I’m thrilled to kick off the Holiday Stashdown Crochet-a-long today with the Not Quite a Slouchy Hat pattern. (If you’re new to the Holiday Stashdown CAL, you can find all the details here.)

This post contains affiliate links. The yarn for the samples was generously provided by Lion Brand.

I love crocheting hats, but I don’t love “hat hair.” On the other hand, I’m not much of a slouchy hat wearer myself. In today’s pattern, I combined my love of hats with my dislike of hat hair to create a loose fitting beanie that isn’t a total slouchy but isn’t too tight, either.

This is a unisex pattern that works great for many people on your holiday gift list (or for yourself!). Not Quite a Slouchy Hat is available in 4 sizes, but because of the loose fit, it’s very likely that one of the sizes will fit most anyone on your list. And since, in most sizes, it will use less than one skein, it’s great for using up those odd balls in your stash.

I made the first version in Lion Brand Landscapes, a single ply yarn with a soft halo. It definitely makes the hat look more feminine! I got this yarn while at this year’s Stitch ‘N Pitch. It’s generally available as a self-striping yarn, but I traded with Amy Ramnarine from the Stitchin’ Mommy for the solid Amethyst colorway.

Since the Holiday Stashdown CAL focuses on using your stash yarn to make the projects (though, of course, as yarn lovers ourselves, none of the participating designers will scold you if you buy some!), I decided to try other yarns for the rest of the sizes to see how it would impact the look of the hat.

I may be biased, but I think the hat works pretty well in any medium (worsted/aran/#4) weight yarn. You can even make a two color version, like I did when I ran out of yarn on the toddler size version.

If you’d like to do something similar, just change colors before starting the last 4 Rounds in your selected size.

I’m looking forward to seeing the variations you come up with!

Now, I did list this pattern as intermediate because it uses two special stitches: the front post double crochet (FPdc) and the half double crochet 2 together decrease (hdc2tog). If you’re an adventurous beginner, you can find photo and video tutorials for these stitches here, or watch the video tutorial at the end of the pattern.

Don’t forget to share a picture on Ravelry or with my Facebook page if you make one!

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

Not Quite a Slouchy Hat

Crochet Pattern in 4 sizes by Underground Crafter

This unisex hat is loose fitting but not quite a slouchy hat. The changing stitch pattern adds nice detail to the finished hat.

Finished Sizes

• Infant (Toddler, Child, Adult).
  • Infant: 13.25” (33.5 cm) circumference x 5” (12.7 cm) height.
  • Toddler: 17.25” (43.8 cm) circumference x 7” (17.8 cm) height.
  • Child: 19.5” (49.5 cm) circumference x 7.5” (19 cm) height.
  • Adult: 22” (56 cm) circumference x 8” (20.25 cm) height.

Materials

• Approximately 80 yd/73.2 m (160 yd/146 m, 165 yd/151 m, 175 yd/160 m) in any medium weight yarn.
  • Infant sample in Lion Brand Heartland (100% acrylic, 5 oz/142 g, 251 yd/230 m) in 169 Shenandoah.
  • Toddler sample in Lion Brand Heartland (100% acrylic, 5 oz/142 g, 251 yd/230 m) in 174 Joshua Tree (main color) and 169 Shenandoah.
  • Child sample in Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 170 yd/156 m) in 109 Colonial Blue.
  • Adult sample in Lion Brand Landscapes (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 147 yd/134 m) in 144 Amethyst.
• US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Stitch marker or scrap yarn (optional).

Gauge

• Through Rnd 4 in pattern = 4.5” (11.4 cm). For best fit, always check your gauge.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• FPdc – front post double crochet – Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st in previous round, yo and draw up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops) twice. Tutorial for this stitch is available at the end of the pattern or here.
• ea – each
• hdc – half double crochet
• hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 sts together – (Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop) twice, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook. Tutorial for this stitch is available at the end of the pattern or here.
• rep – repeat
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• yo – yarn over
• * Rep instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Instructions

All Sizes

• Ch 4, sk 3 ch, join with sl st to first ch to form ring.
• Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (12 sts)
• Rnd 2: Ch 3, FPdc around same st from previous row, *dc in next st, FPdc around same st from previous row; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (24 sts)
• Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, FPdc around next FPdc, *dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (36 sts)
• Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same st and next st, FPdc around next FPdc, *dc in next 3 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (48 sts)
• Continue on to instructions for specified size.

Infant Size

• Rnd 5: Ch 1, starting in same st, *(sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (48 sts)
• Rnd 6: *Sk 2 sts, (dc, hdc, sc) in next st, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first dc.
• Rep Rnds 5 & 6 until hat measures approximately 4” (10 cm) from crown.
• Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in same st and ea st around, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rnd 8: Ch 2 (counts as hdc, here and throughout), hdc in next st and ea st around, join with sl st to top of first ch 2.
• Rnd 9: Rep Rnd 8.
• Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 7. Fasten off.
• Continue on to finishing instructions.

Toddler (Child) Sizes

• Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same st and next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, *dc in next 4 sts, FPdc around next FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (60 sts)
• Rnd 6: Ch 1, starting in same st, *[(sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 1 st] twice, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (84 sts)
• Rnd 7: *[Sk 2 sts, (dc, hdc, sc) in next st] twice, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first dc.
• Rnd 8: Ch 1, starting in same st, *[(sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 2 st] twice, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rep Rnds 7 & 8 until hat measures approximately 6”/15 cm (6.5”/16.5 cm) from crown.
• Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in same st and ea st around, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rnd 10: Ch 2 (counts as hdc, here and throughout), hdc in next 4 sts, hdc2tog, *hdc in next 5 sts, hdc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 2. (72 sts)
• Rnd 11: Ch 2, hdc in next 3 sts, hdc2tog, *hdc in next 4 sts, hdc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 2 (60 sts).
• Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in same st and next st, hdc2tog, *sc in next 2 (3) sts, hdc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. — 45 (48) sts
• Fasten off. Continue on to finishing instructions.

Adult Size

• Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same st and next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, *dc in next 4 sts, FPdc around next FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (60 sts)
• Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in same st and next 3 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, *dc in next 5 sts, FPdc around next FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (72 sts)
• Rnd 7: Ch 1, starting in same st, *(sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 2 sts, (sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 1 st, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (84 sts)
• Rnd 8: *[Sk 2 sts, (dc, hdc, sc) in next st] twice, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first dc.
• Rnd 9: Ch 1, starting in same st, *[(sc, hdc, dc) in next st, sk 2 sts] twice, FPdc around next FPdc, sk st behind FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rep Rnds 8 & 9 until hat measure approximately 7” (17.8 cm) from crown.
• Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st and ea st around, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rnd 11: Ch 2 (counts as hdc, here and throughout), hdc in next 4 sts, hdc2tog, *hdc in next 5 sts, hdc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 2. (72 sts)
• Rnd 12: Ch 2, hdc in next 3 sts, hdc2tog, *hdc in next 4 sts, hdc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 2 (60 sts).
• Rnd 13: Rep Rnd 10. Fasten off.
• Continue on to finishing instructions.

Finishing

• With yarn needle, weave in ends. Spray block if necessary.

© 2015 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/2015/09/14/free-pattern-not-quite-a-slouchy-hat/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

Watch the video tutorial for the special stitches in this pattern below. If you can’t see the video, click here to watch it on YouTube.

Holiday Stashdown CAL 2015 Schedule

• September 14: Not Quite a Slouchy Hat on Underground Crafter
• September 21: Neapolitan Rainbow Jacket on Designs from Grammy’s Heart
• September 28: Grey Skies Scarf by American Crochet
• September 30: Deadline to enter the first giveaway by joining the Facebook or Ravelry group.
  
• October 5: Stashdown Cowl by Mainly Crochet
• October 12: Swirling Leaves Wristlet by Creative Threads by Leah
• October 19: Monkey Lunch Box by Melody’s Makings
• October 26: Sweet Potato Crochet Creations
• November 2: Eye Love Knots     
• November 9: KatiDCreations
• November 16: Crochet Memories   
• November 23: Stitches ‘N’ Scraps
• November 30: Acorn Tree Creations
  
• December 7: Kaleidoscope Art & Gifts
• December 14: The Purple Poncho
• December 21: Blackstone Designs
• Crochet at your own pace.
• January 11: End-of-CAL giveaway entry deadline.
• January 15: End-of-CAL giveaway winners announced.