Crochet Mesh Hat with Brim for Spring & Summer
By Rhea Allais Soft and airy for warmer days, this hat is easy to make up in a single evening. This pattern is written to fit a 20-22 inch head size, but can be made larger or smaller by adding/subtracting a few stitches to the brim section. The mesh section is very stretchy, and does not require resizing. You can make this hat in the cap style, shown in pink, or in a slouchy style, as shown in tan.
Materials:
G, H, and I hooks, size J also if making slouchy version 180 yards of worsted weight yarn. Cotton or acrylic work best. Hobby Lobby "I Love This Cotton", "I Love This Yarn", Caron Simply Soft, or Peaches and Cream are all suitable. Scissors and Yarn Needle Gauge: 11 st x 12 rows = 3" x 3" in single crochet w/H hook
Legend
SC: single crochet DC: double crochet V stitch: DC, chain 1, DC CH: chain stitch
These instructions are very "wordy" to me, so the simple version is: when you're doing the increase rows for the crown (rows 1- 8), do a v stitch in the first leg of every v stitch in the prior row, do a dc in all the other dc's in the previous row. Make 1 chain stitch in between every dc, and skip all the chains in the previous row. Beginning with the J hook for the slouchy version, and the I hook for the cap: CH4, join in first chain to form a ring. Row 1: slip stich in ring, ch4, \*DCin ring, ch1\* repeat 4 more times, join in 3rd chain of ch 4 (6 "spokes" formed in ring) Row 2: ch4, dc in the same stitch, ch1, \*V stitch, ch 1\* in top of each dc around, join in 3rd ch of ch 4 (12 spokes) Row 3: ch 4, dc in same stitch, ch 1, dc in top of next dc, ch 1, \*V stitch in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1\* repeat around, join in 3'd ch of ch 4 (18 spokes) Row 4: ch 4, dc in same stitch, ch1, dc in top of next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, \*V stitch in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1\* repeat around, join in 3rd ch of ch 4 (24 spokes) Row 5: ch4, dc in same stitch, ch1, dc in top of next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, \*V stitch in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1\* repeat around, join in 3rd chain of ch 4 (30 Spokes) Row 6: ch4, dc in same stitch, ch1, dc in top on next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1, \*V stitch in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1\* repeat around, join in 3rd chain of ch4 (36spokes) Row 7: ch4, dc in same stitch, ch1, dc in top on next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1 \*V stitch in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next dc, ch 1\* repeat around, join in 3'd chain of ch4 (42 spokes) You now have 42 dc and 42 chain stitches, a total of 84 stitches around, counting the chain 4 at the beginning of each row as a dc and ch. Row 8: ch 4, \*dc in next dc, ch1\* repeat around, join in 3'd chain of ch 4 Repeat row 8 5-6 times for the cap, and 6-8 times for the slouchy hat. Brim instructions: With I hook: Row 1: ch2 (counts as first sc), sc in ch space, \*sc in dc, sc in ch space\* repeat around, join in 2nd chain of ch2. If you need to make size adjustments to the brim, this is the row for adding a few stitches by doing 2sc in a few stitches around the brim, or make it smaller by single crocheting a few stitches together. w 2: (switch to size H hook), ch2, sc in front loop of each stitch around, join in 2nd chain of ch Row 3: ch2, sc in each stitch around, join in 2nd chain of ch2 Row 4: ch2, sc in next 21 stitches. Change to G hook, sc in front loop of the next 40 stitches. Chain 1, turn. (40 stitches in base of brim) If you have changed the size of the band, you may need to sc more or less than 21 stitches before starting brim. two together, sc to last two stitches, sc two together, ch1, turn. (38 in brim, wrong side row Row 6: repeat row 5 (36 in brim, right side row) Repeat row 5 six more times (reducing down to 24 stitches). At the end of the last row of brim stitches, (row 12), do not turn. Instead, continue working in sc along the left edge of the brim, until you get to the band. Change back to the H hook, and continue in sc around band, and join to the 2nd chain in the ch2 from row 4 of brim. LAST ROw (yay!): ch2, sc in each stitch around, working around band and brim, and working a couple of sc into each stitch at the corners of the brim. Join in 2nd chain of ch2, fasten off. Weave in all ends. If you would like a stiffer brim, lay the hat with the brim right side down on a flat surface. Carefully apply liquid starch with a cotton ball to the brim only, wetting it completely. Blot excess starch away, then allow this to dry completely. This will need to be reapplied after each wash, but it is not necessary. You can make your own liquid starch by mixing % cup cornstarch with 1-% cups of cold water, and boil this in 1 minute increments in the microwave until mixture is clear and bubbly, stirring in between each minute. tern may not be reproduced in any media or reprinted without permission from the author.
