Crochet: Free Pattern for Preemie Hat

This pattern is for a simple crocheted preemie-sized baby hat. It was inspired by a similar pattern by Bernat, which was described in detail in a series of Pattern Reading articles. While the Bernat pattern is simple, I believe that this one is even simpler. The only stitches that it uses are chain, single crochet, and single crochet decrease (which is described in detail in the notes below). The next section has the pattern. Detailed notes for the pattern are in the following section. Enjoy making this little hat.

Pattern Skill Level: Beginner SIZE: To fit preemie baby's head. MATERIALS: Bernat® Softee Baby (Solids 140 g / 5 oz or Ombre 120 g / 4.42 oz) 1 ball Size 4 mm (US G or 6) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge GAUGE: 18.5 sc and 19 rows = 4 ins [10 cm]. INSTRUCTIONS: Ch 49. Join in round with sc to first ch, taking care not to twist chain. 1st round: 1 sc in each ch. 2nd round: 1 sc in each sc. Repeat 2nd round, working in a spiral, to form a tube or cylinder, until work measures 7 ins [18 cm]. Decreases: * 1 sc in next sc two times, 1 sc decrease over next two scs. Repeat from *, continuing to work in a spiral, until there are 8 stitches remaining. Fasten off. Weave yarn through the remaining 8 stitches, tighten the yarn, and weave the ends on the inside of the hat. Weave the starting yarn tail on the outside of the first row. Fold bottom edge to desired depth of hat.

Pattern Notes This photo shows the chain being joined to form a ring, with a single crochet into the first chain (which is actually the initial slip knot of the chain). This photo shows the end of the first round - a single crochet has been worked into each chain stitch. This photo shows the beginning of the second round, with a single crochet into the very first single crochet. This photo shows the beginning of the third round. The spiral is well under way now. This photo shows that the tube is now 7" long. You can see clearly now that by working in a spiral, the very beginning and the very end stitches jut out a bit. You can also see clearly that this type of crochet has the single crochet stitches moving slightly diagonally to the right over the course of several rows. The ruler in this photo shows the diagonal placement of the single crochet stitches. Important note: this is NOT how to measure if the 7" is completed - see the photo above for the correct position of the ruler. After 7", it is time to start the decreases. The basic pattern is "sc, sc, dec", over and over, making the spiral smaller and smaller until it is difficult to do any more. The pattern says to repeat this stitch sequence until there are 8 stitches left. But if you want, you can keep doing that sequence a bit more. The refresher for a single crochet decrease: insert hook into next stitch yarn over hook and draw through (2 loops on hook) insert hook into next stitch yarn over hook and draw through (3 loops on hook) yarn over and draw through all 3 loops (single crochet decrease complete) The photo shows that we are almost finished crocheting the hat. This photo shows the crocheting part of the hat is done. Cut the yarn about 6" long, and pull it through that last stitch. Thread the yarn onto a big-eyed needle (also known as a bodkin). Weave it through the remaining stitches at the top. This photo shows it threaded through 4 stitches. This photo shows the yarn threaded through all of the stitches on the top. This photo shows the yarn pulled taut. Insert the needle and yarn through that center point. Weave the yarn into the stitches on the inside of the hat. Trim the yarn. This photo shows the right (pretty or public) side of the bottom of the hat. Notice the jagged section at the beginning of the spiral. Thread the beginning yarn tail into a big-eyed needle. Thread the beginning yarn tail through the stitches on the right (pretty or public) side of the hat, into the first row. Yes, it's the right side, but the bottom will be turned up, so the weaving will be hidden. This photo shows the bottom yarn woven. Actually, it looks fairly invisible. And that jagged part has been smoothed out quite magically. Turn the cuff up to the desired height, and the project is done.