How to Crochet an Easy Baby Hat Free Pattern and Tutorial Ideal for Beginners ( Easy Baby Hat from a Rectangle)

An easy Baby Hat crochet pattern perfect for donating to hospitals and for Newborns. It is soft and stretchy.
 If You Have NEVER Made a Baby Hat Before, But Want to Make One Then THIS Is for You

           HOW to turn a rectangle piece of crochet into a hat. Easy Crochet Pattern for Beginners. 

Why is this the easiest way to make a hat? Well, you only need to know how to crochet in rows. You will need to know how to Half Double Crochet and work into the back loops of the stitch. 

IF you Only know how to single crochet perhaps THIS easy Hat Pattern would be more suited to you 

This little hat is THE MOST requested order I get asked to make! And I LOVE nothing better than receiving photos of the newborns wearing them keeping them cozy.  
It really is the perfect little boy's or Girls hat

The baby hat is worked in a rectangle shape and then gathered at one end sewn tightly. 
I think also it would look nice with a pom-pom or bobbles in a contrasting color to match the brim.
I can crochet this hat in around 30 minutes. It's easy cute and quick and matches with a pair of our easy FREE 10-minute crochet booties pattern and ta-dah a Stunning beautiful gift for a new baby in less than an hour! Like this little set that I added the simple crochet baby mitts as well 

The finished size is around newborn to 3 months however it is a stretchy design
Explanation of stitches used US terms
Single crochet =sc (Insert hook in st, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over pull through BOTH loops on hook)
Half Double Crochet = hdc (yo, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Materials: 50 grams of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Sewing needle to finish

Pom Pom or button to finish 

Collect all your materials before you start, This also quickens the finishing process
In chosen color and yarn

ch 30.
(This length of chains is the Require Height of your hat - so if you want to make it bigger just measure height of head from ear to crochet and Chain to fit size)
We are working IN ROWS

Row 1 (Right Side):
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch (28 sts) 

Rows 2-32: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across.
(you can ALSO just work in the BACK LOOP of Each half double crochet, 

on each row, throughout this pattern to add some texture and ribbing to this hat)

Ch 1, turn, with right sides together, fold Hat in half crosswise, working through back loops of foundation ch and last row, slip st edges together.
or
If you prefer to sew that's fine too

To close the TOP of your hat choose an open side....
You can either turn inside out and thread your yarn tightly around the top stitches and pull tightly to close gap and secure (Picture shows how hat looks inside out
or Like I did with the brown hat. thread yarn around 1 inch deep of closing end of hat and pull tightly to gather. finish off with pom poms
turn inside out and turn up the bottom open end

IF you want a different colored cuff
Round 1:
By turning your hat inside out rejoin with your choice of color for the cuff. with sc at the center of Back 
working in edge rows, sc evenly spaced around the edge, join with slip st in first sc
Rounds 2-5: Single crochet around, do NOT join in each of SC round
Fasten off.

Your finished hat looks like this. However, if you choose to add a colored cuff it will look more like the brown one
I am thrilled at the positive feedback from this easy to crochet hat (Perfect for those who have never crocheted a hat before, yet want to show off their skills to their friends and family by making a hat for them) SO after popular demand, I have added the Height and Length measurements required for you to make your hat bigger (or smaller for a preemie)
Remember your starting Chain will be the HEIGHT of the required hat size.
ie for a child 3-10 years create a chain 6.5 inches to start (remember to very slightly stretch (or use 1 size bigger hook for creating the chain)  (but not pull tight, as you want it to fit snug without being stretched fully)
Then continue working in the pattern for the HEIGHT required  ie. 3-10 years  = 19-20.5 inches

The perfect head sizes and measurements for Creating a crochet hat.

Now you have made this gorgeous little crochet hat for baby how about making a little Newborn hat. in a slightly tighter stitch, This is single crochet worked in the back loops. 

See the Newborn Crochet Baby Hat HERE