Cleo is a beginner crochet hat pattern available in 10 sizes. It uses a simple, repetitive stitch pattern and a 2-round repeat to create a subtle texture. This pattern is forever free on my blog, but the PDF version is available for free download with coupon code through 10am Eastern on March 3, 2026 as part of the 4th Annual International Crochet Month Blog Hop.
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 Hooks & Needles.
I mentioned yesterday that I love crocheting hats, and one of the reasons is because you can turn most small skeins of yarn and random scraps into beautiful hats when they don’t have enough yardage for a larger project.
I’ve also found that hats can usually be finished fairly quickly, so they provide (near) instant gratification. I love working on hats between mega projects, so I can feel accomplished before I return to something that is very slow going.
The Cleo Hat uses a mix of decreases and increases to create a texture that is subtle but looks great. It makes the Cleo Hat great for wearing, gifting, donating as a “chemo cap,” or selling at your next craft fair.
Scroll down for the free version of the Cleo beginner crochet hat pattern. This pattern is part of the 4th Annual International Crochet Month Blog Hop. To follow the blog hop…
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Cleo Hat
Beginner Crochet Hat Pattern by Underground Crafter
This beginner crochet hat pattern is available in 10 sizes. It works up fast with a simple, repetitive stitch pattern and a 2-round repeat to create a subtle texture. The Cleo Hat is the second pattern in the 4th Annual International Crochet Month Blog Hop.
Finished Sizes
- Newborn (0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, Toddler, Child Small, Child Large, Teen/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large). Photographed sample is Teen/Adult Small size shown on a mannequin with 22.5″ (57 cm) head circumference.
- Newborn: 13” (33 cm) hat circumference x 5.5” (14 cm) length.
- 0-3 Months: 15” (38 cm) hat circumference x 6” (15.5 cm) length.
- 3-6 Months: 16” (40.5 cm) hat circumference x 6.5” (16.5 cm) length.
- 6-12 Months: 17” (43 cm) hat circumference x 6.75” (17 cm) length.
- Toddler: 18” (45.5 cm) hat circumference x 7.25” (18.5 cm) length.
- Child Small: 19” (48.5 cm) hat circumference x 7.75” (19.5 cm) length.
- Child Large: 20” (51 cm) hat circumference x 8” (20.5 cm) length.
- Teen/Adult Small: 21” (53.5 cm) hat circumference x 8.5” (21.5 cm) length.
- Adult Medium: 22” (56 cm) hat circumference x 8.75” (22 cm) length.
- Adult Large: 23” (58.5 cm) hat circumference x 9.25” (23.5 cm) length.
Materials
- Approximately 85 yd (110 yd, 130 yd, 145 yd, 150 yd, 175 yd, 190 yd, 205 yd, 225 yd, 250 yd)/78 m (100.5 m, 119 m, 132.5 m, 137 m, 160 m, 173.5 m, 187.5 m, 206 m, 228.5 m) in CA and 35 yd (45 yd, 45 yd, 50 yd, 75 yd, 80 yd, 85 yd, 100 yd, 105 yd, 110 yd)/32 m (41 m, 41 m, 45.5 m, 68.5 m, 73 m, 77.5 m, 91.5 m, 96 m, 100.5 m) in CB in any medium weight tweed yarn.
- The yarn I used for this project is now discontinued: Hooks & Needles Woodland Whisper (97% Merino wool, 3% rayon, 1.75 oz/50 g, 92 yd/84 m) in 19 Dark Blue (CA) and 1 Grey (CB). You can read my review of the Hooks & Needles crochet subscription box here.
- US Size H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- With smaller hook in pattern for Hat Band: 10 sts = 1.75” (4.5 cm) across. For best fit, always check your gauge.
- With larger hook in pattern for Work Even: 16 sts = 4” (10 cm) across. For best fit, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- 3L – third (back) loop only – A helpful video showing how to identify the third loop in half double crochet is available below.
- If you can’t see the third loop video above, watch it on YouTube.
- BL – back loop only – Fiber Flux has a helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to identify the back loop in crochet here.
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- dc3tog – double crochet 3 stitches together (decrease) – [Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. A helpful video tutorial for this decrease is available below.
- If you can’t see the video for the dc3tog above, watch it on YouTube.
- hdc – half double crochet
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- [] Repeat instructions within brackets as indicated.
- () Work stitches between parentheses into same stitch or space.
Pattern Notes
- Ch 1 at start and sl st at end of Rounds do not count as stitches.
- Carry unworked yarn on the inside of hat while crocheting.
- A helpful video tutorial demonstrating the slip stitch seam is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above showing how to join with the slip stitch, watch it on YouTube.
- A helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to crochet around the side of your project is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above showing how to crochet around the side of your project, watch it on YouTube.
- A helpful video demonstrating how to cinch a bottom-up crochet hat closed is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above showing how to cinch at hat, watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Hat
Hat Band – All Sizes
- With smaller hook and CB, ch 7 (7, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 11, 11, 11).
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, [sl st in next ch, hdc in next ch across. – 6 (6, 6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 10, 10, 10) sts
- Row 2: Turn 1, ch 1, starting in first st [slst3L in next st, hdcBL in next st] across.
- Repeat Row 2 until Hat Band measures approximately 13” (15″, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”, 23”)/33 cm (38 cm, 40.5 cm, 43 cm, 45.5 cm, 48.5 cm, 51 cm, 53.5 cm, 56 cm, 58.5 cm) long, do not fasten off.
- Fold Hat Band so that short edges are touching, turn to short edge, ch 1, join short edges with slip stitch seam (see Pattern Notes). Do not fasten off.
Work Even – All Sizes
- Continue smaller hook and CB.
- Round 1: Turn to work along long edge of Hat Band, ch 1, evenly work along long edge (see Pattern Notes) to form 52 (60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92) sc around, join CA with sl st to first sc (see Pattern Notes). – 52 (60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92) sts
- Switch to larger hook.
- Round 2: Ch 1, starting in first st [dc3togBL, (dcBL, hdcBL, scBL) in next st] around, join with sl st to first dc3tog.
- Round 3: Ch 1, starting in first st [(dc, hdc, sc) in next dc3tog, dc3tog] around, join with sl st to first dc.
- Round 4: Ch 1, starting in first st [dc3tog, (dc, hdc, sc) in next dc3tog] around, join with sl st to first dc3tog.
- Round 5: Repeat Round 3 once.
- Round 6: Repeat Round 4 once, changing to CB as you join with sl st.
- Round 7: Repeat Round 3 once, changing to CA as you join with sl st.
- Round 8: Repeat Round 4 once.
- Repeat Rounds 4-8 until hat measures 5.5” (6”, 6.5”, 6.75”, 7.25”, 7.75”, 8”, 8.5”, 8.75”, 9.25”)/14 cm (15.5 cm, 16.5 cm, 17 cm, 18.5 cm, 19.5 cm, 20.5 cm, 21.5 cm, 22 cm, 23.5 cm) in length. I ended my version after Round 7. You can end after any Round once you meet the desired size, but do not change color.
- Fasten off yarn from final Round with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm long) for seaming. Fasten off yarn from other color.
Finishing – All Sizes
- Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from final Round of hat. Weave yarn needle through each stitch on finished edge. Slowly tighten yarn tail to cinch crown of hat closed (see Pattern Notes).
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.