Baby & Toddler Intermediate 4-6 hours DK yarn

Worked on the glider, counted out loud —

Crochet sun hat pattern for baby and toddler sizes

A DK-weight crochet sun hat in three baby-to-toddler sizes, worked top down in about 4-6 hours.

Jump to the rounds

What this one is

This is the hat you make when someone you love is about to spend a summer outdoors in a stroller or a sandbox. It comes together in three sizes, so you can start it the moment you know whether you're making it for a newborn or a toddler who's already running the yard. You pick the hook, you pick the colors, and the rest follows the same simple shape.

Your hands spend most of their time on double crochet, starting with ten stitches into a chain-3 circle and working outward round by round until the crown is wide enough to turn into a brim. Expect to sit with this one for four to six hours total, likely split across a couple of sittings, since the color changes give you natural stopping points.

Try it another way

The three hook sizes already give you a built-in way to resize for 0-6 months, 6-12 months, or 1-3 years, so start there if you're not sure which hat you're making. Beyond that, the color placement is where you can really make this yours: the pattern calls for a main color on the crown and a second and third color for the later rounds and brim, so swap in whatever three shades feel right for the child you're making it for, from a soft tonal set to something bold and contrasting at the brim. If you want a plainer hat, work all the rounds in a single color instead of changing at the second and third transitions, the stitch pattern won't change at all. Since this uses DK weight yarn throughout, you can also experiment with a mercerized cotton DK for a crisper, more structured brim that holds its shape well in the sun, or a cotton-blend DK for something a little softer against a baby's skin. If you're making more than one for siblings or cousins, consider giving each child their own two-color combination on the same base shape, so the hats read as a set without being identical.

The rounds, in full

Written out, round by round

Intermediate4-6 hours3 mmDK

Bring to the porch

Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.

Size of hook determines the size of the hat

  • 3 mm hook for 0 to 6 months
  • 3.5 mm hook for 6 to 12 months
  • 4 mm hook for 1 to 3 years
  • Double knit weight (DK) weight yarn (size 3)

Starting/Top Of Hat

Begin with a slip knot, adjusting so that the tail tightens the knot.

Chain 3.

Into the first chain, make 10 double crochets.

To close the first round, join with a slip stitch at the top of the first double crochet (ignoring the chain).

Pull the tail to close the center hole.

  1. Round 2Begin with a chainless start double crochet or chain 2, then another double crochet in the same stitch.In this round, increase by making two double crochets in each stitch around.

You should have 20 stitches at the end. Join with a slip stitch.

  1. Round 3Start with a chainless or chain 2 and do two double crochets in the first stitch.Then one double crochet in the next stitch.Repeat this pattern around (two double crochets in one stitch, one double crochet in the next).

By the end of this round, you will have 30 stitches. Join with a slip stitch.

  1. Round 4Increase pattern changes slightly: two double crochets in the first stitch, then one double crochet in the next two stitches.Repeat this sequence (2, 1, 1) around.Join with a slip stitch.
  2. Round 5Two double crochets in the first stitch, then one double crochet in the next three stitches.

Follow this pattern (2, 1, 1, 1) around.

There will be 50 stitches at the end of this round.

This is the end of the crown increases.

  1. Round 6Work one double crochet in each stitch around, with no increases. You will maintain 50 stitches.Change color at the end of this round (optional).

Next Rounds

  1. Round 1Do one round in the new color of one double crochet in each stitch.
  2. Round 2Do one more round of double crochet in this color.
  3. Round 3Switch to single crochet for one round with the same color.Changing Colors and the Brim: Change to a third color.
  4. Round 4Repeat what you did with the second color with two rounds of double crochet and one of single crochet without increases.
  5. Round 5Start increasing for the brim in the final color by doing one single crochet and two single crochets in the next stitch all around.
  6. Round 6Depending on preferred brim width, increase every 14 stitches followed by two single crochets or according to your design.
  7. Rounds 7–10Work four rounds of single crochet without any increases.In the final round, you may turn the work and single crochet in the opposite direction for a neater edge.

Putting it together

Step 1

Fasten off and weave in all ends securely.

Marlene's notes

Note 01

Pull the tail firmly after the first round to close the center hole completely, or you'll have a small gap at the very top of the crown.

Note 02

Keep your join consistent each round, always at the top of the first double crochet and ignoring the turning chain, so your rounds stay even and don't spiral.

Porch photos

Crochet sun hat pattern for baby and toddler sizes — photo 2
Crochet sun hat pattern for baby and toddler sizes — photo 3
Crochet sun hat pattern for baby and toddler sizes — photo 4

Before you sit down

  • Match your hook to the size you're making: 3 mm for 0-6 months, 3.5 mm for 6-12 months, 4 mm for 1-3 years.
  • Check how much DK weight yarn you have on hand in each of your planned colors before you start the color-changed rounds.
  • Work a quick swatch in double crochet with your chosen hook so you know your stitches will sit snugly enough to hold the crown's shape.
  • Read through the Starting/Top of Hat rounds once before you begin, so the increase pattern and the join at the top of each round make sense in your hands.

How the hours go

Starting/Top of Hat
about 1.5 to 2 hours because the increase rounds need steady counting to keep the crown flat and even
Finishing
about 15 to 20 minutes to fasten off and weave in all the ends from the color changes

Looking after it

  • Hand wash in cool water if you've used a cotton or cotton-blend DK yarn, since this keeps the double crochet stitches from stretching out of shape in a machine cycle.
  • Lay the hat flat to dry on a towel, gently reshaping the crown and brim with your hands while damp, then store it flat or lightly stuffed with tissue so the brim doesn't fold or crease.
FAQs

Asked on the glider

the ones that come up on the glider

Which hook size should I use for a 9-month-old?

Go with the 3.5 mm hook, which the pattern lists for the 6 to 12 month range. If your baby is on the larger side for their age, you could size up to the 4 mm hook and expect a slightly looser, roomier fit.

What happens if I pull the tail too late to close the center hole?

You'll likely have a small gap at the very top of the crown once you've worked a few more rounds. It's best to pull the tail snug right after that first round of ten double crochets, before you move on.

Do I need three different colors?

No, the color changes are a styling choice built into the Next Rounds section, not a structural requirement. You can work the entire hat in one color and the stitch pattern stays exactly the same.

Can I use a different yarn weight than DK?

The pattern is written for DK (size 3) weight yarn, and your stitch gauge will shift if you substitute something heavier or lighter. If you do swap, make a swatch first and consider adjusting your hook size slightly to keep the fit close to the original.

How do I keep my rounds from spiraling instead of staying flat?

Make sure you're closing every round with a slip stitch at the top of the first double crochet, ignoring the chain, exactly as the first round does. A consistent join each time is what keeps the crown lying flat rather than curving into a spiral.