Every year, I make my boys a hat for Christmas. They’ve always been various character hats like TMNT, Lion Guard, etc., but at ages 6 and 8, we’ve transitioned out of the Disney Jr phase and into a more mature (ha!) one. Pikachu and Link have replaced Mickey Mouse and Kion, and the boys reach for their simple Walmart slouchies way more often than their Lion Guard hats. (How did they get so old?)
And then there’s little Henry, who doesn’t keep a hat on long enough to make a character hat worth the time or energy. Toddlers, right!?
And then there’s the husband, who has been asking me for a hat for I’m-embarrassed-to-say-how-long. Sorry, babe.
So this year, I went in a different direction and designed a pattern that would work for all of them. It has just the right amount of slouch, and uses a very guy-friendly yarn called Jeans (from Lion Brand). This yarn is soft, heathery, and just looks really good.
Then, I did a little searching online to find some patches for the boys’ hats. The older two are super into the Zelda video game, and I was so pumped to find these Hylian Shield patches online. (Listen to me, throwing around that video game lingo like I actually know what I’m talking about. I don’t.)
I then searched for something Mario-related for little Henry, and found this adorable mushroom patch that I knew he would recognize.
I left my husband’s hat patch-free, but of course, all four of them got Mom’s Yarn + Chai tag sewn on. Gotta represent! (I get my tags from All This Wood on Etsy.)
And for those of you that like to know name origins — I ended up naming this hat the Hyland Slouch because for a while, when my boys would refer to that Hylian Shield, I thought they were saying hy-land instead of hy-lee-an and it just stuck.
Of course, despite its name, this hat isn’t just for the guys. It would make a great girls’ hat, too! (But let’s be honest, girls get a lot more dedicated patterns than guys, right?)
Prefer a PDF?
This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF, which includes sizes toddler – adult large! And if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my All Access Pass. It’s an awesome deal! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)
Hyland Men’s Hat
Difficulty: Easy
Finished Sizes (h x w): 8″ x 8″ (toddler), 9″ x 9″ (child), 10″ x 9.5″ (teen/adult small), 10.5″ x 10″ (adult large). Width is measured at the bottom of the ribbing when the hat is laid flat, but the widest part of the hat (near the middle) will be about .5-1″ more.
Hook: J (6.0 mm) or whichever hook is needed to obtain correct gauge
Yarn: Lion Brand Jeans Yarn or similar #4 worsted weight yarn. Approximate amounts as follows: 170 yards (toddler), 210 yards (child), 240 yards (teen/adult small), 280 yards (adult large).
Gauge: 5 increase rounds of 10 HDC = 4.25″ across.
Pattern For Gauge:
Round 1: 10HDC in magic circle; join (10)
Round 2: 2HDC in each ST around; join (20)
Round 3: (2HDC in next, HDC in next) around; join (30)
Round 4: (2HDC in next, HDC in next 2) around; join (40)
Round 5: (2HDC in next, HDC in next 3) around; join (50)
Terms and Abbreviations:
Magic Circle (view my tutorial here)
ST/STS (stitch/stitches)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SK (skip)
CH (chain)
SC (single crochet)
YUSC (yarn under single crochet – see Special Stitches)
YUHDC (yarn under half double crochet – see Special Stitches)
Special Stitches:
Yarn Under Single Crochet (YUSC) – this is the same as a regular SC, but with one simple variation. In a regular SC, you insert your hook, yarn over, draw yarn through (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through both loops. With a Yarn Under Single Crochet, you will insert your hook, yarn over, draw yarn through the stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn under, draw through both loops.
Yarn Under Half Double Crochet (YUHDC) – this is the same as a regular HDC, but with one simple variation. In a regular HDC, you yarn over, insert your hook, yarn over, draw yarn through (3 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through both loops. With a Yarn Under Half Double Crochet, you will yarn over, insert your hook, yarn over, draw yarn through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn under, draw through all three loops.
A Note About Changing Colors:
To keep the written pattern simple, I have written it without including color changes (since it would be different for every size). The hat can be made all one color, with 2 or 3 colors (as in my samples), or really with any number of color changes you wish. To change colors, keep the following tips in mind:
- To decide where to put your color changes, first decide how many colors you want, then take the finished height of the size you are making and divide it by the number of colors you want to use. So for instance, if I want to make a children’s hat (9″ tall) with 3 colors, I’ll divide 9 by 3 (9/3=3). I know that each color block will be about 3″, so I’ll keep a ruler handy as I work the pattern and I’ll change colors every 3″.
- I feel that the cleanest color change happens between two rounds of YUSC (as opposed to YUHDC), so I always placed my color changes at that part of the pattern, wherever it fell closest to the measurements I was going for.
Additional Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Pattern is worked top-down, in a spiral. Do not join or chain unless instructed.
(3) Pattern is written for toddler size with additional sizes in brackets [child, teen/adult small, adult large]. So, for example, if it says “12 [13, 14, 15]”, the first number is for the toddler size, and the numbers in brackets are child, teen/adult small, and adult large instructions, respectively. If there is only one number, it applies regardless of which size you are making. If you are working from printed instructions, it helps to circle or highlight the numbers you are following before you begin.
INSTRUCTIONS
Note: The first few rounds will produce a VERY wavy circle. As you work further down the hat, the waves will smooth out. This is how we get that cinched look at the top.
To begin: Make a magic circle; CH1.
Round 1: 12 [13,14,15] SC in magic circle. (12 [13, 14, 15])
Round 2: 2YUSC in each ST around. (24 [26, 28, 30])
Round 3: 3YUSC in each ST around. (72 [78, 84, 90])
Rounds 4-5: YUSC in each ST around. (72 [78, 84, 90])
Rounds 6-8: YUHDC in each ST around. (72 [78, 84, 90])
Rounds 9-13: YUSC in each ST around. (72 [78, 84, 90])
Rounds 14 – ?: Repeat Rounds 6-13, in order (3 rounds YUHDC, 5 rounds YUSC), until hat measures 6.5 [7.5, 8.5, 9]” tall, then continue to “Base Round” (the beginning of the ribbing section). It does not matter which repeat round you end on.
Base Round: YUSC in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to the first ST of the round. (72 [78, 84, 90])
– – – – – –
Next we’re going to make the band of the hat, and we will be working in vertical rows, attaching it to the Base Round with SL STS as we go. If you need a little extra help, click here for a video tutorial on how to add ribbing at the end of a project.
– – – – – –
CH7.
Row 1: SC in 2nd chain from hook and in each of the remaining 6 chains. SL ST into the first SC from Base Round, the stitch on which your CH7 was built. SL ST into the next SC from Base Round. (6, plus the two slip stitches along Base Round)
The section we just created, built on the CH7, will hereafter be referred to as the “ribbing.”
Row 2: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS you put in Base Round, SC in BLO of each of the first 5 STS of the ribbing. SC in both loops of the last ST. (6)
Row 3: CH1, turn. SC in 1st ST. SC in BLO of each of the remaining 5 STS of the ribbing. SL ST in each of the next 2 STS of Base Round. (6, plus the 2 SL STS along Base Round)
Row 4: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS you put in Base Round, SC in BLO of each of the first 5 STS of the ribbing. SC in both loops of the last ST. (6)
Rows 5-72 [78, 84, 90]: Repeat Rows 3-4 all the way along Base Round.
Fasten off and use your tail to sew together the gap between the first and last rows of the ribbing, then weave in your ends.
Done! If you’re sharing your finished hat on social media, be sure to hashtag #hylandmenshat and tag me @yarnandchai.design. Stay warm out there!
Hi! I was wondering if I use a thicker (like a lot thicker…) piece of yarn, will the gauge change? I was starting on the first row, and I was only able to get 10 sc in the magic circle (I’m doing the largest one btw). Thanks!!!
Yes, definitely. Any time you use a thicker yarn, you will end up with larger finished measurements. Even when using the recommended yarn, you still need to do a gauge check to make sure your tension matches mine 🙂
Hi! Can you please let me know the yarn you used in the second picture if blue, grey and black? Thank you!!
I didn’t write it down but looking at the yarn online, I’m guessing Stovepipe, Vintage and Brand New (all Lion Brand Jeans yarn). Sorry about that, I usually mention it in the pattern!
Hello Rebecca! Thank you for sharing your pattern. I am always in search of men’s hats that look nice and professional. This one is great! My question is about using the yarn under stictches. Is there a particular reason you use this stitch instead of regular SC and HDC? Just curious!
Just because they look a little different, and I wanted to branch out of the basic stitches but still keep it a simple pattern 🙂
Hi there. It doesn’t say how to connect the rounds……. with a slst into the ch1 and then chain 1 to start the next round? (Ch 2 on the HDC rounds?)
Thanks.
Hi Holly! You don’t connect the rounds (see Note #2). It’s worked in a continuous spiral. So the first stitch of a new round goes right into the top loops of the first stitch from the round before it. No joining or chaining. The hat will be seamless. 🙂
So I’ve been making this using 2 strands of DK, I did a gauge check and changed my hook and rechecked etc, and its huge! Still 90 stitches, I can’t for the life of my figure out why, my tension is the same, followed the gauge. For the base round I did decreases every 8 stitches, and then the ribbing I’m going to miss out a stitch every 9 ribs, and use a size down hook, I hope it makes it tight enough because without the decreases the ribbing didn’t do anything to tighten it.
I believe this hat is only meant to be crocheted with a single strand of DK yarn. Also, the yarn that was used in this pattern, Lion Brand Jeans yarn, is a thinner DK yarn. I find it to be between a 3 and 4. I tried this hat with a thicker DK yarn and it is not working at all. I will have to select a finer yarn in order to get the proper look and drape, not to mention the gauge needed.
Thank you very much for this wonderful mens pattern, I have made two for my son and he loves them. I had never made a hat before x
I’ve just started the ribbing on my adult size hat but the bottom across measures 13-1/2 inches! It’s huge. I have been consistent with the 90 stitches and my stitching is very tight. What’s wrong? Will a smaller hook on the ribbing make enough difference?
My first question is, did you do a gauge check before you started? I crochet tightly.
At 13.5″ you could certainly do the ribbing with a much smaller hook but it’s going to be a different style of hat than it’s meant to be. It may still look fine.
I did not the first time so did after reading your question. My swatch measured 4.5 so I restarted another hat with an I hook. Making the adult men’s size. I’m halfway through and it is measuring 12.5 in the middle. Just not working. I also crochet very tightly. Is this the size you made for your husband pictured above? The 90 stitches seem like a lot when there are no decreases.
Hi Kalah, did you do another gauge check with the I hook before you started? If your J hook was 13.5″ wide and your I hook is 12.5″ wide, it sounds like you need to go down to an H. You may feel like you crochet tightly, but your gauge swatch suggests that I crochet even tighter. It’s not wrong, it’s just different. That’s why we have gauge checks 😉 (And yes, my husband is wearing the adult large.)
Thanks very much for your prompt responses.
I found it loose..
Did u used 6mm hook for ribbing..
First time I have crocheted a hat in rounds, my son found your pattern and chose the wool, wanted it all grey. It has come out really well, thank you x
great hat did you sew or iron on the patches?
I sewed them on.
Thank you for this pattern! I am a new crocheter, and this is the first hat I have made. It will be put back for one of my teen nephews for Christmas. I found your directions well written and easy to follow, and I appreciated the link to the ribbing tutorial. Thanks so much!