Zen Baby Hat Pattern

The Zen Baby Hat pattern is participating in the 
2025 Head Over Heels Blog Hop running from February 10 to February 24!

                             

This fabulous Hop has been organized by our good friend, Debbie, of MadameStitch.

There will be 24 patterns available (up to 2 per day) starting February 10th. 

Each pattern will be a free download for 24 hours.

Visit the Roundup Post to get today's (Feb 11) coupon code for the Zen Baby Hat.

Then click below to go get your free download on Ravelry!

If you would rather not wait for each pattern to be released- you can pick up the awesome bundle created by Debbie so you can have every pattern now and in one convenient location! 

$13.99 for 24 patterns. 

Thank you if you use my affiliate link below!

 

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Find Your Crochet Zen with the Zen Baby Hat

Looking for a baby hat that’s as peaceful to make as it is adorable to wear? The Zen Baby Hat is all about simplicity, relaxation, and effortless style. With clean lines, a classic shape, and a delicate flower embellishment, this design is perfect for crocheters who love a soothing project with a touch of charm.

Made with worsted weight yarn, this hat works up quickly and is available in three sizes, with extra tips on how to personalize the fit. Whether you’re stitching up a sweet baby shower gift or making something special for a little one in your life, the Zen Baby Hat is a delightful project to unwind with.

The best part? You can use the free pattern on the blog, or if you prefer an easy-to-print version, the PDF upgrade is available too! So, gather your yarn, find your happy place, and let’s crochet some Zen!

 

Zen Baby Hat Pattern

by Elizabeth Mareno

Materials: Yarn amts are approx

1-2 oz Main Color Worsted Weight (Used- Hobby Lobby “I love this yarn” and Joann’s “Sincerity”) Small Ball Accent Color Worsted Weight (Used- HL “I love this yarn”, Joann’s “Sincerity”, RHSS)

Small Ball Flower Color Worsted Weight or Baby Weight (Used- RHSoft Baby, Caron Wintuk, HL “I love this yarn”) **Instructions are included for flowers in both weights**

F & H hook

Large eye needle for assembly and weaving ends Measuring Tape

Gauge w/H hook: in hdc- 7hdc x 5rows = 2”x2” (each hdc row is approx ½”)

 

US Terms Used:

 

Ch- chain

sl st- slip stitch sc- single crochet sm- same

sp- space

hdc- half double crochet

rev sc- reverse single crochet- worked by inserting your hook in the sp to the RIGHT of the current stitch and completing like a regular sc.

dc- double crochet

 

Hat Pattern: Starting with Main Color

R1- MR, 6sc in the ring, join. (6sc)

R2- ch2 (does not ct as hdc) 2hdc in join and each sc (12hdc)

R3- ch2, hdc in join, 2 hdc in next, (1hdc in 1hdc, 2hdc in next) repeat (18hdc) drop main color to back of work, join with accent color

R4- ch2, hdc in join and next, 2hdc in next, (1hdc in 2hdc, 2hdc in next) repeat (24hdc) cut accent color leaving a long enough end to weave in later, pick up main color

R5- ch2, hdc in join and next 2, 2hdc in next, (1hdc in 3hdc, 2hdc in next) repeat (30hdc) R6- ch1, sc in join and next 3, 2sc in next, (sc in 4hdc, 2sc in next) repeat (36sc)

 

 

 

 

 

0-3 MONTH

R7- ch2, hdc in join and each around.

Continue R7 until 4-1/2” from beginning. (Sample hat was 6 rows of hdc)

 

**FINISHING ROWS for all hat sizes**

After last row of main color, drop main color to back side and add accent color. Repeat R7 with accent color. DO NOT CUT accent color, just drop to the back side and pick up main color.

Repeat R7 with main color one more row. CUT main color, pick up accent color.

TRIM ROW- ch1, reverse sc in each hdc around. (36 rev sc) Cut accent color and weave ends.

3-6 MONTH

R7- ch2, hdc in join and next 4, 2hdc in next, (hdc in 5sc, 2hdc in next) repeat (42hdc) 

R8- ch2, hdc in join and each around.

Continue R8 until 5” from beginning. (Sample hat was 7 rows of hdc) Complete hat with **FINISHING ROWS** of 0-3 month hat. (42 rev sc)

 

6-12 MONTH

R7- ch2, hdc in join and next 4, 2hdc in next, (hdc in 5sc, 2hdc in next) repeat (42hdc)                                                                                                                       

R8- ch2, hdc in join and next 5, 2hdc in next, (hdc in 6hdc, 2hdc in next) repeat (48hdc) 

R9- ch2, hdc in join and each around.

Continue R9 until 5-1/2” from beginning. (Sample hat was 8 rows of hdc) Complete hat with **FINISHING ROWS** of 0-3 month hat. (48 rev sc)

Baby Weight Flower:

R1-Using your accent color & F hook- MR, 6sc in ring, join, cut but leave an end long enough to weave in.

R2- Using your petal color, join in any sc sp with, ch3, 3dc, ch3, sl st in same sp, *sl st into the next sp, ch3, 3dc, ch3, sl st in same sp,* repeat * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sp.

Cut baby yarn, leave a LONG end to sew to hat. Carefully attach; working your stitches in the same grain as your petals so that they blend in.

Worsted Weight Flower:

R1- Using your accent color & F hook- ch2, 6sc in ring, join, cut but leave an end long enough to weave in.

R2- Using your petal color, join in any sc sp with, ch3, 2dc, ch3, sl st in same sp, *sl st into the next sp, ch3, 2dc, ch3, sl st in same sp,* repeat * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sp.

Cut yarn, leave a LONG end to sew to hat. Carefully attach; working your stitches in the same grain as your petals so that they blend in.

Customizing Instructions:

Figuring out how to make a hat to a specific circumference and length is not as hard as one would think. This formula works best for a closer fitting hat (think beanie or ski, not tam or slouchy). I am going to explain this in “beginner’s” terms. When I tried to learn how to do this, every “lesson” I read assumed that you understood math. I won’t assume that of you, because I do not understand math. So, here we go:

1)  Take a flexible tape measure or a piece of string and wrap it around your head at the widest part, which is usually your forehead area. If you over lap your pieces, make sure you pinch or otherwise mark where you intersect your pieces. This isn’t terribly scientific but remember that the more “finger” you get behind your measuring piece, the bigger your measurement will be.

2)  If you are using a flexible tape measure, look at your number. If you are using a piece of string, measure your piece of string at the intersect. This is your CIRCUMFERENCE.

3)  Using a calculator, divide your circumference by 3.1415927 (PI). This will give you your ACTUAL DIAMETER. (Example: my head circumference is 23”/ 3.1415927= 7.32112727. Obviously, that number is too big to be workable, so we round to the nearest quarter number. I would round mine to a 7.25”.)

4)  Here it gets a little funky. You will take your ACTUAL DIAMETER number and minus an inch off. We will call this our WORKING DIAMETER. So, my new WORKING DIAMETER will be 6.25”. Why do we do this? I can’t give you a scientific reason, but I can give you a crocheter’s reason. Having made a few hats using the actual diameter, I discovered they weren’t so great as a hat. But, if I flipped it over and threw a handle on it they made a really nice handbag. Use my mistakes as a learning tool and turn your ACTUAL DIAMETER into a WORKING DIAMETER. 

5)  Ok, now, in your increase rounds is where you will become an obsessive measure(er). I, actually, measure after each round until I get to know a pattern well. Work increase rounds until you reach your WORKING DIAMETER. After that, no more increases should be needed.

6)  After you have reached your WORKING DIAMETER in your increase rounds, you can then start working the “body” of the hat. These are just round after round of your chosen stitch that will be worked until you reach the desired length. In this particular pattern, you should work your body rows until you are 1” short of your total desired length. Then do your bottom color changes and trim rows.

                                        

Want to make a pair of matching booties?? All I did was use this great (free) baby bootie pattern from Red Heart and add the same trim and decorations as my hat! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!