Crochet Pattern: Ombré Shells Hat

Woman with grey hair and black coat wearing crocheted ombré hat in pink and grays | Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground CrafterWoman with grey hair and black coat wearing crocheted ombré hat in pink and grays | The free crochet pattern for the Ombré Shells Hat uses two strands of yarn held together throughout to create a tweedy, ombré look. The simple shell stitch pattern creates a zig zag effect. Apparently, winter is still upon us (at least in the Northeast) and this hat works up quick enough to wear this season.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for the sample was generously provided by LoveCrochet.

Last fall, the nice folks at LoveCrafts (the parent company of LoveCrochet and LoveKnitting) launched a new line of yarns called Willow & Lark. I was very excited to get some free samples of Willow & Lark Ramble in the mail to try it out. I got these two balls, plus a color card, and, since they are “very British” over there, the package also arrived with a mug and tea!

2 skeins of Willow & Lark Ramble yarn, branded mug, and yarn color card | Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground CrafterI loved the yarn right away – it’s a very soft Merino wool – but the right project hadn’t hit me yet so it was lingering in my stash. Then, in January, the folks from LoveCrafts had a party in New York City for bloggers and designers.

I had such a great time there so I thought I’d share a few more pictures. All of the images in the collage are courtesy of LoveCrafts.

Collage of images from LoveCrafts The Flock Party in New York City in January, 2018 | Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground Crafter

Top row, from left to right:

  • Getting started with the British trivia contest (which, sadly, I did not win) along with (from left to right) ChiWei from One Dog Woof, Tamara from Moogly, Ashleigh from Sewrella with her husband, and of course, me!
  • ChiWei from One Dog Woof and Jess from Make and Do Crew. I met both of these ladies back in 2017. Not only are they both talented crochet AND knitting designers, but they are fun to hang out with, too.
  • Some of the knitting-themed cookies!

Middle row, from left to right:

  • A giant group photo of all the attendees. You can see me at the third from the right in the back row, next to Jessie from Jessie At Home and Jess from Make and Do Crew.
  • A close up of Jessie’s Denim Jewel Purse. (Get the free crochet pattern here!)
  • Me with Tamara from Moogly.

Bottom row, from left to right:

  • Me having fun with some of the British photo props that were available.
  • Some of the new Paintbox Yarns by LoveCrafts.
  • Stephanie from All About Ami (with her husband) and Wilma from Wilmade. One of the highlights of this event was getting to meet these two ladies, both of whom had to cross international borders to make it to New York City!

Anyway, at the end of the party, we were invited to take home the yarn that was on the tables, and I found a third skein of Willow & Lark Ramble to add to the two at home. That’s when things started falling into place and I was inspired to make this hat.

I love the look of ombré but I wanted to be a bit bolder in my color choices (because that’s how I roll). I love how this hat came out. It’s super soft and just slouchy enough not to flatten my hair.

Woman with grey hair and black coat wearing crocheted ombré hat in pink and grays | Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground CrafterThis is a project that is quite a bit simpler than it looks. It starts with the band, crocheted with the pebble stitch (alternating single and double crochet stitches).

Woman with grey hair holding crocheted ombré hat in pink and grays | Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground CrafterThen, you’ll join the band, pick up single crochet stitches around it, and get started with your shell stitch. You’ll be using two strands of yarn held together throughout this project, so it will work up quickly as if you were using a chunkier yarn.

I made a quick video of me modeling it so you can see how it fits more clearly.

If you make your own Ombré Shells Hat, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Ombré Shells Hat to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

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Ombré Shells Hat

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

Free crochet pattern: Ombré Shells Hat in Willow & Lark Ramble by Underground CrafterWoman with grey hair and black coat wearing crocheted ombré hat in pink and grays | Two strands of yarn held together create a tweedy, ombré look. Highlight your favorite color in a group of three choices with a wide hat band. A simple shell stitch creates zig zags of color.

Finished Size

  • Adult: 21” (53.5 cm) hat circumference x 7.75” (19.5 cm) height.

Materials

  • Willow & Lark Ramble yarn (100% Merino wool, 1.75 oz/50 g/137 yd/125 m) – 1 skein each in 127 Rhubarb Pink (CA), 105 Thunder Grey – Melange (CB), and 120 Puddle Blue – Melange (CC), or approximately 137 yd (125 m) in each of 3 colors in any light weight yarn.
  • US Size K-10.5/6.5 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
  • Yarn needle.

Gauge

  • Hat Band = 2” (5 cm) wide in pattern. For best fit, always check your gauge.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • BL – back loop only
  • CA – Color A
  • CB – Color B
  • CC – Color C
  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • sc – single crochet
  • sk – skip
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Note

  • Two strands of yarn are held together throughout.

Pattern Instructions

Hat

Hat Band

  • With 2 strands of CA held together, ch 9.
  • Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, *sc in next ch, dc in next ch; rep from * across. (8 sts)
  • Row 2: Turn, ch 1, starting in first st, *scBL in next st, dcBL in next st; rep from * across.
  • Rep Row 2 until Hat Band measures approximately 21” (53.5 cm) long. Do not fasten off.
  • Fold Hat Band together so short edges line up. Seam together with slstBL seam through both layers. (A photo tutorial for working a slip stitch seam is available here.) Fasten off CA.

Hat Body

  • With 1 strand each of CA and CB held together, join with sl st to back seam of Hat Band. Begin working in the Round.
  • Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 72 sc evenly across long edge of hat, join with sl st to first sc. (72 sts, or any multiple of 6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts,** sc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep after **, join with sl st to first sc.
  • Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 2 dc in same st, *sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts,** 5 dc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep after **, 2 dc in first st. Fasten off. Join 2 strands of CB held together with sl st through first ch 3.
  • Rnds 4-5: Rep Rnds 2-3. Fasten off. Join 1 strand each of CB and CC held together with sl st through first ch 3.
  • Rnds 6-7: Rep Rnds 2-3. Fasten off. Join 2 strands of CC held together with sl st through first ch 3.
  • Rep Rnds 2-3 in 2 strands of CC until hat measures approximately 6” (15 cm) at tip of shell, ending after Rnd 3.
  • Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, sk 2 sts,** sc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep after **, join with sl st to first sc. (48 sts)
  • Rnd 9: Ch 3, *sk 1 st, sc in next st, sk 1 st,** dc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep after **, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 1 st,** sc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep after **, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 11: Rep Rnd 10. Fasten off with long yarn tail for seaming. (6 sts)

Finishing

  • With long yarn tail and yarn needle, seam top of hat closed. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.
© 2018 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2018/03/12/crochet-pattern-ombre-shells-hat/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

f you make your own Ombré Shells Hat, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Ombré Shells Hat to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

Underground Crafter on RavelryIf you want an easy print format, you can buy an ad-free PDF version on Craftsy.

Underground Crafter on Craftsy

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