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.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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.
Hi Rebecca, I want to make this for a guy, but I like the baby version. How would I make it that its not slouchy? But fits like a beanie?
Hi Mpho! The best case scenario would be if you have the guy handy, and can put it on his head when you’re around the 5″ mark to see how much more you’d need (keeping in mind that the band will add another approx. 1.5″). But if you don’t, you’ll have to refer to crochet sizing charts… they range anywhere from recommending 7″ to 8.5″ in height for a men’s beanie. As far as the color blocks, I wouldn’t be too concerned, but you could take away a round or two from each one and finish off whatever more you need with Color 3. I hope that helps 🙂
Thanks
I am an 83 yr old grandmother great and great great grandmother. I spend my day crocheting for my very large family. I can’t afford patterns and usually pick up yarn on sale or people give me yarn. I have a daughter in the DC area and she gives out some of the hats and so forth to families that attend her church.she and her husband pastor a church there. All 4 of her children also pastor churches and she gives them some of the things I make for their people. I crochet every day and it is a joy to do it. I am alone now for my husband of 42 yrs passed away 24 yrs ago. Old movies on TV and crocheting fill my days. Thank you for the gift you give of patterns so I can give gifts to others that are in need.i am known as Moremimi by all my family members. 5 children 27 grand children 29 great grandchildren and 2 g.g grandchildren, at least this is the number the last I heard.
Thanks for the pattern! My only problem is it must be for people with bigger heads! lol I was a little leery when I was doing the 80 count rounds, seemed large but followed it all the way through. Made a nice hat but didn’t quite fit, was pretty big for my head.
*Note: my comment is referring to the band. I understand its supposed to be a slouchy hat but the band is where it was large.
You can always do the band with a smaller hook, or work a round with some decreases before you start the band.
You didn’t specify whether the hat came out to the correct dimensions but was simply too large for you, or if the hat measures larger than the dimensions say it should. If it’s the latter, then it is probably a case of not checking your gauge before beginning 😉
I wondered if you make a slipstitch at the end of every round. Or if you keep going around without ending the row? Thank you very much!
Keep going (see Note #2 in the pattern information) 🙂
Ugh! I read over that so many times and didn’t see that. I guess I skimmed too much. Thanks for taking the time to answer me! ? Lovely Pattern!
Thank you for the free paterns, very easy to do. It’s a joy to make them and see the people we love wear them…
Long life to your web site
I love your patterns! Any money I make from crocheting I put back into materials (yarn, buttons, stuffing, shipping, etc) to make baby blanket sets for our local pregnancy center and hats of all sizes and colors for Lincolns People City Mission.
I do not crochet for profit. I have numerous health issues (Lupus, P.O.T.S. and fibromyalgia being the most painful). On more tolerable days I can crochet, I can get lost into my project, it helps me manage my pain. While making beautiful things? Thank you for sharing such wonderful patterns! Please, feel free to check out my page to see what I’ve done over the last couple of years. I haven’t had as much activity this year, I’ve been a lot sicker, but there are plenty of different items there. Thanks again!
V/R. Brandy
Hi Rebecca
I was wondering if the Carlyle pattern can be adjusted so it would fit a toddler? Say a size 16 – 19 inch circumference.
I really love the stitch and the colour blocking.
Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Denice
It can certainly be adjusted but unfortunately I don’t offer pattern adaptations for sizes that aren’t included in the original pattern. You can decide how wide you want the bottom of the hat to be and then find out how many stitches you’d have to remove from the increase to get there (for instance if there are 4 stitches per inch and you want the hat to be 2 inches smaller around you would figure out how to end up with 8 fewer stitches in the final increase round). You’d probably want to subtract a round or two from each color block as well to make the hat a bit shorter.
Hey Rebecca, I am making a second Carlyle slouch hat. On my first one I had to remove my finished band because I had done it incorrectly. I am making three more for Christmas gifts and I don’t want to mess them up. I don’t understand which stitch I start the two sl st. in. I either get it too big or too small. Could you please help me? I have the printed pattern and keep reading it over and over but I am still unsure where to sl st the first one. This is a beautiful pattern and I want to finish it correctly. Thank you!
Hi Charleen! I happen to have JUST published a tutorial on this very technique, and haven’t had a chance to go and add the link to all of the patterns that I use it on. But here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5F_OMt6eFc
I would recommend that you watch the whole thing because I go into detail about how to determine which stitch to go into. I hope it helps! 🙂