Retro Crochet Hat

Materials:

• Yarn: RED HEART® “Soft Yarn™”: 1 ball each of each:
  • 1882 Toast A
  • 9523 Dark Leaf B
  • 3729 Grape C
• Crochet Hook: I-9 (5.5mm)
• Small pom-pom maker, 2”/5cm diameter
• Yarn needle

Finished Measurements: 24”/61cm circumference at lower edge

Gauge: 13 stitches and 8 rows = 4”/10cm in double crochet using size I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook

Notes: Change color in the join of a round. Insert hook in first stitch of the round, yarn over with the new color and draw through all loops on hook. Cut and weave in the old color, or carry loosely up the inside of the hat.

Special Stitch:
Front Post double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch; yarn over and draw up loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Instructions:

HAT
With A, make an adjustable ring as follows: Wrap yarn around index finger, forming a ring, remove ring from finger and hold working yarn behind ring. Insert hook into ring, yarn over and draw a loop through the ring. Work Round 1 in ring, then pull tail to cinch ring closed.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet here and throughout), work 9 more double crochet in ring; join with slip stitch in top of beginning ch – 10 double crochet
Round 2: Chain 3, double crochet in same stitch as join (increase made), 2 double crochet in each stitch around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 20 double crochet.
Round 3: Chain 3, double crochet in same stitch as join, double crochet in next stitch, [2 double crochet in next stitch, double crochet in next stitch] 9 times; join and change to C with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 30 double crochet.
Round 4: With C, chain 3, double crochet in same stitch as join, double crochet in next 2 stitches, [2 double crochet in next stitch, double crochet in next 2 stitches] 9 times; join and change to B with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 40 double crochet.
Round 5: With B, chain 1 (counts as first single crochet here and throughout), single crochet in same stitch as join, single crochet in next 3 stitches, [2 single crochet in next stitch, single crochet in next 3 stitches] 9 times; join and change to A with slip stitch in beginning chain – 50 single crochet.
Round 6: With A, chain 2 (counts as first half double crochet here and throughout), half double crochet in same stitch as join, half double crochet in next 4 stitches, [2 half double crochet in next stitch, half double crochet in next 4 stitches] 9 times; join and change to B with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 60 half double crochet.
Round 7: With B, chain 3, double crochet in same stitch as join, double crochet in next 5 stitches, [2 double crochet in next stitch, double crochet in next 5 stitches] 9 times; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 70 double crochet.
Round 8: Chain 3, double crochet in each stitch around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain.
Round 9: Chain 2, half double crochet in each stitch around; join and change to C with slip stitch in top of beginning ch.
Round 10: With C, chain 2, half double crochet in each stitch around; join and change to A with slip stitch in top of beginning chain.
Round 11: With A, chain 3, double crochet in each stitch around; join and change to B with slip stitch in top of beginning chain.
Round 12: With B, chain 1, single crochet in each stitch around; join and change to C with slip stitch in beginning chain.
Round 13: With C, chain 1, single crochet in each stitch around; join and change to A with slip stitch in beginning chain.
Round 14: With A, chain 3, double crochet in each stitch around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain.
Round 15: Chain 3, double crochet in each stitch around; join and change to B with slip stitch in top of beginning chain.
Round 16 (front post stitch round): With B, chain 3, Front Post double crochet around beginning chain of previous round, *double crochet in next stitch, Front Post double crochet around same stitch; repeat from * around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 140 stitches.
Round 17: Chain 3, skipping all Front Post double crochets of Round 16, double crochet in each double crochet around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 70 double crochet.
Round 18 (front post stitch round): Ch 3, Front Post double crochet around first Front Post double crochet 2 rows below, *double crochet in next stitch, Front Post double crochet around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below; repeat from * around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 140 stitches.
Round 19: Ch 3, skipping all Front Post double crochet of Round 18, double crochet in each double crochet around; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain – 70 double crochet.
Round 20: Repeat Round 18.
Round 21: Chain 1, skipping all Front Post double crochet of previous round, slip stitch in each double crochet around; join with slip stitch in beginning chain. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Weave in all ends. With C and pompom maker, make a 2”/5cm pom-pom. Sew pom-pom to top of hat.

See this pattern and more in 21 Free Vintage Crochet Patterns.