A few weeks ago, our family had the opportunity to go to one of my favorite little spots in Michigan for a week. South Haven, on Lake Michigan, is an adorable town full of good food, cute shops, and AMAZING views. I used to come here as a teen with my youth group, so I have a lot of memories of swimming at the beach and walking down to the lighthouse. Now, during our first real vacation as a family (and really, our first real vacation as a couple since our honeymoon 8 years ago), we were able to make tons of new memories. It was a great week!
This was my view…
…for pretty much the entire week.
When we weren’t hanging out at the beach, we were wandering around downtown (usually hunting for a new ice cream parlor or coffee shop to try). But I was super excited when I saw this yarn store, “Needle in a Haystack.” (Edit: This cute little store has closed its doors.) The owner was sweet and friendly, and we had a great conversation about selling online while I perused the shelves of gorgeous yarns.
After staring at yarn for an eternity, I finally settled on this skein of Longwood Sport 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino Wool.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to buy all of my yarn from the big craft stores in my town. It’s great to have them nearby, but it really limits you as far as yarn goes. That’s why I think it’s important as a crocheter, and especially as a designer, to visit out-of-town yarn shops when you get the chance. I’ve never worked with anything from Cascade Yarns before, but I think I might be in love now.
This particular yarn came in a range of stunning, natural colors (hence the eternity it took me to pick one). It’s SO soft, but it really holds its shape well. I took it down to the beach with me and stared at it for a little while, squished it in my hands (I love squishy yarn), and pretty soon I knew what it was going to become.
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SOUTH HAVEN SLOUCH
Level: Easy
Size:
One Size Fist Most (Preteen – Adult Woman).
Hat measures 10” across at band, and is 9” tall. I like just a little bit of slouch in my slouch hats, but if you like more, you can add rounds to the body of the hat, or make the band of the hat wider, too.
Materials:
- H hook (5.00mm) and G hook (4.25mm)
- Yarn needle
- 260-270 yards of Cascade Yarns Longwood Sport (that’s a little less than one skein). The color in the photos is Midnight Blue.
*About Longwood Sport:
Weight: #3 light
Fiber: 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino Wool
Yardage: 100 g (3.5 oz) / 273 yds (250 m)
Gauge: 22-24 sts = 4″ (10 cm), US 5-6 (3.75-4.0mm) - Stitch marker (a bobby pin works great)
Gauge:
With H hook, 7 rows of 9HDC = 2″ square
Stitches Used:
MC (magic circle) – view my tutorial here
CH (chain)
SS (slip stitch)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
SC2TOG (Single Crochet 2 Together)
RibHDC (also known as Camel Stitch or 3rd Loop HDC; see Special Stitch, below)
Special Stitch:
RibHDC – instead of putting your HDC in the top loops, reach your hook past the back loop where you’ll find a 3rd loop on the side of the stitch. Insert your hook there to create your HDC. This forces both of the top loops to rest on the front of your project, creating a ribbing effect. It is also referred to as a Camel Stitch or 3rd Loop HDC.
Notes:
(1) This hat is worked in a continuous spiral. Do not join at the end of each round and do not chain at the beginning of rounds unless instructed. Use a stitch marker to mark the last stitch of each round.
(2) This pattern is written in American Standard terms.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
To begin:
Using H Hook, make a magic circle.
Round 1: 10 HDC in MC (10)
Round 2: 2 HDC in each ST around (20)
Round 3: 2 HDC in each ST around (40)
Note: At this point you should have a floppy-looking circle. This is a good thing. It will continue to get floppier as we increase, and then it will smooth itself out on the body of the hat. That’s how we create the cinched look on the top.
Round 4: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in next) around (60)
Round 5: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 2 STS) around (80)
Round 6: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 STS) around (100)
Round 7: RibHDC around. (100)
Round 8: HDC around. (100)
Round 9: RibHDC around. (100)
Rounds 10-13: HDC around. (100)
Round 14: RibHDC around. (100)
Round 15: HDC around. (100)
Round 16: RibHDC around. (100)
Rounds 17-20: HDC around. (100)
Round 21: RibHDC around. (100)
Round 22: HDC around. (100)
Round 23: RibHDC around. (100)
Round 24: HDC around. (100)
Note: If you want a little more slouch in your hat, this would be a good place to add some extra rounds of HDC.
Round 25: (SC2TOG, SC in each of the next 8 STS) around. (90)
Round 26: SC around. (90)
Switch to G hook.
Rounds 27-35: SC around. (90)
Smooth out the round by slip stitching into the first 3 STS of the next round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
I’ve seen my granddaughters teen friends wearing this sort of style in winter last year. SO I like it knowing if I give it a try my granddaughter would love it and wear it. 🙂
Thank you so much for the pattern. It’s lovely.
I have use lots of your patterns. I love your creativity and colors
I can do this! My teen would love this slouch hat in black! According to her, one can never have too many hats! LOL
I made this hat for my daughter and she absolutely loves it! I have to take a photo and upload on Ravelry. I used Vanna’s Choice (bulkier than the suggested yarn) so I had to make some modifications.
I love this hat and definitely plan to make a few this year for Xmas presents. This this would be a great unisex hat. I can see a couple of my teenage great-nephews wearing this in a nice boy-friendly color.
Love, love, love this hat. So stinking cute
My granddaughter loves her South Haven Slouch hat. She’s 15 1/2 and loves the purple color I made it in using Caron’s Simply Soft yarn, with an I hook, since I tend to crochet a bit tightly.
I’ve recently started making hats for my kids and their friends. All of your patterns are great, but I’ve had several requests for this one. Thank you for your generosity and creativity!
I love all your patterns and have bought most of your ebooks! I especially love the texture in this hat pattern. Cant wait to make it!
Love this hat and the wool looks so nice:)
I followed the pattern and made the hat! thank you! it’s for my cousin’s little boy, you can see it here: http://dianasrocks.blogspot.ca/
Trying so hard to make this gorgeous hat but the beginning of my ribHDC round and the end of it don’t line up. Do you go straight into ribHDC from HDC without adding a CH or any other stitch to make things line up?
I didn’t. I had a choice to make between having everything line up perfectly but with a seam, or having it not line up perfectly but no seam. Since the majority of the hat is NOT the RibHDC, I chose to go the seamless route. You can do whichever you prefer!
Really nice pattern. Will be making one as a Christmas present for my sister and one for myself 🙂 thanks for the pattern!
Hi – I wondered if the hat was named for South Haven, Michigan! I live in Holland, MI (up the coast) so of course know of South Haven. Glad you had a good time there and thanks for sharing your experience and your crochet patterns!
Nina