Preemie Girls Baby Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Today I have a new preemie baby hat pattern to share. But before I get to the pattern, I want to share the story that inspired me to create these tiny preemie hats.

One of the customers from my Etsy shop bought all the preemie baby hat patterns that I have (shown on the photo below). She left me a note sharing that when her daughter was born she was quite small, but this Christmas she will turn twenty-one. 

So Janet is going to make twenty-one preemie hats, and on the Christmas Eve day, she will take them to the neonatal ward at the hospital where her daughter was born. 

I was touched by Janet's kindness and I also felt honored that she will be using my patterns. 

While there are lots of free or paid baby hat patterns on the web, there are not that many patterns for premature babies. I hope my pattern will be useful and will inspire crocheters for acts of kindness just like Janet's. 

For these hats I used Handicrafter crochet thread by Bernat. At the moment, it's my favorite thread to work with for baby and kids items. It's an acrylic thread that gives a soft and stretchy texture.  

Olga Poltava © March, 2016

This pattern may not be redistributed in any form. But you are welcome to make items for personal use, for charity, or for sale. 

Size: preemie

Measurements: about 12 inches in circumference (plus stretch) and 4 inches in height

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials:

1.75 mm steel hook

100% acrylic crochet thread size 5 (Handicrafter by Bernat)

Amount needed: about 100 yards

Premade satin ribbon flowers (optional)

Gauge: first 4 rounds = 2.5 inches in diameter

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

sl st: slip stitch

dc: double crochet

V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) all in same space

* * Instructions between asterisks should be repeated as many times as there are stitches to accommodate them or as many times as stated.

Ch 5, join in ring with sl st.

Round 1: ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc and ch 1), *dc in ring, ch 1* 11 times; join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-4. (12 dc)

Round 2: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1^st V-st), V-st in each ch-1 space around; join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-3. (12 V-st)

Round 3: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1^st V-st), ch 1, *V-st in next V-st, ch 1* around; join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-4. (12 V-st)

Round 4: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1^st V-st), V-st in next ch-1 space, *V-st in next V-st, V-st in next ch-1 space* around; join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-4. (24 V-st)

Round 5: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1^st V-st), V-st in each V-st around. (24 V-st)

Round 6: same as Round 3. (24 V-st)

Repeat Round 6 until the hat measures 4 inches in height.

Last Round: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-1 space, ch 3, sl st in 3^rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in same ch-1 space, *(3 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3^rd ch from hook, 3 dc) all in next V-st* around; join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-3. (24 shells)

Fasten off.

Decorate the hat with premade satin ribbon flowers (optional).