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Have you been looking for an easy crochet slouchy hat pattern? Slouchy crochet hats are SO popular because they just look and feel great. You’ll love the elegant shell stitches used in this free crochet slouch hat.
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Confession time: I am not a morning person. So, for about six months after Daylight Savings “Spring Forward,” I tend to roll out of bed and scramble out the door. This past year, that includes actually having to leave the house and be seen in public taking my son to school. My crazy bed head just wasn’t making my feel happy or beautiful, so I decided to step up my style with a lacy crochet slouch hat.
Adding a slouchy crochet hat to my outfit instantly transforms my bed head into a trendy, put-together look. I made mine in white, so it matches just about anything in my closet. No messy hair, no fussing over my appearance, just effortless boho style. I’m really enjoying being a hat person!
When you’re wearing a crochet slouch hat, nobody can tell if you’ve gone a day without a shampoo. Especially for people like me, whose scalp feels so much healthier with less frequent washing, adding a crochet slouch beanie over is a great way to stretch out the days between washes.
Plus, it’s just cool! I love it! I even made a matching infinity scarf, here!
Since Florida can get super hot, I knew I wanted to do something a bit different from the more traditional crochet slouch hat patterns free on the web. So, I modified one of my favorite stitch patterns to be more lacy and open. Using a light acrylic yarn helps a lot, too!
Here’s what you’ll need to make your Venus Shell Crochet slouch hat.
Materials
1 skein Caron Simply Soft Yarn, or approx. 140 yds Worsted (4) weight yarn.
Yarn Needle for weaving in final end.
PS- Hate weaving in your yarn tails? I never sew in more than one! Be sure to check out my Locked Loop Ends Method tutorial for top down hats!
Abbreviations
Ch- chain
Dc – double crochet
Sk – skip
Sl – slip stitch
St – stitch
Tbl- through back loop only
Tr – treble crochet
Gauge / Finished Size
The first two rounds measure 2.5”.
There are 3 sc per inch around the brim.
Finished Hat Measures 12” tall by 10” wide to fit a Women’s Large. (There are notes provided for making a baby and child sized hat.)
Notes
The crown of the hat is designed to be extra loose and slouchy, so don’t fret if it seems too big before you get to the decrease round before the brim!
Before you start, Pin this Image on Pinterest, or Add it to your Ravelry Favorites!
Venus Shell Slouch Hat Pattern
Start with the Crown of the Hat:
Round 1: Make 12 Dc into a magic ring, slip to join. [12]
Round 2: Using Locked Loop End Method, Ch 2, make 2Dc in each stitch around, slip to join. [24]
Round 3: Ch 2, *2Dc in next stitch, Dc in the next,* repeat * to * around, sl to join. [36]
Round 4: Ch 2, *2Dc in next stitch, dc in the next 2 stitches,* repeat * to * around, sl to join. [48] (For a baby sized hat, stop here and skip ahead to Round 7.)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2Dc in next stitch, dc in the next 3 stitches,* repeat * to * around, sl to join. [60] (For a Child sized hat, stop here and skip ahead to Round 7.)
Round 6: Ch 2, *2Dc in next stitch, dc in the next 4 stitches,* repeat * to * around, sl to join. [72]
Continue with the Sides of the Hat:
Round 7: Ch 3, 3 Tr in first st. *sk 2, Dc, sk 2, 5tr* ending with 2tr to complete the first shell. Sl. [72]
Round 8: Ch 2, *Dc. sk 2, 5tr, sk 2.* Sl to join. [72]
Rounds 9-20: Repeat rounds 7 and 8. Your hat should measure 11 in (8″, 5″) before continuing to the brim.
Brim
Round 21: Working TBL, chain 1. *sk 1, DC 5* continue around. Sl to join. [60 (50, 40)]
Round 22-23: Working TBL, ch 2, Dc around. Sl to join. [60 (50, 40)]
Break yarn and weave in ends.
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Sheltie Times says
Very pretty hat.
Katie says
Thanks so much! PS- I love shelties, too! I want one, but my husband is a die-hard Border Collie guy. 🙂 <3 Katie
Alyce says
Lovely hat Amy. Thanks for a warmer weather style.
Katie says
You’re so welcome! I love that I can wear this even though I live in Florida, and it’s already reaching the upper 80s! 😀
Katie
alice simpson says
Hi, I was wandering what TBL means, is it two back loops? Thank you for your pattern love it.
Katie says
Hi Alice!
Thanks for bringing that to my attention! That should be in the abbreviations, but crazy week, lol!
TBL stands for Through Back Loop- so you’ll be working in just the back loop to create the fun ridged texture of the brim.
Happy Crocheting!
Katie
Rebecca Mahon says
Beautiful Hat. Do you start out with a chain 2 in rounds 2-6? It doesn’t say, I’m a little confused. Thanks so much.
Katie says
Hi Rebecca!
You’re right! I neglected to include the turning ch 2 at the beginning, and slip to join at the end of rounds 2-6. My apologies!
Katie
Shannon Angona says
Hello! I was working on my hat but am stuck at the 8th round, do you work the double crochet into the next stitch, the same stitch you chained 2 from, or is there a skip 2 missing? It’s looking lovely so far but I’m new to reading abbreviated instructions 🙂 Thank you for your time!
Katie says
Hi Shannon!
I don’t use my turning chains as a stitch, so your double crochet would go right into the same stitch you chained up from. I include this info in my notes section, but it’s easy to miss since it’s different than the usual way of using the ch3 as your first stitch. (I can’t follow directions. :P)
Hope that helps!
Katie
Lucy Blum says
Cute hat! What size hook did you use? I’m a beginner so not sure how to estimate the size hook to use. Thanks!
Katie says
Hi Lucy!
This pattern calls for an H/8 5.0mm crochet hook. You can try that to see if you meet gauge (or measure the crown with my hat size checker!) and experiment with moving up or down one size if you find the gauge doesn’t match.
Hope that helps!
Katie
Lucy Blum says
Thanks! I found it in the pattern after I posted my comment. I made the hat and it’s so cute!! Great instructions in the pattern. As a beginner I didn’t have any orioles following the pattern!!
amber greathouse says
I am ending row 7. What stitch does the last 2 TR go in?
Katie says
HI Amber!
When you’re ending round 7, your last 2TR should go in the same stitch as the first 3 TR, which will complete that shell. Hope that helps!
Katie
Peg says
Hi, Katie–
I’m confused, too! A few questions (from someone with a bad case of Detail Disease):
1. Doesn’t a double crochet stitch require a chain 3 at the beginning of each row? And treble needs a chain 4? (Because a single needs 1, half-double needs 2)
2. Round 7 begins with a chain. Then 3 trebles “in the first stitch.” Is that the base of the chain or the stitch next to it? And does the chain count as part of the shell? So it’s the chain and 2 trebles = 3 stitches? Or does that shell have 6 parts to it by the time you finish the round?
3. When I get all the way around I have a 5 treble shell, 2 skipped stitches, and then the first shell. Is there no double crochet stitch in between the shells? My stitch count is still 72. What am I missing?
Thanks much,
Peg
Katie says
Hi Peg!
Whew, that’s a lot of detailed questions, so I’ll try to be as thorough as I can.
1. If your turning chain is to count as a stitch, it should be 3 chains for a double crochet. I do NOT count my turning chains as stitches, as I feel it leaves a gap, so I use 2, then make a double crochet into that same stitch.
2. The first set of treble crochets go into the same stitch at the base of the chain. Again, the turning chain does NOT count as a stitch in this pattern, so when the instructions say ch 3, 3tr, that only counts as three treble crochet stitches. There will be the chain hanging out with the other stitches at the end, so if you’re used to using your turning chain as a stitch, it will look like there’s a sixth stitch hanging out. (You’re free to use a ch4 in place of the first tr stitch, too! It’s your hat!)
3. I can’t really answer this one without sitting down next to you and looking at your hat, but from your earlier questions, it sounds like you’ve counted the turning chain as a stitch, and then skipped another one. If you use that first stitch, there should be room for one more dc in the round. Hopefully that will help sort your stitch count, but if not feel free to comment again! I’m happy to help when I can.
Happy crocheting!
Katie
Anasooya says
Hi katie,
Can you please share a video link of this pattern? I am not able to follow the instructions. Still in beginner phase probably that’s why taking time. Also I have a different type of yarn (King Cole- Opium palette). Its multicolored and mixture of thin and slightly thick wool. Can I use this wool to make this hat?
Thanks
Anasooya
Katie says
Hi there!
I’m working on a video tutorial for this pattern, hopefully it’ll be done soon!
You can absolutely use wool to make this hat, but it will have its own unique look, and it might be a little more difficult to get the perfect sizing and see your stitching.
Good luck! and Happy crocheting
Katie
Stasia says
Is a lovely hat. I made one but would like to make one for a child. It’s a gift so dont have child to measure. You said in notes was for baby and child but I didnt see. Could you help? If not I will try and wing it. Want to make a scarf to match. That will be easy. Thanks
Stasia says
Sorry, I hadn’t read the pattern. I see for child size at the end of round 5. Thanks
Katie says
Glad you found the note! This is such a cute little hat for girls, hope they like it!
Katie
Ivy says
Just completed this hat, my first crochet project EVER after having made a few failed attempts to learn how many vet the past 10-15 years. With a little YouTube, these stitches aren’t hard at all, and I agree with the previous comment that it works up quickly. (I’m slow, being new, but finished it in a weekend.) I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and I think I like the “wrong side” better. I used gold Lion Brand Wool Ease and a size K hook. I didn’t do TBL on the bottom…my worst attempts at crochet have been TBL or similar haha thank you SO MUCH for sharing this pattern!
Katie says
Hi Ivy! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such kind words! I’m really happy to hear that you were able to make this your own, even as a beginner. You rock my socks off, friend!
Hopefully we’ll crochet together again soon!
Katie
Stacey says
Just finished a child size version of your pattern in bright red for a cute little family friend. I know she will live it! I love it and will make one for myself! I added a little pom pom. Absolutely adorable. Your pattern was so easy to follow and I finished completely on under 2.5 hours! Great project! Thanks for such a sweet pattern!
Yvonne says
Katie what does TBL mens in rows 21 to 23. Not with other abbreviations.
Katie says
Hi Yvonne, TBL means through the back loop only. Thank you for letting me know I didn’t include the abbreviation! I’ll correct that right away.
Katie
Tabi says
Question… is it normal by row 4 and 5 that the hat becomes very curled? It doesn’t look quite like a hat it’s very wavy. I’m a fairly intermediate in my skill level but I can’t help but feel that I’m doing something wrong here.
Katie says
Hi there, Tabi,
This pattern has a flat circle made in DC for the crown. It shouldn’t be very wavy if at all. My best guess is that maybe you substituted yarn/hook size and that’s playing with your gauge. I hope that helps! If you had any follow up questions I’m happy to answer them.
Katie
Teresa Murdick says
I have a question at row 1….I’m confused on how to create a magic ring with 12 dc? Am i missing something?
Katie says
Hi Teresa,
I prefer the magic ring/circle technique, which you can see in a video on this page HERE, but if you aren’t comfortable with it, you could substitute with this for row 1: Ch 4, sl to join, work 12 dc in ring.
Hope that helps!
Katie
Nina Staiger says
I am having trouble with the gauge even though I have the Yarn that you suggested and the H needle.
Is the gauge based on the rounds on the crown or the brim?
Using this yarn and the H needle it takes several rounds to measure 2.5 inches.
Need a heavier yarn or a bigger needle?
I love this pattern so I would like it to work!
I might be wearing this to cover up my roots showing or my haircut during this Covid 9 problem!
Katie says
Hi Nina,
I base my gauge on the part that’s worked first, because that’s what people usually work first (unless I’ve left a different note in my pattern). However I have been told several times that I crochet tightly. If you’re feeling like it’s taking more rounds than usual to measure up, you might consider a thicker yarn (this one is a bit on the thin side for a 4 weight) or a larger hook size. Hope that helps!
Katie
TAMMIE FLYNN says
Is this pattern in US or UK terms? I am thinking it is UK and I need to convert the doubles to singles and the trebles to doubles, because my hat is looking very large at Row 11. Please help!
Katie says
Hi Tammie,
Sorry for the confusion! This hat IS in US terms, and you should be working treble crochet shells. The hat is a bit large because it’s slouchy, and you’ll bring it in just a bit tighter in the brim section. Hope that helps!
Katie
Penny Davis says
I made this hat for a friend at work after hearing that her son said she looked like a cancer patient and put roses on it. She loves it and plans on wearing it. Thank you for the pattern. I am also going to make 4 more
Katie says
So glad you enjoyed making this too! Thanks for your kind comment, it made my day to hear from you!
Katie
Donna Marrin says
Love this pattern! It was easy to make and the results look great. Thank you for sharing!
Katie says
Hey Donna!
Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you loved your hat! <3 This put a huge smile on my face today. So glad you had fun crocheting it!
Happy hooking,
Katie