Today, I’m sharing an easy preemie crochet hat pattern in five preemie and newborn sizes. The Lyla Beanie works up quickly and is perfect for donating.
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 KnitPal.
Late last year, the folks at KnitPal sent me a skein of Chenillique yarn to try out. It is a super soft, chenille-type, medium (#4/worsted) weight polyester yarn. One of the challenges of getting yarn samples is trying to think of projects to make with just one skein, but in this case, it was clear that a preemie project would be a great match.
Preemie projects are easy to make and don’t require much yarn, but the yarn really has to be soft for obvious reasons. Once I decided this skein would transform into an easy preemie crochet hat pattern, I decided to bring it along with me to a commencement ceremony. It was easy enough to work on while still following the program. By the way, if you’re looking for a place to donate preemie hats to, check out the Ultimate Guide to Crocheting for Charity for Beginners.
If you make your own Lyla Beanie, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Bluesky as @UndergroundCrafter, Facebook as @UndergroundCrafter, or on Instagram 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 private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Lyla Beanie
Easy Preemie Crochet Hat pattern by Underground Crafter
This easy preemie crochet hat pattern is available in 5 sizes and made with an ultra soft yarn.
Finished Sizes
- 1-2 Pound Preemie (3-4 Pound Preemie, 4-5 Pound Preemie, 5-6 Pound Preemie, Newborn). Photographed sample is size 1-2 Pound Preemie.
- 1-2 Pound Preemie: 7.5” (19 cm) hat circumference x 3.5” (9 cm) hat height.
- 3-4 Pound Preemie: 9.5” (24 cm) hat circumference x 4” (10 cm) hat height.
- 4-5 Pound Preemie: 10.5” (26.5 cm) hat circumference x 4.5” (11.5 cm) hat height.
- 5-6 Pound Preemie: 11.5” (29 cm) hat circumference x 5” (13 cm) hat height.
- Newborn: 12.5” (32 cm) hat circumference x 6” (15.5 cm) hat height.
Materials
- KnitPal Chenillique yarn (100% polyester, 3.5 oz/100 g, 214 yd/196 m) – 1 skein in Pink Haze, or approximately 40 yd (60 yd, 75 yd, 90 yd, 115 yd)/36.5 m (55 m, 68.5 m, 82.5 m, 105 m) in any medium weight, polyester yarn.
- US Size 7/4.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- US Size H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- 5 sc = 1” (2.5 cm) with smaller hook. For best fit, always check your gauge.
- 15 sts = 4” (10 cm) with larger hook in pattern for Work Even. For best fit, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Fiber Flux has a helpful video tutorial identifying the back loop here.
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- [] Repeat instructions within brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- A helpful video tutorial for joining with a slip stitch seam is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above for the slip stitch seam, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- A helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to single crochet around the edges of your project is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above for single crocheting around your project, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- A video tutorial for cinching a bottom-up hat closed is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above for cinching a hat closed, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Hat
Hat Band – All Sizes
- With smaller hook, ch 6.
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, sc in next 5 ch. (5 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st and each st across.
- Repeat Row 2 until Hat Band measures 7.5” (9.5”, 10.5”, 11.5”, 12.5”)/ 19 cm (24 cm, 26.5 cm, 29 cm, 32 cm), or desired hat circumference.
- Fold Hat Band so that short edges are aligned. Join short edges with slip stitch seam (see Pattern Notes).
Pick Up Stitches
- Continuing with smaller hook, ch 1, evenly work 36 (44, 48, 52, 56) sc around edge of Hat Band (see Pattern Notes), join with sl st to first sc. – 36 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts
Work Even
- Switch to larger hook.
- Round 1: Ch 1, starting in same st [sc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts] around, join with sl st to first sc.
- Round 2: Ch 1, starting in same st [dc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts] around, join with sl st to first sc.
- Repeat Rounds 1-2 until hat measures 3.5” (4”, 4.5”, 5”, 6”)/9 cm (10 cm, 11.5 cm, 13 cm, 15.5 cm) or desired height.
- Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.
Finishing
- Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail. Weave yarn needle through each stitch on finished edge. Slowly tighten yarn tail to pull top of hat closed (see Pattern Notes).
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.