Newborn Elf Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Hi, all! Just popping in to show you what’s been on my hook lately.

Hats are not a common crochet project for me here on the blog but a good friend of mine just had a baby girl (yay!), so I whipped up a couple of hats for her new little one.  The other hat is a sweet Deer Bonnet, which you can check out here.

Unfortunately, this post only contains instructions for a newborn size. However, it’s a really simple pattern to size up, so I’ve included a brief explanation on how you can adapt it for any size.

I was really hoping to find a beautiful red-and-white marled yarn to make this hat with but I couldn’t find any anywhere, so, instead, I opted to double up my yarn and use two strands; one is Bernat Super Value in White, the other is Loops & Threads Impeccable in Cranberry. I’m quite happy with the results! The hat came out with the same type of marled look I was hoping for, so it’s a good technique in a pinch! It would definitely be a fun technique to try out with other colours too!

Here’s what I used:

• 6.00mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
• Bernat Super Value in White;
• Loops & Threads Impeccable in Cranberry;
• Tapestry needle.

Okay, let’s get started. (Or Pin it for later!)

The hat is worked from the brim up, starting with the ribbing. The ribbing is also made using doubled-up yarn but I used two strands of white to make the brim all one colour.

The hat is worked in continuous rounds.

Terms and Stitches:

Ch – Chain

Sc – Single crochet

Hdc – Half-double crochet

Dec – Decrease. In this pattern, this means to work a hdc decrease.

Ribbing in White using TWO STRANDS:

Row 1: Ch 6, sc across (5 sts)

Row 2: Sc 1, in BLO sc 3, sc 1 (5 sts)

Repeat row 2 until your ribbing measures about 30.5cm/12″ unstretched. Fold the strip and slst the short ends together and tie off.

Body in Cranberry and White:

Turn your ribbing right side out (so the seam of slsts is on the inside). Now you will join your doubled-up yarn in Cranberry and White.

Rnd 1: Ch 1 and hdc evenly around the ribbing of the hat (40 sts)

Rnds 2-3: Hdc around (40 sts)

Rnd 4: [Hdc 18, dec], repeat [ ] around (38 sts)

Rnd 5: [Hdc 17, dec], repeat [ ] around (36 sts)

Rnd 6: [Hdc 10, dec], repeat [ ] around (33 sts)

Rnd 7: [Hdc 9, dec], repeat [ ] around (30 sts)

Rnd 8: [Hdc 10, dec], repeat [ ] around (27 sts)

Rnd 9: [Hdc 7, dec], repeat [ ] around (24 sts)

Rnd 10: [Hdc 6, dec], repeat [ ] around (21 sts)

Rnd 11: [Hdc 5, dec], repeat [ ] around (18 sts)

Rnds 12-13: Hdc around (18 sts)

Rnd 14: [Hdc 4, dec], repeat [ ] around (15 sts)

Rnds 15-18: Hdc around (15 sts)

Rnd 19: [Hdc 3, dec], repeat [ ] around (12 sts)

Rnds 20-23: Hdc around (12 sts)

Rnd 24: [Hdc 2, dec], repeat [ ] around (9 sts)

Rnds 25-35: Hdc around (9 sts)

Rnd 36: [Hdc, dec], repeat [ ] around (6 sts)

Rnds 37-45: Hdc around (6 sts)

Rnd 46: Dec around (3 sts)

Tie off.

Add a pompom to the end, weave in ends and you’re done!

Sizing Up:

Sizing up is super easy. All you need to do is ensure the ribbing is the correct length for the size you want to make.

Here is a handy and comprehensive chart to help determine what length your ribbing should be. The number in the second column, “Hat Circumference” is the number you’ll use. For a newborn size, the chart recommends a circumference of “12 – 12.5 inches/30.5 – 32 cm”, which is what my pattern above calls for. Remember, your ribbing should be measured unstretched.

Once you have your correct ribbing length, you will join the short ends as normal and evenly crochet around it. Do a few rows. From here on out, simply decrease each row by 3 sts (or 5 for bigger hats). You can use the row numbers above as a guide. Make the tail as long or as short as you want!

That’s it! Enjoy!

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