Crafty This: Crochet Ribbed Hat

I love to crochet. But over the years, I've been a bit envious of my friends who knit because of the versatility of knitting itself: cables, ribbing, spaces, lace, lighter-weight overall final projects. Crochet tends to be a bit on the chunky side. I've tried knitting (trust me, I have), but the moment I put down the knitting needles I completely forget what I'm doing and how to pick up where I left off. (Except for arm-knitting, which I have been able to master, thanks to YouTube, but that's a post for another time.)

All that to say, I looked for a long time to find a crochet pattern for a ribbed hat. Ribbing looks nice and fits comfortably no matter how big your skull may be, but I couldn't find a good crochet pattern for a hat made entirely of ribbing. Most patterns started with the standard crochet hat increase before the ribbing pattern ever started, and that just wasn't good enough. I wanted the ribbing to start from the beginning.

So, when all else failed, I decided to write my own pattern. It couldn't be that difficult, right?

This is the only pattern I've written entirely on my own, but I'm quite happy with it. Enjoy!

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Softly Ribbed Crochet Hat Pattern

Supplies:

Size H crochet hook (Using a larger hook size significantly increases the size of the hat.)

Yarn: Preferably light-weight (3) yarn because hat will get heavy and thick quickly.

(Optional: yarn needle for weaving in ends)

Abbreviations:

st - stitch

ch - chain

sl - slip stitch

sc - single crochet

dc - double crochet

fpdc - front post double crochet

bpdc - back post double crochet

Helpful hints:

The increases for this pattern branch off the ribs created from the original 12 stitches.

Feel free to substitute 3 chains (counts as first dc) at the beginning of each row if that is more comfortable for you. I prefer 2 chains (counts as first dc) at the beginning of each row to keep the pattern from gapping.

Pattern:

Ch 4, sl st to join (round) or use Magic Ring to start.

Row 1: ch 2 (counts as first dc), 11 dc in round, join with sl st [12 st total—pattern: all dc]

Row 2: ch 2 (counts as first dc), fpdc around same st as ch 2, *dc in next st, fpdc around same st* (11 times), sl st to join [24 st total—pattern: dc, fpdc]

Row 3: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *dc in next st, fpdc around same st, dc in next st* (11 times), dc in next st, fpdc around the same st, sl st to join [36 st total—pattern: 2 dc, 1 fpdc]

Row 4: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around same st, dc in next st* (11 times), fpdc in next st, dc in next st, fpdc aoround same st, sl st to join [48 st total—pattern: dc, fpdc]

Row 5: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *fpdc around next st, dc in the next st, dc in next st, fpdc around same st, dc in next st* (11 times), fpdc around next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, fpdc around same st, sl st to join [60 st total—pattern: fpdc, dc, dc, fpdc, dc]

Row 6: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around same st* (11 times), dc around next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around st, sl st to join [72 st total—pattern: fpdc, dc]

Row 7: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, fpdc around same st* (11 times), dc in next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, sl st to join [84 total st—pattern: fpdc, dc, fpdc, dc, dc, fpdc]

Row 8: ch 2 (counts as first dc), *fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, dc in next st, fpdc around next st, fpdc around same st* (11 times), sl st to join [96 total st—pattern: dc, fpdc]

Row 9: ch 2 (counts as first dc), fpdc around next st, *dc in next st, fpdc around next st* (47 times), sl st to join [96 st total—pattern: dc, fpdc]

Repeat Row 9 directions to preferred length.

Final row: ch 1, sc around, sl st to join. (Hat will curl out at the bottom. I put two single crochet rows at the brim of the hat to counteract this curling and keep it snug to the head.)

Finishing: Fasten off. Weave in ends.

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