A new slouch hat pattern! YAY!
I love slouch hats. And you guys must, too, because the Jenny Slouch quickly became one of my most popular patterns of all time (“all time”, of course, referring to the one year I’ve been blogging). There’s just something about a cute slouch that makes you feel extra adorable when you’re out in the cold. And it’s a great way to hide a bad hair day, which – as a tired mom of two toddler boys – is almost a daily thing for me.
Here’s a new slouch pattern I’ve been working on, and it even has a matching cowl that I think you’ll also love, which I originally designed for All Free Crochet’s blog, Stitch & Unwind!
The button on the hat is purely decorative, meaning there’s no buttonhole. (I figure, why go to the trouble of making it functional, when you’re never going to need to unbutton it, anyway?)
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SANDY SLOUCH
Hooks: K (6.5mm) and I (5.5mm)
Yarn: About 175 yards of worsted weight acrylic yarn; I used <1 skein of Lion Brand Heartland in “Grand Canyon”. (Heartland is a lighter worsted weight yarn, comparable to Bernat Satin or Red Heart Soft, so if you use something a little thicker like Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn it may turn out slightly larger.)
Difficulty: Easy
Gauge: A round of HDCs will = 1″. So, when you complete your 6th and final increase round, it should measure about 6″ in diameter.
Finished Size: Approximately 10″ tall, and 9.5″ wide
You’ll also need: Yarn needle, stitch marker (such as a bobby pin), 1″ button and materials to attach button
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) This pattern is worked in a seamless round until the band, when it becomes turned rounds. Do not join, chain or turn unless instructed to do so.
(3) Some have struggled with understanding that is happening once you get to the band and button area, so here’s an explanation I replied with in the comments section that seemed to help, and you can come back to this if you get tripped up too. What you’re doing in Round 21 is setting the base for your flap. Because of the flap, we are not able to work in continuous or joined rounds. We’re just going to be going back and forth, building the band, including the flap. (Which is why the stitch totals switch from 60 to 66, because we created 6 additional stitches with our CH7.) So in Round 22, you’re SCing back down that CH7 that you’ve just made, and then continuing on all the way around the hat until you reach the end of that round. (Technically it would be considered a row at this point, but I thought that would be even more confusing.) Then you’ll CH1 and turn, and SC back around the hat, all the way back up to the top of the CH7 section you made, then CH1, turn around and SC back down the flap and around the hat. You’re going to keep doing this until the pattern tells you to stop, and you will end up with a flap that is the same thickness as the band.
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THE PATTERN
To begin: With K hook, make a magic circle (view a tutorial here).
Round 1: 10 HDC in magic circle. (10)
Round 2: 2HDC in each ST around. (20)
Round 3: (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next ST) around. (30)
Round 4: (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next 2 STS) around. (40)
Round 5: (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next 3 STS) around. (50)
Round 6: (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next 4 STS) around. (60)
Round 7: (SC+DC in next ST, SK next ST) around. (60)
Rounds 8-20: Repeat Round 7.
Round 21: (SC+DC in next ST, SK next ST) 29 times (until you only have 2 STS left in the round). SC in next ST, SL ST in next ST. CH7. (60)
(Note: the CH7 will form the base of our button flap.)
Switch to I hook. You will now crochet the band of the hat, and we want it to be a little snug so that it doesn’t fall off.
Round 22: SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH. Continue to SC around. (66)
Rounds 23-29: CH1, turn. SC around. (66)
Finishing: CH1 (do NOT turn). SC around the entire edge of the hat, including the button flap, putting 2SC in each corner. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Button: Place your button in the center of the flap and, using yarn or thread, secure it through both layers (the flap and the band underneath).
I am pretty sure I figured out the issue people are having with the flap not facing the same way as your flap. I made my hat like I make every other hat that I make and that makes the flap face the wrong way. I couldn’t figure out why it was happening until I watched the video you made very closely and I noticed you make your hats inside out according to the way most people make their hats and that is why it is turning out facing the wrong way while on the left side of the head and the right way on the right side of the head.
The finished hat is not wrong side out 🙂 In the video you’re looking at the right side of the hat which is, at that time, on the inside of my work because that’s how I crochet in the round – like a bowl. It’s just easier for me to hold it that way. The finished product is turned right side out.
I have gone back to look at the video and what I think I must have done in the original pattern is turned after SCing down the chain, but when making my notes, wrote down that I didn’t turn. In my earlier days I had a bad habit of writing out patterns after I had finished the sample and this is the most logical reason I can think of for the discrepancy. I will update the video when I can. I honestly didn’t realize it would be such a serious issue, when you can simply wear the button on the other side of your head and the flap will be turned the correct way. 😉
Thank you so much for this pattern! I love it and it seems that it is something that I can read and achieve as a first time crocheting a hat. My question is with the magic circle. Do you ch 1 after making the magic circle and then proceed with the 10 HDC or make the magic circle and go right into the 10 HDC? Thank you for your help
Nice pattern idea. I’ll try it out and look to see what you made thanks
Hi thanks for the pattern. I had no problem with the flap part’ but seem to b having a problem with the finishing row. Can u pls explain it to me. How do u continue without turning?
VIJAYA: To finish the hat just do the following: CH1 (do NOT turn). SC around the entire edge of the hat, including the button flap, putting 2SC in each corner. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Hi thanks for the reply Nancy. however you have only repeated what was mentioned in the pattern. my problum is once you are at the end of the row how do u proceed without turning.
I’m not sure how to answer your question except to say… you just don’t turn. 🙂 You chain up as instructed, and instead of flipping your work over, you just start crocheting.
This has to be my all-time favourite hat/project ever! I have made this hat/cowl set so many times now, once you get how the flap works you will want to make more of this hat. I just bought the allpass membership, thank you for offering that option Rebecca.
Hope you and the baby (if she/he has arrived already) are doing well. God bless you!
I am so excited to start this hat. It’s going to be for myself.
Thank you for an amazing hat pattern. I love your blog, you are so creative and your patterns are so well written and easy to follow. Thanks for taking the time to share your creativity. Love your patterns for making gifts. My fav yarn is heartland, it has beautiful colors, is so soft and shows the pattern nicely. Looking forward to many more patterns from your site. Have a great holiday
Kathleen
I love love love your pattern and beautiful directions!! Your video tutorial was so very helpful and appreciated. You have a special gift and I thank God for your sweet and generous giving spirit!!
Hi Rebecca!
I love your patterns. You are so creative and talented – thank you for sharing!!
I wonder if you’ve ever tried this hat with the “faux-cinch” crown you use in some of the more recent slouch patterns. I just finished a Jenny Slouch and love the folds and the drape the wavy circle creates! I’d love if you could advise on how to adapt this pattern to use that starting method and still end up with the correct stitch count and number of rows before the start of the body of the hat.
Thank you so much for taking the time and sharing your craft! xo
Hi Amanda! If you want a faux-cinched look with this hat, here’s how I would do it:
To begin: With K hook, make a magic circle.
Round 1: 10 HDC in magic circle. (10)
Round 2: 2HDC in each ST around. (20)
Round 3: 2HDC in each ST around. (40)
Round 4: (2HDC in next ST, HDC in next ST) around. (60)
Round 5: (SC+DC in next ST, SK next ST) around. (60)
Rounds 5-20: Repeat Round 7.
…and continue on with the pattern as written.
This pattern doesn’t have as much body as the Jenny Slouch does. In the Jenny Slouch, you go up to 80 stitches and then back down to 64 at the band, creating more drape. If you wanted to utilize that look, you would need to adapt the pattern a bit more.
Thank you for this lovely pattern. Making both the hat and scarf.
I love your patterns!! Thanks for sharing, I crochet loose and normally have to go down a hook size,but I don’t need to with your patterns.Having to drop to a different hook throws off the size and I don’t like having to hassle with it.Again thanks and I’m looking forward to more of your patterns!!
That’s great! Yeah, most of the feedback I get is that people have to up their hook sizes to match my loose tension 🙂
Thank you so much for the free pattern! I made mine with Red Heart Super Saver yarn. It came out too small. :(. I probably make my stitches too tight. I tried to stretch it out with my hands and just forcing it on my head. I am going to have to try and block it. I really LOVE this hat. I am wondering if I put in an extra row of increases if that would help me. My head circumference is 23 inches. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I know when I use Super Saver, my tension gets very tight because the yarn is much stiffer. That might have something to do with it? Yes, you could try putting an extra row of increases.