Looking for a free crochet baby hat pattern? Here are 24 of them: easy beanies for beginners, newborn and preemie hats for the hospital, earflap hats and bonnets, pom-pom winter hats with texture, and cute character hats like a bear, pumpkins, Santa and an elf. Every pattern is free in full on the designer's own site, with written rounds and no sign-up, and most come in several sizes from newborn to 12 months. A baby hat takes a few hours and a fraction of a skein, so it's the perfect baby shower gift.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, hook, sizes and how it starts. Most baby hats are worked top-down: a flat circle that grows until it matches the size chart, then straight rounds down to the brim. If your circle measures the right width, the hat will fit.
Easy baby beanies for beginners
If you've never made a hat before, start here. These are simple, quick and come in lots of sizes.
Basic Double Crochet Beanie — ChristaCoDesign. A classic dc beanie in worsted (Red Heart With Love) on a 5mm (H) hook, in sizes from 0-3 months all the way up to adult. It starts with 12 dc in a magic circle. There's a video, an optional pom-pom and notes for a slouchy version. A great "learn one, make the whole family" pattern.
Simple and Easy Baby Hat in 5 Sizes — OkieGirlBling'n'Things. An hdc hat in worsted on a 5mm (H) hook, from preemie (9 inches) to 6-12 months (17 inches). The preemie size starts with 6 hdc in a magic circle. It's rated easy and written with baby showers in mind.
Adorable Baby Hat — Jo to the World Creations. A sweet hat with a ribbed brim and a crochet flower, in newborn to 6-12 months. It starts with 11 hdc in a magic ring. The newborn size uses light (#3) yarn and the others use worsted. It matches the designer's booties and mittens if you want a set.
Easy Ribbed Brim Baby Hat — OkieGirlBling'n'Things. A beginner beanie with a neat ribbed brim on a 5mm (H) hook, in five sizes from preemie to 6-12 months. The preemie size starts with 10 dc in a magic circle.
Newborn, preemie and hospital hats
Small, soft and quick. These make lovely coming-home hats, and many hospitals welcome donations. Check with your local hospital or NICU first about yarn and size rules.
Ribbed Crochet Newborn Hat — Lovable Loops. A ribbed-brim hat in worsted on a 5.5mm (I) hook, in preemie (12-13 inches), 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12 months. It starts with 11 dc in a magic circle and is rated advanced beginner because of the post-stitch ribbing.
Zane's Beanie — Cre8tion Crochet. A soft cotton hat in I Love This Cotton on a 5.5mm (I) hook, in preemie and newborn sizes. It starts with 10 dc in a magic ring (12 for newborn). It was designed for a NICU crochet challenge and is rated easy.
Baby's Breath Beanie — Kirsten Holloway Designs. A delicate preemie hat with a floral crown and scalloped brim, in fingering yarn on a 2mm hook. It comes in three sizes, from 3-4 lb babies up to newborn. It starts with 6 sc in a magic circle. The designer rates it advanced, so save it for when you're confident.
Newborn Knot Hat — Repeat Crafter Me. The classic hospital-style hat with a knot on top, in worsted (Vanna's Choice) on an H hook, newborn size. It starts with 3 sc in a magic ring. There's an optional heart appliqué.
Earflap hats and bonnets
Earflaps and bonnets keep little ears warm and stay put better than a plain beanie.
Spirit Earflap Hat — The Nicole Chase. A striped earflap hat with front-post texture and tassels on the flaps, in worsted on a 5.5mm (I) hook. It starts with 10 dc in a magic ring and goes from 0-3 months to adult.
Hat With Ear Flaps in 4 Sizes — Lovable Loops. A beginner earflap hat with braided ties, in worsted on a 5.5mm (I) hook. It starts with 11 dc in a magic circle. The baby size fits a 16-17 inch head, and there are toddler, child and adult sizes too.
Bobble Poof Earflap Hat — Moogly. A playful hat with bobble rounds and a pom-pom, in worsted on a 5.5mm (I) hook, in newborn, child and adult sizes. It starts with 12 dc in a magic circle. The earflaps and ties are optional, and you can use up to eight colors.
Bonnie Bell Baby Bonnet — Two Brothers Blankets. A sweet bonnet with curly chain ties, in worsted on a 5.5mm (I) hook, from newborn to 6-12 months. It starts with 10 dc in a circle, then switches to turned rows. It's rated easy.
Pretty Shells Pixie Bonnet — The Stitchin' Mommy. A pointy pixie bonnet in shell stitch with ribbon ties, on a 5mm (H) hook, from 0-3 months to 12-24 months. It's worked flat (ch 62 for 0-3 months) and seamed into the point. There's also a newborn size in a separate free post.
Winter, pom-pom and textured hats
Warm and squishy for cold-weather babies. Top them with a yarn or faux fur pom-pom.
Cozy Campfire Baby Hat — Lovable Loops. A ribbed-brim hat with a pom-pom, in worsted on a 5mm (H) hook, from preemie to 6-12 months. It starts with 11 dc in a magic circle and is beginner-friendly.
Puff Stitch Baby Hat — Blue Star Crochet. A beginner hat with a puff-stitch body and optional pom-pom, in worsted on a 5mm hook, in 0-3 and 3-6 months with notes for sizing up. It's worked brim-first: a sc band of rows joined into a ring.
Crochet Baby Bobbly Beanie — Crochet 'n' Create. A bobble-textured beanie with a pom-pom, in Big Value Baby DK on a 5mm hook, sized for about 6-12 months. It starts with 10 sc in a ch-5 ring. It's intermediate and written in both UK and US terms.
Rylee Ribbed Hat — Lakeside Loops. A knit-look ribbed hat worked sideways in rows, in worsted on a 5mm (H) hook, from newborn (12 inches) to adult. Row 1 starts in the second chain (29 chains for newborn). There's a video and a pom-pom.
Watson Waffle Hat — Lakeside Loops. A thick waffle-stitch hat with a pom-pom, in sport yarn on a 3.5mm hook. The smallest size is 6-12 months (17 inches), and it goes up to adult, so it's great for matching family hats. It starts with a chain joined into a ring, and there's a video.
Character and holiday hats for photos
These are perfect for first-holiday photos and newborn shoots. Make them a size up so they still fit next month.
Crochet Bear Hat — ChristaCoDesign. A cozy beanie with round bear ears, in worsted on a 5mm hook, from newborn-3 months to adult. It starts with 12 dc in a magic circle and is rated easy. Pair it with a crochet teddy bear.
Patchwork Pumpkin Hat — Kirsten Holloway Designs. A textured pumpkin with a stem and leaves, using bobble, shell and cross stitches, in Caron Simply Soft on a 4.5mm hook. It starts with 8 hdc in a magic circle and comes in sizes 0-3 months to child. It's intermediate.
Pumpkins in a Row Hat — Repeat Crafter Me. A beanie with a row of little pumpkins around it, in worsted on an H hook, from newborn to adult. It starts with 11 dc in a magic ring, and there's a video. For more autumn makes, see our crochet pumpkin patterns.
Santa Baby Hat — Jo to the World Creations. A Santa hat with a fluffy Pipsqueak trim and a belt buckle, in worsted on a 5mm (H) hook, from newborn to 6-12 months. It starts with 11 hdc in a magic ring and is rated easy. More Santas are in our crochet Santa hat patterns.
Newborn Elf Hat — OkieGirlBling'n'Things. A long, pointy red-and-white striped elf hat with a pom-pom, newborn size, on a 5mm (H) hook. It's worked bottom-up from a round of 32 foundation double crochet and decreased to a point.
Christmas Lights in a Row Hat — Repeat Crafter Me. A beanie with a string of colorful light bulbs around it, in Red Heart Super Saver on an H hook, from newborn to adult. It starts with 11 dc in a magic ring and has a video for the bulb rows.
Baby hat size guide
These are the head circumferences most designers use. Make the hat about 1 inch smaller than the head so it stays on.
- Preemie: 10-13 inches
- Newborn: 13-14 inches
- 0-3 months: 14-15 inches
- 3-6 months: 15-17 inches
- 6-12 months: 17-18 inches
Frequently asked questions
What size crochet hat for a newborn?
A newborn head is usually 13 to 14 inches around, so make the hat about 12 to 13 inches around and 5 to 6 inches tall. For a shower gift, many people make the 0-3 month size so the baby can wear it longer.
What is the best yarn for crochet baby hats?
Soft, washable yarn. Baby acrylics like Bernat Softee Baby and cotton or cotton blends are easy to care for and gentle on skin. Avoid fuzzy or hairy yarns for tiny babies, as the fibers can shed.
How long does it take to crochet a baby hat?
Most simple beanies take one to three hours. Textured hats, bonnets and character hats like the pumpkin take an evening or two.
Are pom-poms safe on baby hats?
They're fine for supervised wear and photos if they're sewn on very securely. Check them before each wear, keep ties short, and never leave a baby asleep in a hat with a pom-pom or ties.
More handmade baby gifts
Make a full baby shower set: add a crochet baby blanket, a matching crochet diaper cover, a pair of crochet baby booties, a cuddly crochet lovey and a soft easy amigurumi toy. Expecting a holiday baby? See our baby Christmas outfit patterns. Growing out of baby sizes? Try our crochet animal hat patterns for kids. Making hats for the whole family? Our winter beanie patterns, crochet hats for men and mitten patterns have you covered. Wrap it all up in a crochet gift bag.
