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Crochet Baby Hat: Ribbed Sideways Beanie with a Size Chart

A ribbed beanie worked sideways in one strip, seamed and gathered at the crown, with a head-size chart from newborn to five years.

Ideas for Crochet6 min read

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Hook
4 mm
Yarn
Baby yarn, 50 g/125 m, 50% merino wool and 50% fibre
Size
3–6 months: 42 cm head, 15 cm deep plus 5 cm cuff
Steps
8
Terms
US
Crochet Baby Hat: Ribbed Sideways Beanie with a Size Chart Save Crochet Baby Hat: Ribbed Sideways Beanie with a Size Chart to Pinterest (opens in a new tab)

This crochet baby hat is a ribbed beanie worked sideways in one strip, then seamed and gathered at the crown. Alternating half double crochet and slip stitches make the vertical ribs, and a folded cuff keeps the fit snug. The demonstration size is for 3–6 months, with a 42 cm head and 15 cm depth, and the chart in the video lists other ages.

Bright blue crochet baby hat with pixel-textured ribs, a folded cuff and gathered crown
Save this sideways-worked ribbed beanie for later.

Before you start this crochet baby hat

You need one 50 g/125 m ball of baby yarn, a 4 mm hook, stitch markers, scissors and a plastic needle with a large eye. The demonstrated yarn is 50% merino wool and 50% fibre, and one ball covers sizes up to 6 months. Pull the yarn from the centre of the ball so it does not roll away. The hat has no ties or cords.

US terms: ch = chain; sl st = slip stitch; sc = single crochet; hdc = half double crochet. Choose the row for your child’s head circumference, measure the hat depth, then add the 5 cm cuff and 2 cm allowance to get the chain length.

Head circumference Hat depth Age shown
36–40 cm 12–14 cm 0–3 months
41–44 cm 15–16 cm 3–6 months
45–46 cm 16–17 cm 6–12 months
47–48 cm 16–17 cm 1–2 years
49–50 cm 17–18 cm 2–3 years
51–54 cm 18–20 cm 3–5 years

The chart in the video also continues to adult sizes. Only the rows up to 5 years are given here. The stitch counts in this article are those of the 3–6 month hat; for other sizes the video sets the starting chain and strip length from the chart but does not list new stitch counts. For another folded-brim hat, see the crochet beanie with a folded brim.

Work the strip

  1. Choose the size

    The video fits this hat to a 3–6 month head of 42 cm, with a depth of 15 cm. To that depth it adds a 5 cm folded cuff and 2 cm for gathering the crown and for the fabric pulling in, which gives 22 cm.

    Blue ribbed hat with a tape measure laid across its folded cuff beside a pink hat, with the sum 15+5+2=22 on screen
    Step 1a: measure the depth, then add the cuff and allowance.

  2. Make the foundation chain

    • Chain · 40
    • Unstretched · about 22 cm

    Make a slip knot and chain 40 loosely. The video's on-screen note repeats 40 chains.

    Blue yarn chain being worked on a hook held between both hands, with the note 40 ch at top left
    Step 2a: work the 40-chain foundation.

    Lay the chain flat beside a tape. Unstretched it measures about 22 cm, matching the calculation.

    Long blue chain lying along a yellow tape measure with its end at about 22 cm and the hook at the end
    Step 2b: check the chain against the 22 cm width.

  3. Row 1: single crochet and the pattern

    • Row 1 · 15 sc, then (hdc, sl st) ×9, hdc
    • Leave 5 unworked

    Chain 1 for turning, then work a single crochet into each chain from the second chain from the hook, 15 in all. The video points out that they can be counted by the little braids along the edge.

    Row of single crochet stitches along the chain with the hook at its left end and the row 1 formula on screen
    Step 3a: fifteen single crochet along the chain.

    Now alternate a half double crochet and a slip stitch for 19 stitches, starting and ending with a half double crochet. In the on-screen formula this is (hdc, sl st) nine times, then hdc. Mark the turning point with a stitch marker.

    Hook and stitch marker at the start of the alternating half double crochet and slip stitch section above the finished single crochet stitches
    Step 3b: alternate hdc and sl st for 19 stitches.

    Leave the last 5 chains unworked, ch 1 and turn. The 19-stitch pattern section always begins and ends with a half double crochet.

    Finished first row held between fingers with a stitch marker at its end and unworked chains at the far end
    Step 3c: row 1 done, 5 stitches left unworked.

  4. Row 2: work into the back loops

    • Row 2 · (hdc, sl st) ×9, hdc, then 15 sc

    Row 2 is worked into the back loop only. Work hdc over each hdc and sl st over each sl st for the 19 pattern stitches, keeping the slip stitches loose.

    Hook entering the back loop of the previous row beside a green stitch marker, with the row 2 formula on screen
    Step 4a: row 2 pattern stitches in the back loops.

    Finish the row with 15 single crochet in the back loops. Work the last stitch through both loops, then ch 1 and turn.

    Hook inserted at the end of a row beside a red stitch marker, with the row 2 formula on screen
    Step 4b: the last stitch goes through both loops.

  5. Row 3: shape the crown edge

    • Row 3 · 15 sc, (hdc, sl st) ×9, hdc, 5 sl st

    Row 3 begins with 15 single crochet in the back loops. Then work the 19 pattern stitches as before.

    Hook working the first single crochet stitches of a new row with the row 3 formula on screen
    Step 5a: row 3 starts with 15 single crochet.

    After the pattern stitches, drop down the side of the strip and work 5 slip stitches, taking the hook under the side bar of each row. These slip stitches shape the crown.

    Hook pulling a loop through the side edge of a blue strip, with the row 3 formula on screen
    Step 5b: five slip stitches down the side edge.

  6. Row 4 and the repeat

    • Row 4 · 5 sl st, (hdc, sl st) ×9, hdc, 15 sc
    • Repeat rows 1–4

    Row 4 starts with 5 slip stitches in the back loops, then the 19 pattern stitches and 15 single crochet. Work the last stitch through both loops so the bottom edge stays level.

    Hook working into a ribbed blue strip with a green marker and the row 4 formula on screen
    Step 6a: row 4 begins with five slip stitches.

    Repeat rows 1 to 4. Stop when the ribbed band, in its stretched state, equals the head circumference; the video works the whole ball here.

    Long blue ribbed strip laid flat with a hook beside it and the text Repeat rows 1 through 4
    Step 6b: the repeated strip lies flat.

  7. Join the seam

    Fold the strip in half and join the two ends with slip stitches, working from the bottom up. The seam is hidden inside, and the video asks you to keep these stitches loose.

    Blue strip folded in half with the hook starting a join along the edge
    Step 7a: start joining the folded strip.

    Slip stitch into each pair of stitches along the edge, catching the back loops on the braided side. Do not pull the joining stitches tight.

    Hook pulling loops through the edge of the folded blue hat to form the seam
    Step 7b: slip stitch the seam loosely.

  8. Close the crown

    Cut the yarn, leaving a tail, and pull the end through the last loop. Thread it into a plastic needle and pass it through the loops along the top edge.

    Green needle passing through the top edge loops of the blue hat with the yarn tail hanging down
    Step 8a: thread the needle through the top loops.

    Pull the tail firmly so the crown closes, pass the needle around the ring of loops once more, and hide the ends under the stitches.

    Closed star-shaped crown of the blue hat with the green needle at its centre
    Step 8b: pull the crown closed.

    Fold up the cuff. The finished hat has a flat top and a ribbed band that turns back; the pink hat beside it shows the version without the short rows.

    Finished blue ribbed beanie with a turned-up cuff next to a pink version, with the creator's name in the corner
    Step 8c: the finished hat with its cuff turned up.

Troubleshooting

The band is too tight: the slip stitches were probably pulled tight. Rework them looser, since the band should stretch to the head circumference.

A fuller, rounder top: the pink hat in the video does not use the short rows and ends rows with plain slip stitches, which gives a more voluminous crown. The short rows of the blue hat give a flat top.

A visible seam outside: the video turns the hat so the seam sits inside; join the strip loosely and check from the outside before fastening off.

Site safety note: this hat has no ties. If you add any ties to a baby hat, keep them short or leave them off, as long cords near a baby’s neck are a strangling risk.

Final check

  • Chain of 40, about 22 cm unstretched.
  • Every row starts and ends as described, with the last stitch of rows 2 and 4 through both loops.
  • Slip stitches loose and the strip stretching to the head circumference.
  • Seam inside and crown pulled closed twice.
  • Ends hidden and cuff folded up.

For a matching accessory, try the ribbed crochet scarf, or see the adult hood-style crochet bonnet.

Inspired by Vasilya Knits’ video tutorial.

Save this pattern for later

Pin it to one of your boards so it’s ready when you have a free evening and the right yarn.

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