Free Crochet Pattern for Newborn Baby Beanie Hat

when my mother in law asked me to crochet preemie hats for the newborn babies in the hospital how could I refuse. These little crochet hats are just too cute, and I have included a finish for boys and girls.
I can sit at night and do a couple of these easy to make crochet hats.
 If you do crochet please consider making some of these little hats and handing them into your local hospital for the NICU wards.

Happy crocheting.

Rnd 1:
Magic ring  15 DC
or you can start with 
(Chain 4, and join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Chain 3, (counts as a double crochet) then make 14 DC  inside ring.)
Join with a slip stitch in top of 1st DC of previous round (not into the ch 3). (you have15 double crochets)

Rnd 2:
Chain 3, DC into the same st of join * 1 DC in next DC, 2 DC in next DC,  Repeat from * around making sure to DC into the base of the ch 3.  
(23 sts including ch3)
Join with a slip stitch in top of 1st DC of previous rnd.
Rnd 3: 

 do it the same as the 2nd. (35 dcs including ch3)

Rnds 4 - 10: Ch 3 and make a dc in the same stitch, then dc in each dc around including into base of ch3 of the previous row, joining with a sl st in the top of the 1st dc of the round you just finished.. (Stitch counts: rnd 4 = 36, rnd 5 = 37 - increasing by 1 each rnd)

Finish for girls 

Rnd 11

 of ch 4 skip a dc, sc into the next, ch 4, skip a dc, sc into the next etc.


add for cuteness a crochet flower: 

Ch 8, join with a sl st in the first chain, ch 8, join again in that first chain, repeat to make 6 loops/petals. Thread the 2 ends (starting and ending yarn) into the hat, about 1 dc apart.  Tie them together 3 times inside the hat.  

Finish for Boys
Or for boys sc around for an 11th row using an alternative color or
You can also do rnd 10 using an alternating front post and back post dc. 

when I make projects like the baby preemie hats, I love having a look online for inspiration and finding great books with wonderful easy patterns, here is a selection of cute, cuddly and beautiful crochet projects.