Crochet Hat Patterns

Free Pattern: The Woodland Berry Pixie Cap

Knitting Charm: Elegant Handcrafted Knits & Crochet • October 22, 2026

[ ] – square brackets group a set of stitches that you repeat. For example, "[Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around" means do those two stitches, then do them again, all the way around the circle.

Gauge

Gauge: 12 single crochet stitches x 14 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet.

Gauge simply means "how big your stitches come out." If your stitches are bigger than the pattern's, your hat will be too big; if they are smaller, the hat will be too tight. That is why we check first. To make a gauge swatch: chain 16, then single crochet into the second chain from the hook and into every chain across (15 stitches). Work 16 rows of single crochet, fastening off at the end. Lay the swatch flat, place a ruler across the middle, and count how many stitches fit in 4 inches. If you have more than 12 stitches in 4 inches, your tension is tight — try again with a larger hook. If you have fewer than 12, your tension is loose — try a smaller hook. A swatch takes about 15 minutes and saves you hours of re-doing a hat that does not fit.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

Use a stitch marker every single round. Because this hat is worked in a continuous spiral (no joining at the end of each round), it is very easy to lose track of where a round began. Place your marker in the very first stitch of each round and move it up as you go. This one habit prevents almost every beginner mistake.
Do not pull your yarn tight. Beginners often grip the yarn like it is trying to escape. Hold it gently — snug enough to control it, loose enough that your hook slides easily. Tight tension makes the hat stiff and too small.
Count your stitches at the end of every round. The number in parentheses at the end of each round tells you exactly how many stitches you should have. If your count is off, fix it right then rather than discovering it ten rounds later.
Pull the magic ring closed firmly. After Round 1, tug the short yarn tail until the center hole disappears. If you leave it loose, the top of the hat will have a visible gap.
Keep your work facing the same way. In continuous rounds, the right side of the fabric faces out toward you. Do not flip the hat inside out between rounds — just keep spiraling in the same direction.
Take breaks. Your hands and eyes tire faster than you think when learning something new. Ten minutes of rest keeps your tension even and your counting accurate.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Important: The hat is worked in continuous rounds from the crown (top) down. Do not join at the end of each round and do not turn your work — just keep spiraling around. Use your stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

Crown (main color — raspberry red)

Round 1: Make a magic ring, then work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the center. (6 sts)

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st around — that is, two single crochets into every one of the 6 stitches. (12 sts)

Round 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat that pair of stitches 6 times total. (18 sts)

Round 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (24 sts)

Round 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (30 sts)

Round 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (36 sts)

Round 7: [Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (42 sts)

Round 8: [Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (48 sts)

Round 9: [Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (54 sts)

Round 10: [Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (60 sts)

Round 11: [Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (66 sts)

Round 12: [Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (72 sts)

Body (work even)

Rounds 13–28: Sc in each st around. (72 sts)

What this means: Work one single crochet into every single stitch, with no increases and no decreases, for 16 rounds in a row. Each of those 16 rounds ends with 72 stitches. This builds the straight sides of the hat.

Brim (slightly flared)

Round 29: [Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (78 sts)

Round 30: Sc in each st around. (78 sts)

Round 31: [Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st] around — repeat 6 times total. (84 sts)

Round 32: Sc in each st around. (84 sts)

Fasten off and weave in the ends. The hat body is complete.

Leafy Stem (leaf green)

The stem is worked flat in rows (back and forth), not in rounds.

Row 1: Ch 12, then sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. (11 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in the first 4 sts, ch 3, skip the next 3 sts, sc in the last 4 sts. (8 sc plus one ch-3 space)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of the next 4 sts, then sc in each of the 3 chains of the ch-3 space, then sc in each of the last 4 sts. (11 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog. (9 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog. (7 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog. (5 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog. (3 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (about 12 inches / 30 cm) for sewing. Sew the stem to the top center of the hat, curling it slightly as you sew for a whimsical look.