Crochet Beginner Hat YR-C03

Cove Hat

Crochet a rectangle sideways, sew it into a tube and gather the top. Choose the ridge stitch for a ribbed, stretchy hat.

Finished size: 20½ in / 52 cm around × 8½ in / 22 cm tall
Fit: Fits a head 21–22 in
Yarn: About 200 yd / 185 m of worsted weight (category 4) wool or wool blend yarn. Buy 2 skeins of 200 yd (this includes 10% extra).
Hook: US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
Notions: Tapestry needle
Gauge: 13 sts and 12 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in half double crochet ridge. Swatch first and change hook size if needed: more stitches than this means go up a size, fewer means go down.

Notes

Worked sideways: the foundation chain runs from the brim to the crown, and the rows go around the head.
The hat is about 1 in / 2.5 cm smaller than the head so it stays on. Crochet stretches less than knitting, so try it on as you go.
Worked sideways, the back-loop ridges run up the hat like ribbing.
Working into the back loop makes raised ridges that look like knitted rib and stretch nicely.

Pattern row: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn, hdc in the back loop only of each st across.

Ch 30, leaving a 20 in / 50 cm tail.
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across (28 sts).
Row 2 onwards: Work the half double crochet ridge pattern row (see “Stitch pattern” above) on every row. Your stitch count stays the same.
Continue until the piece measures 20½ in / 52 cm from the foundation chain (about 62 rows) and fits snugly around the head. Fasten off, leaving a 20 in / 50 cm tail.

Side seam: Fold the piece so the foundation chain meets the last row. Using the foundation tail, whipstitch them together to make a tube.
Crown: Thread the other tail along one long edge, weaving in and out through the side of every row. Pull tight to close the crown and fasten off securely on the inside.
Turn the hat right side out and weave in the ends.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. See all crochet abbreviations.