Baby hat

Baby hat



This sweet, beginner-friendly hat worked in super-soft alpaca yarn is the perfect gift for a precious newborn baby.

A handmade present is always special, but the scrummy texture of this mini beanie hat gives it the upper hand. The unique texture is achieved by working only into the front loops of some of the double crochet stitches. It's an easy technique to work and you can use the stitch pattern elsewhere to add texture to your crochet fabrics.

YOU WILL NEED

■ Blue Sky Alpacas Royal Petites (100% royal alpaca, 35g/91m), 1 ball of Spanish Leather (1702)

■ A 2.25mm (US B/1) hook

■ A 2.75mm (US C/2) hook

TENSION

26 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc using a 2.75mm hook

MEASUREMENTS

To fit newborn baby

Finished hat measures 40cm (16in) circumference and 15cm (6in) from crown to brim

HAT

CROWN

Using a 2.75mm hook, make a magic loop.

Round 1 Ch1 (does not count as a st throughout), 12dc into the ring, ss to the first dc to join. [12 sts]

Round 2 Ch1, dc into each dc around, ss to the first dc to join.

Round 3 Ch1, 2dc into each dc around, ss to the first dc to join. [24 sts]

Round 4 Repeat Round 2.

Round 5 Ch1, dc in the first dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. (36 sts]

Round 6 Repeat Round 2.

Round 7 Ch1, dc in the first 2 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 2 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [48 sts]

Round 8 Repeat Round 2.

Round 9 Ch1, dc in the first 3 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 3 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [60 sts]

Round 10 Repeat Round 2.

Round 11 Ch1, dc in the first 4 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 4 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [72 sts]

Round 12 Repeat Round 2.

Round 13 Ch1, dc in the first 5 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 5 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [84 sts]

Round 14 Repeat Round 2.

Round 15 Ch1, dc in the first 6 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 6 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [96 sts]

Round 16 Repeat Round 2.

Round 17 Ch1, dc in the first 7 dc, 2dc in the next dc, *dc in the next 7 dc, 2dc in the next dc; repeat from * around, ss to the first dc to join. [108 sts]

BODY

Round 1 Ch1, dc into the front loop only of the first st, *ch1, skip the next st, dc into the front loop only of the next st; repeat from * around to the last st, ch1, skip the last st, ss to the front loop only of the first dc to join. [108 sts]

Rounds 2-20 Repeat Round 1.

BRIM

All stitches are worked though the centre of the dc rather than under the top 2 loops.

Round 1 With a 2.25mm hook, ch1, dc through centre of the first dc, *ch1, skip the next st, dc through centre of the next dc; repeat from * around to the last st, ch1, skip the last st, ss to the first dc to join. [108 sts]

Rounds 2-5 Repeat Round 1.

EDGING

Round 1 Ch2 (counts as dc, ch1), ss in the next st, *ch1, ss in the next st; repeat from * around, ss to the first ch to join.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.