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I’m always on the lookout for a good free crochet slouchy hat pattern to try. Crochet slouch hat patterns just come out looking better on me than any other type of hat I’ve tried. Plus, they’re so fun to make!

The Clearwater Beach Free Crochet Slouch Hat Pattern combines rows of knit-look waistcoat stitches with tidy lines of cluster stitches. Just like the pristine wave-washed sands of Clearwater beach, part of the beauty of this hat is just how sleek and clean it is.

Don’t you love how awesome the waistcoat stitch looks in projects? The only thing I don’t love about it is that it’s a bit of a yarn eater. You’ll probably need 2 skeins of yarn for an adult sized hat if you use the yarn I recommend. But I promise, this slouch hat pattern is worth it!

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Materials Used in this Free Crochet Slouch Hat Pattern

J/6mm Crochet Hook – try the Furls Streamline Swirl!; Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice, 145yd/133m, 3oz/85g, 100% Acrylic, Worsted [4]  weight yarn in Pearl Mist color way, 2 skeins used for Adult Size Hat;  Yarn Needle; Scissors

Abbreviations

Ch- chain; Cl- cluster; Dc3tog- double crochet 3 together; Hdc- half double crochet; Fhdc- foundation hdc; Rpt- repeat; Sc- single crochet; Sc2tog- single crochet 2 together; Sl- slip stitch; St(s)- stitch(es); Wcs- waist coat stitch; Wcs2tog- waist coat stitch 2 together;

Gauge / Finished Size

4 sts x 2 rows = 1” square in hdc through 3rd loop.

Sized Baby (Toddler, Child, Teen, Adult) to fit a head sized 14 (16, 18, 20, 22-23)”

Finished hat measures 6 (7, 8, 9, 10)” across brim, and 5 (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5)” crown to brim.

Special Stitches Used

Buckle in! This crochet pattern uses a few more special stitches than most of my patterns do. But I promise, you’ll love how it comes out!

Foundation Half Double Crochet: To begin, chain 2, yarn over, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop on hook, yarn over and complete first stitch. For each stitch after, yarn over, insert hook into the base of previous st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop, yarn over and complete stitch.

Cluster Stitch: Yarn over, insert hook into st indicated, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into same st, yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into same st, yarn over and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all loops to complete st.

Waist Coat Stitch: insert your hook through the legs of the previous st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all loops to complete st.

Double Crochet 3 Together: Yarn over, insert hook into first st indicated, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into next st indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into next st indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all loops to complete st. This stitch decreases your stitch count by 2.

Single Crochet 2 Together: Insert hook into first st indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook into next st indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all loops to complete st. This stitch decreases your stitch count by 1.

Waist Coast Stitch 2 Together: As Sc2tog, but work through the legs of the previous st. Stitch count decreases by 1.

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Notes

Hat worked starting with the sideways ribbed brim, then joined and worked upward in joined, turned rounds.

Turning chains do not count as a stitch throughout. Join in first stitch of round.

Work your sc and wcs stitches loosely for easier stitching.

Clearwater Beach Free Crochet Slouch Hat Pattern

Brim

Row 1: Ch 2, fhdc 8. [8] Alternately, Ch 9, hdc in 2nd ch and each ch across. 

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, working through 3rd loop, hdc in each st across. [8]

Repeat Row 2 {20(24, 28, 32, 36)} times for {22(26, 30, 34, 38)} rows total.

Join brim: Ch 1, turn,  holding both ends together without twisting, sl together through 3rd loop of previous row and foundation row. [8]

Sides of Hat

Round 1: Ch 1, work 2sc evenly in each row of brim. [44 (52, 60, 68, 76)]

Round 2: Ch 2, *cl in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st,* rpt from * to * around, sl. [22 (26, 30, 34, 38) cl]

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each cl and ch around, sl. [44 (52, 60, 68, 76) sc]

Round 4: Ch 1, wcs in each sc around, sl. [44 (52, 60, 68, 76) wcs]

Round 5: Rpt Round 4. 

Baby and Toddler Sizes Skip Ahead to Decrease Section

Rpt Rounds 2-5 {0(0, 1, 2, 3)} more times

Decrease Section / Crown of Hat

For ease of counting, we will start over at Round 1  for the decrease round.

Round 1: Ch 2, *dc3tog, ch 1, sk 1,* rpt from * to * around, sl. [11 (13, 15, 17, 19) cl]

Round 2: Ch 1, sc2tog across each (dc3tog, ch) pair around, sl. [11 (13, 15, 17, 19) sc]

Round 3: Ch 1, wcs2tog across next 2 sts, wcs around, sl. [10 (12, 14, 16, 18) wcs]

Baby and Toddler Skip Round 4 and continue to Round 5.

Sizes Child, Teen, Adult Only:

Round D: Ch 1, sc in first 2 (1, 0) sts, * dec across next 2 sts, wcs in next st,* rpt from * to * around, sc any remaining sts, sl. [- (- 10, 11, 12) wcs]

Round 5: Ch 1, wcs2tog around, teen size only sc in remaining st. [5(6, 5, 6, 6) wcs]

Finishing:

Fasten off, leaving a 12” tail to sew top of hat closed. Weave in all ends and block lightly if desired. Attach a pompom to the top of the hat.

Thank you so much for supporting Salty Pearl Crochet! Please let me know if you have any questions or would like additional information about the pattern. I love seeing your creations on Ravelry or Instagram (#SaltyPearlCrochet), and I am always happy to offer pattern support for all of my crochet patterns as written.

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