Thank you to Cascade Yarns for providing the yarn for this sample!
A loooooong time ago, I received a shipment from Cascade Yarns and they threw in a bonus ball of a yarn that I’d never used before: Heritage Paints. It sat on my shelf for quite a while, because I honestly didn’t know what to do with it. It was a #1 super fine sock yarn, and the only other experience I’d had with that weight of yarn was when, as a newer crocheter, I’d purchased some of another brand and worked with it for about 2 minutes before I gave up on it because it was so thin and tangly.
Eventually, about a month ago, I started wondering what it would be like to make a hat out of sock yarn. I got so curious that I finally grabbed the Heritage Paints off my shelf and gave it a try. And it was actually really fun!
I honestly don’t know how to compare Heritage yarn to other #1 yarns, because I think the issue I had with that other yarn years ago was probably more due to my inexperience than it was about the yarn. But what I can tell you is that Heritage yarn is really, really easy to use. It actually reminds me a lot of Cascade Longwood yarn (and you all know how much I loooooove that yarn). It’s just a lot thinner. Sure, it takes longer to make a hat, but the gorgeousness of the finished fabric makes up for the time spent!
I stuck with a simple formula of a faux-cinched crown and single crocheted body, because I’m a firm believer in keeping the stitches simple when I’m working with a busy yarn. And I found that working this pattern in single crochet allowed the design of the yarn to show up in nice, neat stripes.
My other philosophy of using busy yarn is that it helps to balance it out with a not-so-busy yarn, so I did the ribbing in Heritage Solids in the color Snow, and I also made a pom pom with my Clover Pom Pom Maker using the same yarn. The resulting hat has such a nice feel and drape. Like wearing a cozy sock on your head! 🙂
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OAKLEYÂ SLOUCH HAT
Difficulty:Â Easy
Finished Size: 10″ tall x 9.5″ wide (when laid flat)
Hook: EÂ (3.5mm)
Yarn: About 330 yards (not including optional pom pom) of Heritage Yarn by Cascade Yarns. Heritage is a #1 super fine weight yarn that is very easy to work with. (I think it feels more like a thin sport weight yarn.) Heritage comes in solids, prints, and paints; for the body of the hat in my photos, I used Heritage Prints in “Beach Cliff”, and for the band and the pom pom, I used Heritage Solids in “Snow”.
Gauge:Â 29 rows of 23Â SC = 4″ square.
You’ll also need: Yarn needle, stitch marker
Abbreviations Used:
  MC (magic circle – view tutorial here)
ST/STSÂ (stitch/stitches)
SL STÂ (slip stitch)
SKÂ (skip)
CHÂ (chain)
SCÂ (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
BLOÂ (back loops only)
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Pattern is worked in a continuous, seamless round until the band. Do not join or turn unless instructed to do so. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of rounds.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
THE PATTERN
To begin: Make a MC; CH1.
Round 1: 10HDC in MC. (10)
Round 2:Â 2HDC in each ST around. (20)
Round 3: 2HDC in each ST around. (40)
Round 4: 2HDC in each ST around. (80)
Tip: Your base should be looking very wavy at this point.
Round 5:Â (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next ST)Â around. (120)
Rounds 6-50 (or until hat is about 8″ tall when laid flat): SC in each ST around. (120)
Round 51: SC in each of the first 118 STS (2 STS remain unworked). SL ST in each of the remaining 2 STS to smooth down the round.
If using a different color for the band, you can switch to that new color now.
Ribbed Band
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:Â CH15. SC in 2nd CH from hook. SC in remaining 13Â CHS. SL ST in next 2 STSÂ of the final round of the hat. (14, 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 13 STS. SC in both loops of the last ST. (14)
Row 3: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in BLO of each of the next 13 STS. SL ST in next 2 STS of the final round of the hat. (14, plus the 2 SL STS at the base of the hat)
Repeat Rows 2-3 all the way around the hat (120 rows). Fasten off and use your tail to whip stitch the first and last rows together. Weave in all ends.
Optional: Create and attach pom pom in a coordinating color. (I used a large Clover Pom Pom Maker.)
I have been making this cap with a 1 fingering yarn by Yarn Bee. I’ve been using a C hook, when is it going to start looking more like a hat and less like a scrunchy? Do I need to start over with a 3.5 hook?
I do not know if I am doing this right. I am on 9th row of SC..when will my hat straighten out to fit on the head. Also I do not understand the instructions for the band…any recommendations?
Hi Destiny… you’re fine! Trust the pattern, it will work. 🙂 As far as the band, I actually published a YouTube tutorial for this technique, I just haven’t had the chance to go back and add it to all of my patterns that use it. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/i5F_OMt6eFc
I love this site and most of the items. Love the Oakley slouch. Xxx. Scarfs. Lovely.
Hello. I just finished the hat, and it’s adorable! Thank you for the easy-to-understand pattern. I would send you a pic, but I don’t know how. Lol. Thanks again!
Hello! And congratulations on your baby boy! I’ve made two of the Shiplap Slouch hats, one for my daughter and one for myself. I just love the pretty HHDC stitches. I look forward to making more of your patterns! All the best!
I finally found a hat I can do with my fingering wavy colored yarn ….. I immediately started working but I’m actually quite new to crochet.
I don’t know what is wrong ,I’m now in row 17 but I feel it’s still getting wavy … and I don’t know if it’s me but I feel by the time I get to 50 rows it’s gonna be huge and even much more wavy …………… do you have any idea what I am doing wrong or is that normal ??
Thank you ^_^
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I just saw the announcement … congratulations ^_^
Did you do a gauge check?
The first thing I would do is lay the hat (whatever you have done) flat, and flatten out all of the waves. The hat will end up looking the a big smile shape. You can then take a soft measuring tape and measure along the bottom to find out how many inches the perimeter of the hat is. If it’s more than a couple inches larger than the width of the finished hat is supposed to be (which is 9.5″ laid flat, or 19″ total), then yes, it will be too big. If that’s the case, you will need to adjust your hook size to fit the gauge provided. If the perimeter measures somewhere between 19″-21″, then keep going, you should be fine.
I am very confused. This pattern only expands for five rounds. Which makes it doll sized not human sized…
They are not standard increases; you still end up with 120 stitches at the end of round 5. The reason for this is that the hat has a faux-cinched look, and to achieve it we’re packing a ton of stitches into a small space. If you checked your gauge, you can trust the pattern to work.
Hi Rebecca, how many stitches did you put in your magic circle? And the row after the magic circle is that a HDC into the centre of the magic circle or into the stitches?
Thanks
Round one IS the number of stitches that go in the magic circle. When the instructions say “make a magic circle”, that is simply the circle itself; you always need to look to Round 1 to find out how many stitches to put into it.
hi! i just started working on this pattern. while i do not have sock yarn, i am using #3 dk baby yarn. i am on the row where you do 2 hdc and 1 hdc before starting the single crochet all around. my circle is less than 6 inches across. is this correct?
Yes, that’s expected. We get the faux-cinched look by jamming a ton of stitches into those first 5 rows, which is why your circle probably looks really floppy and wavy right now. Alllll of that waviness is going to flatten itself out as you continue down the hat, giving it a much larger circumference than it appears to have right now. 🙂
Also – did you do a gauge check? A #3 yarn is very, very different than a #1 sock yarn. Your hat may end up huge.
I did check it while I started. I don’t remember what it was exactly but I remember it being smaller because when I use a small hook, I do tight stitches. I don’t might huge as long as I can fit it at my head with the edging. I just love the way it’s going and the way it’s looking. That why I had to ask if it was going right. Thank you!!
Lovely hat!!!!! Started it Sunday and I can’t put it down! I do have two questions: After I have reached the desired length of 8″ after about row 57 (I have a tight tension) so I fasten off?
Next question is….what is a whip stitch?
Thanks again for this lovely pattern!
You’ll want to complete Round 51’s instructions before switching colors. I hadn’t mentioned in the pattern where I switch to the new color, but I just updated it to reflect that. Yes, you can fasten the first color off as you won’t be needing it anymore. Whip stitching is just a way of sewing the seam together – use whatever method is most comfortable to you. If you would like to see the whip stitch in action there are lots of good YouTube tutorials. Good luck!
I am VERY new to crochet (not more than a potholder and sc chains under my belt so far) but I am super enthusiastic about finding the perfect patterns or ideas to get started with. While I think I will have to save this pattern for when I have a little more experience, I am IN LOVE with your patterns!! I have searched high and low for cute and wearable items that look comfy and modern enough for a 20-something mom like myself to enjoy. Sadly I haven’t found many that fit my tastes. I am so glad I found your page, because I am in love with almost every piece I see. I cannot wait to try some of these patterns and to finally have some warm and CUTE hats and scarves for the fall/winter, without spending a fortune for comparable store bought items. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I look forward to following along with your blog in the future, and I cannot wait to get my hands on some new yarn to start working on something soon!
I made one of the Sophia slouch hats but it doesn’t hang down the back of the head like yours. Can you tell me why?
There could be a few different reasons for that. If you substituted a different yarn, the yarn you chose could be stiffer than the recommended yarn, resulting in less drape. If you didn’t do a gauge check, it could be because you crochet tighter than I do (also resulting in a stiffer fabric, or possibly a smaller hat). Lastly, it could be because of the pom pom; mine weighs the back of the hat down, so if you didn’t add one or yours is significantly lighter than mine, that might make a difference.
I love this. I think maybe using the sock yarn will make a hat that is light enough to wear for our cold-ish winter weather. Being in the South, it does not get as cold as it does up North, but we can get some days down in the 40’s that put a nip on your ears, especially when the sea breeze picks up. Our wind chills sometimes get down to 15 degrees even though the surface temperature is much warmer than that. Thank you for this beautiful idea. I do love sock yarn for crochet socks too!
I never would’ve thought to use sock yarn to make a hat! Great idea! I love the solid band and pompom, and you’re absolutely right about the busy and non-busy combo. Looks like I’ll be adding sock yarn to my list the next time I head to the store!
Wow! This slouch is so beautiful! I just checked out the yarn and I want them all! I love that you kept it simple with the single crochet!
Where do you find your cascade yarn please.
I bought mine from Jimmybeanswool.com, but if you have a local yarn shop (not a big box store) you might call them and see what they have.
Oh my gosh! Thank you a million times for this! I accidentally bought sock yarn from a website to make hats for my daughters (the yarn was so beautiful but I must’ve missed the weight). I could not find a suitable pattern for a hat after it came in the mail and I realized what I had done. This is lovely and I can’t wait to have a little money to sign up for your ad-free patterns. You are a talented lady and I appreciate what you do! Have a wonderful day! Keep ’em coming!
Lol you’re welcome a million times!
Well my, my, my! Bless you for finding something to make with sock yarn that doesn’t involve knitting! I have a tub FULL of sock yarn from my knitting days (arthritis stopped that) and I was almost going to give it all away. Thanks for this pattern and I hope you find other ways to create using sock yarn.
I’m so glad!!