I’m sharing a book review of a collection of mix-and-match hat patterns. The free excerpted pattern for the Classic Granny Square Hat was available through March 28, 2026.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. GMC Publications Ltd provided me with a free review copy of 10,000 Crocheted Hats: Discover Your Own Unique Design Combinations (available through independent booksellers or on Amazon) by Emma Varnam. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.
Book Review: 10,000 Crocheted Hats
10,000 Crocheted Hats: Discover Your Own Unique Design Combinations (available through independent booksellers or on Amazon) by Emma Varnam is a collection of mix-and-match hat patterns. I’ve previously reviewed several other books by Emma including:
- Crocheted Succulents (reviewed here),
- Cute Crocheted Animals (reviewed here),
- Granny Square Weekend (reviewed here),
- Granny Squares Home (reviewed here), and
- Cute Crocheted Woodland Creatures (reviewed here).
The concept of this book is really interesting and fun. There are 23 top-down hat patterns, each of which has a Crown section, a Body section, and a Brim section which can be interchanged with any of the other Crown, Body, and/or Brim sections of the other patterns. I’m long removed from high school math, so I’m taking Emma at her word that this leads to over 10,000 pattern combinations.
The book opens with an Introduction from Emma, where she shares her love of crocheting hats seamlessly in the round. In the How To Use This Book section, Emma shares that all the patterns are slouchy beanies available in three sizes forming a hat circumference of 18.5″ (21″, 23″)/47cm (53cm, 58cm). The hats are designed with slight negative ease to be close fitting. At the end of each Crown section, the stitch count is the same as the start of each Body section, which is the same as each Brim section. Emma also shares instructions for making a more traditional beanie length or a slouchier length with a Brim that can fold over for each size. In this section, Emma also notes that all the patterns are made with light (#3/double knitting/DK) weight yarn. A one-color hat will use one 3.5oz (100g) skein, but the patterns will also look great with multiple colors. Emma notes that the patterns use a standard gauge. If you’re not sure if you’re meeting the gauge, make one of the hats and measure it to the listed size. You can adjust your tension (or your hook size) if your finished hat doesn’t meet the gauge.
The next section includes the patterns. The pages are divided into three strips, with the top being the Crown, the middle being the Body, and the bottom being the Brim. You can turn the strips in order to make the patterns as Emma designed them, as in the left photo below, or you can mix and match the strips to form your own unique hat. The patterns are written using UK crochet pattern abbreviations. There are two brims that are seamed to the rest of the hat after finishing.
After the patterns in three strips, there is a colorwork chart for the Fair Isle motif used in one of the Body patterns. The next section is Crocheting Know How, which starts with information on tools and materials. Emma explains all the patterns in the book are made with Stylecraft Special DK yarn (available online at LoveCrafts | Wool Warehouse UK) and either a 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook. (The specific hook size as well as the yarn colors used in the sample are listed in each pattern strip.)
The Crochet Techniques section includes written and illustrated instructions for holding the hook and yarn, making a slip knot, working in rows and rounds, the magic ring, increasing, decreasing with dc2tog, working in the back loop, slip stitch surface decoration, and crochet stitches (chain, slip stitch, double crochet, half treble, treble crochet, double treble, linked half treble, puff stitch, bobble stitch, crab stitch, raised treble front, shells, and spike stitch). There are also written instructions with a hat photos for the extended double crochet, working in spirals, crocheting in spaces, linked treble crochet, beginning bobble stitch, and raised treble back stitch. The Finishing Touches section includes written and illustrated instructions for seaming with the whip stitch, slip stitch, and double crochet, weaving in ends, and making a pom pom with a pom pom maker. There is also an explanation of using spray blocking to finish your hats. This section includes a color chart of the Stylecraft Special DK yarn (available online at LoveCrafts | Wool Warehouse UK) used for the patterns in this book. The final section is Abbreviations and Conversions which includes a key to the differences between UK and US crochet terms, a list of abbreviations, and a conversion chart for the hook sizes and yarn weights used in the book. The book ends with a brief About the Author note.
If you have basic crochet skills and enjoy making quick projects (or hats more specifically), there is a lot to love about this book. It’s spiral bound with hard covers, so it’s durable and easy to use while you crochet because each page lays flat. As you can see from the back cover image below, while all 23 primary hat patterns have the same shape, there is a wide variety of techniques used including stripes, cables, lace, Fair Isle colorwork, and motifs. There are different styles, too, including very classic hats and more fun or quirky looks. And, of course, the book layout allows you to easily combine parts of different hats to customize into a style that you absolutely love.
If you know basic crochet stitches or are an adventurous beginner, 10,000 Crocheted Hats: Discover Your Own Unique Design Combinations (available through independent booksellers or on Amazon)offers endless possibilities in an easy-to-use format. You’ll be crocheting unique hats for yourself, your family and friends, for charity, or for your next craft fair in no time! Read on for a chance to win my review copy of the book.
Giveaway
After reading my review of 10,000 Crocheted Hats: Discover Your Own Unique Design Combinations and trying out the Classic Granny Square Hat pattern, you’re probably ready to get your hands on this book! You can buy it now through independent booksellers or on Amazon, or enter the giveaway below by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, April 6, 2025 for your chance to win my review copy. While my copy of the book was provided by GMC Publications Ltd., the giveaway is organized by Underground Crafter. Enter using any of the options on the Rafflecopter widget below. One winner will be chosen from the entries at random to win my review copy of the book. Winner will be contacted approximately 1 week after the entries close. Winner will have 3 days to claim the prize. If winner does not respond within 3 days, prize will be awarded to an alternate. By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to share your contact information with Rafflecopter and/or Underground Crafter. You can read the Rafflecopter Privacy Policy and the Underground Crafter Privacy Policy here to understand how this information is used. This giveaway is open worldwide, except where prohibited by law. Good luck!