ch (7 sc).
- Rows 2-80: ch 1, turn, sc blo in each next 6 sc, sc in last sc.
- Joining: Fold the brim inside out, sl st the last row and the loops on the foundation chain together. Do not fasten off. Turn the brim right side out (you can refer to the video tutorial for seamless joining tips).
Hat Pattern (Worked in Rounds)
The hat body is worked in rounds.
- Round 1: ch 1, sc 1 in next st that looks like knitted st, sc 1 in between space (80 sc total), repeat from (see the video tutorial for exact stitch placement).
- Round 2: ch 1, sc in each sc using the crochet knit stitch. Insert a stitch marker in the 1st sc to keep track of the rounds.
Rounds 3–25 (Colorwork Rounds):
For these rounds, you must follow the color chart, utilizing the crochet knit stitch throughout. You will be working with Color A and Contrast Colors B through G.
- Round 3 (Color B – Kelly Green): pull up loop with color A, yarn over with color B and pull it through 2 loops on hook. sc 1 with color B and finish it with color A (pull up a loop with color B, yarn over with color A and pull it through 2 loops on hook), sc 3 with color A and finish 3rd sc with color B, repeat from.
- Round 4: with color A sc in each sc.
- Round 5 (Color C – Plum Wine): with color A sc 3 and finish 3rd sc with color C, sc 1 with color C and finish it with color A, repeat from.
- Round 6: repeat round 4.
- Round 7 (Color D – Country Blue): with color A sc 1 and finish it with color D. sc 1 with color D and finish it with color A, sc 3 with color A and finish 3rd sc with color D, repeat from.
- Round 8: repeat round 4.
- Round 9 (Color E – Lemonade): repeat round 5 with colors A and E.
- Round 10: repeat round 4.
- Round 11 (Color F – Persimmon): repeat round 7 with color A and F.
- Round 12: repeat round 4.
- Round 13 (Color G – Red): repeat round 5 with colors A and G.
- Round 14: repeat round 4.
- Continue following the color chart until 25 rounds are completed.
Rounds 26-36 (Top & Decrease):
- Rounds 26-35: With color A, sc in each sc.
- Round 36 (Decrease): sc2tog in next 2 sc, repeat from, sl st in 1st st. Cut off color A, leaving a 20-inch tail for stitching.
Finishing
- Closing the Top: Using the tapestry needle and the yarn tail, stitch through the last round and pull the top tighter to close.
- Pompom (Optional): Turn the hat inside out. If you wish to attach a pompom, secure it (if the pompom has an elastic band, make a double knot) and stitch around a few more times to secure it. Cut off the yarn.
- Weaving: Weave in all ends.
