Thank you to Cascade Yarns for providing the yarn for this sample!
I love the idea of color-blocking. It’s such a modern twist on the classic stripes, and there aren’t nearly as many ends to weave in at the end. That’s a win for me!
For this hat pattern, I chose 3 neutral colors from Cascade Yarn’s Longwood line (which has soooo many color options). Longwood is one of my absolute all-time favorite yarns; I used it in the Herringbone Baby Hat, Easy Herringbone Earwarmer, Super Plush Infinity Scarf, and the Yenni and South Haven Slouches (the latter two use the sport weight version of the yarn). I honestly can’t get enough of its softness, drape and amazing stitch definition!
For the pom pom (which is optional and not explained in the pattern), I used my brand new Clover Pom-Pom Maker. I love that thing and wish I’d picked one up long ago. I’ve always made my pom poms the old fashioned way, wrapping yarn around a piece of cardboard and then giving it a significant “haircut”. But with the pom pom maker, the pom pom comes out almost perfect and only a little trimming is required – which means fuller, rounder pom poms.
And since you guys love pattern sets, I designed a cowl to match!
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CARLYLE SLOUCH HAT
Difficulty: Easy
Finished Size: 9″ tall x 9.5″ wide (when laid flat)
Hook: I (5.50mm)
Yarn: Approximately 215 yards (not including optional pom pom) of Cascade Longwood, a #4 medium yarn. Broken down, you will need about 55 yards of Color A (not including optional pom pom), 65 yards of Color B, and 95 yards of Color C. I used colors “Oatmeal”, “Doeskin Heather” and “Walnut”, respectively.
Gauge: 7 rows of 8 HHDC = 2″ square
You’ll also need: Yarn needle, stitch marker
Abbreviations Used:
MC (magic circle – view tutorial here)
ST (stitch)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SK (skip)
CH (chain)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
HHDC (herringbone half double crochet; see “special stitch” below)
SC2TOG (single crochet two together)
BLO (back loop only)
Special Stitch:
HHDC – Herringbone Half Double Crochet. Here’s how you do it:
HHDC: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch. Yarn over, pull loop through stitch AND through first loop on hook (this is similar to a slip stitch motion). Two loops remain on hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
(If you need additional help, Moogly has an excellent video tutorial here.)
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Pattern is worked in a continuous, seamless round until the band. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of rounds and do not join unless instructed to do so.
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THE PATTERN
To begin: With I hook and COLOR A, make a magic circle; CH1 (does not count as a stitch).
Round 1: 10 HHDC in MC. (10)
Round 2: 2 HHDC in each ST around. (20)
Round 3: 2 HHDC in each ST around. (40)
Round 4: 2 HHDC in each ST around. (80)
Rounds 5-8: HHDC in each ST around. (80)
Switch to COLOR B; fasten off COLOR A.
Rounds 9-16: HHDC in each ST around. (80)
Switch to COLOR C; fasten off COLOR B.
Rounds 17-23: HHDC in each ST around. (80)
Round 24: HHDC in each of the first 78 STS. SC in next ST. SL ST in last ST. (80)
Round 25: CH1. SC in same ST and in each of the next 7 STS. SC2TOG. (SC in each of the next 8 STS, SC2TOG) around. Join with a SL ST to the top of the first SC. (72)
Next we’re going to make the band of the hat, and we will be working in vertical rows, attaching it to the final round of the hat with SL STS as we go.
Row 1: CH9. SC in 2nd CH from hook. SC in remaining 7 CHS. SL ST in next 2 STS of the hat. (8, plus the 2 SL STS at the base of the hat)
Row 2: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS, SC in BLO of each of the next 7 STS. SC in both loops of the last ST. (8)
Row 3: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 7 STS. SL ST in next 2 STS of the hat.
Repeat Rows 2-3 all the way around the hat (72 rows). Fasten off and use your tail to whip stitch the first and last rows together. Weave in all ends.
Hello, i was wanting to make thia hat and was wondering what yarn you would suggest using for someone who is allergic to wool?
Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn is a similar weight and feel. 🙂
This pattern was well written and easy to follow! My hat turned out great!!! Thank you for sharing. Best wishes on your new addition to your family 🙂
I need a pattern for a slouchy beanie or hat for an infant. Any help you can give on how to use your pattern, but so it will fit a 10 month old who has a head circumference of 17.5 inches.
Thank you!
I have a similar hat here: http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/herringbone-baby-hat/
It isn’t slouchy (although you could make it that way with a few extra rounds).
Another wonderful pattern, your patterns are my all time favorites! I have made so many items from your patterns and each and everyone of them have turned out beautifully! Thank you so very much for your wonderful designs!
Very sincerely yours,
Kim
I have a question about the ribbing. It says 72 rows. Without the ribbing the 72 stitches make the hat huge. Won’t there 72 rows of ribbing be the same size or will the stitches pull it all in to make it fit tighter?
Hi Bonnie, the stitches will pull a little. Did you see my response to your earlier comment?
I’m in the progress of making this. I’m at the band part. 72 stitches around seems like my band won’t be tight enough. Without the band its huge. With the band its still 72 stitches. Am I just not understanding this?
Did you do a gauge check?
Either way, you’re welcome to go down a hook size or two for the band if you feel you need to.
I’m in the progress of making this. I’m at the band part. 72 stitches around seems like my band won’t be tight enough. Without the band its huge.
I made this for my son. Great pattern. Thanks for sharing this.
I was wondering if the pattern when you start off is supposed to be wavy? I am still only in the Color A portion of the pattern but I just wanted to check and be safe.
Yup! Wavy is good. It will smooth itself out further down the hat. 🙂
Thank you so much! This makes me feel a lot better. 🙂
How come you didn’t do this hat in the reverse. Meaning the headband first and then move up into the body of hat? Would that not have been easier than doing the body and then the headband? Or is that simply a matter of preference?
It must be a matter of preference, because I think of that way as much more complicated. 🙂
Great pattern, love the color blocking! How do I make the Pom Pom for the top??
I used a Clover Pom Pom maker. I explained in the blog post 🙂
Hey I’m having trouble with the band. If you could explain it better that would be awesome! Thanks
I probably need to do a video tutorial for it (but that won’t happen in the next few days). If you think of the hat as rounds being worked horizontally, then think of the band as rows being worked vertically. So when you do the CH9, that’s the base for your first row of ribbing. When you SC back down that chain, you’ve just created the first row. Then, in order to work your way around the hat, you have to slip stitch to the next two stitches from the final round of the hat (working horizontally, or across, again). Then you CH1, turn, skip over those slip stitches, and SC your way back up the ribbing (back loops only as instructed). Then you CH1 and turn, and SC back down the ribbing, then SL ST twice to move over to the next open spot. So you’re going up and down the ribbing, but using the slip stitches to move yourself around the hat slowly.
Hi Rebecca,
I love your patterns and find them easy to follow, I just started this hat and I am not sure, but for the band is it done separately and then I sew it together with the hat or just carry on and follow the instructions for the band. I am about to start the band and stuck here …..
Thanks so much
Nicole
Nope, it’s all worked as one piece. (Definitely never fasten off unless a pattern tells you to!) What you’re doing is working the ribbed band, one rib at a time (vertically), and attaching it to the last round of the hat with slip stitches as you go.
OK perfect thx for the reply, I just got some nice yarn and going to make this hat again. I am loving the Herrington HDC stitch !!!!!
lovely hat! and a nice stitch. I just couldnt make it look right though. The increases make too much a big space making it look like I miss those stitches. 🙁 maybe if I just work it in a rectangle and seam it? I love that texture though. I will try your cowl next 🙂
If you’re adding a pom pom, you probably don’t need to worry about it too much. 🙂 If you work it flat, you’ll still want to do a continuous round (like a tube shape) because if you CH and turn each row you’re going to get a very different texture. (Herringbone chained and turned is very pretty, it’s just significantly different.)
I love this hat and I’m sure I could make it. I cannot get the yarn you are suggesting. I do have access to Red Heart, Lion Brand, Bernat, Loops & Threads, Patons and Caron. Do you have any suggestions for something equivalent in any of these yarns.
The best way for you to substitute would be to choose your favorite #4 yarn and do a gauge check. If I were choosing from the options you listed, I would probably start with Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn because I believe it has a comparable thickness. But definitely do a gauge check. Good luck!
Thank you so much for the free pattern. I plan to make this slouch for my 12 year old granddaughter. I know she will love it! I hope your pregnancy is going well. I look forward to your emails. God Bless You!
Gorgeous!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!