A quest for a child aged from newborn to three years old is to identify the latest five patterns that extend an existing design beyond three months. A crocheter questioned about making the hat between 6 and 12 months after the original My First Baby Cluster Hats.
Mikey went back to 2016 when the original cluster hats were made, and the patterns were four sizes: 3-4 lbs preemie, 5-6 lbs preemie, newborn and up to 3 months. He stripped the pattern back to understand growth and looked up resources on typical baby sizes.
The new designs are part of the Crochet Seedling Series of Baby Hats, which grow with the child from conception to age 3.
In This Article
- Original Pattern
- Research
- Seedling Newborn Baby Blanket
- DOWNLOAD SEEDLING BLANKET
- Crochet Diagrams
- Before You Begin - Free Workshop
- Try A Solid Baby Crochet Hat Style
- Yarn Details
- Abbreviations
- Better Visualization Hints
- PATTERN: Newborn to 3 Months
- DOWNLOAD Newborn to 3 Months
- Newborn Tutorial
- PATTERN: 3 Months to 6 Months
- DOWNLOAD 3 Months to 6 Months
- PATTERN: 6 Months to 12 Months
- DOWNLOAD 6 months to 12 Months
- PATTERN: 12 Months to 18 Months
- DOWNLOAD 12 Months to 18 Months
- PATTERN: 18 Months to Toddler (Up to 3 Years Old)
- DOWNLOAD 18 Months to Toddler
Original Pattern
Research
Mikey had to reconfigure the newborn to a 3-month size and then build out the rest of the sizes from there. The newborn-to-three-month-old is written differently from the original, but either one will give you the same size.
These hats will nest inside each other, and a set will see a child through their most important years of self-learning and growth. A baby's head grows substantially in the first two years, then eases slowly thereafter.
I have also developed a newborn baby seedling-size crochet blanket to go with these hat designs.
Seedling Newborn Baby Blanket
DOWNLOAD SEEDLING BLANKET
Crochet Diagrams
Each of the new five patterns has its own crochet stitch diagram, included with the downloadable printable versions.
Before You Begin - Free Workshop
Gauge is everything when it comes to baby garments. One extra stitch can throw a size completely out of alignment. Mikey uses these hats as an example of how to find the gauge and adjust for yarn when you may not have that yarn at home. For example, Mikey for Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn uses a 5 mm / H/8, but substituting with Red Heart Super Saver, he would need a 4 mm / F/5. Gauge is so important that the Crochet Gauge Workshop is free.
Try A Solid Baby Crochet Hat Style
Yarn Details
Red Heart Soft Baby Steps, 141 g/5 oz, 234 meters/256 yards
How far does one yarn ball go?
- Newborn to 3 Months - 6 Hats
- 3 Months to 6 Months - 5 Hats
- 6 Months to 12 months - 4 Hats
- 12 Months to 18 Months - 3 Hats
- 18 Months to Toddler - 2 Hats
- You can also use regular Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes or Bernat Super Value as an option. Do a gauge check.
Hook: 5 mm / H/8
Gauge: 15 sc and 16 rows = 4” [10 cm] (Please use gauge to get the right size and adjust your hook accordingly if your gauge is off.)
Abbreviations
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Bet = Between
- Ch(s) = Chain(s)
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Hdc = Half Double Crochet
- Join = Join using slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3.
- Rem = Remain(ing)
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right Side
- Sc = Single Crochet
- Sl st = Slip Stitch
- Sp(s) = Space(es)
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- V-st(s) = V-Stitch(es). 2 dc in same stitch or space.
Better Visualization Hints
The crochet diagram will show the v-stitches sliding in between existing v-stitches to force an extra v-stitch for increases.
The height of the hat goes from the beginning to the brim.
PATTERN: Newborn to 3 Months
Please spend a few minutes gauging before starting, as gauging is faster than making an entire hat that will turn out the wrong size.
With A, ch 3.
1st rnd: RS. 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg hdc. 8 hdc
2nd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout). 1 dc in st as join. Ch 1. *V-st in next hdc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Join. 16 dc and 8 ch-1 sps.
3rd rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp. *V-st in next v-st, v-st in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Join. 16 v-sts or 32 dc.
4th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in next 2 v-sts. [V-st in sp before the next v-st. V-st in next 5 v-sts] twice. V-st in next sp before next v-st. V-st in the last 3 v-sts. Join. 19 v-sts or 38 dc.
5th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in each v-st around. Join. 19 v-sts or 38 dc.
Rep 5 th rnd until hat measures 4.5” tall from beg of the hat.
Last rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. 38 sc.
DOWNLOAD Newborn to 3 Months
Newborn Tutorial
PATTERN: 3 Months to 6 Months
Please spend a few minutes gauging before starting, as gauging is faster than making an entire hat that will turn out the wrong size.
With A, ch 3.
1st rnd: RS. 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg hdc. 8 hdc
2nd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout). 1 dc in st as join. Ch 1. *V-st in next hdc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Join. 16 dc and 8 ch-1 sps.
3rd rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp. *V-st in next v-st, v-st in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Join. 16 v-sts or 32 dc.
4th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in next v-st. [V-st in sp before the next v-st. V-st in next 4 v-sts] 3 times. V-st in next sp before next v-st. V-st in the last 2 v-sts. Join. 21 v-sts or 42 dc.
5th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in each v-st around. Join. 21 v-sts or 42 dc.
Rep 5 th rnd until the hat measures 5” tall from beg of the hat.
Last rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. 42 sc.
DOWNLOAD 3 Months to 6 Months
PATTERN: 6 Months to 12 Months
Please spend a few minutes gauging before starting, as gauging is faster than making an entire hat that will turn out the wrong size.
With A, ch 3.
1st rnd: RS. 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg hdc. 8 hdc
2nd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout). 1 dc in st as join. Ch 1. *V-st in next hdc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Join. 16 dc and 8 ch-1 sps.
3rd rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp. *V-st in next v-st, v-st in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Join. 16 v-sts or 32 dc.
4th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. [V-st in sp before the next v-st, v-st in the next 2 v-sts] 7 times. V-st in sp before next v-st. V-st in last v-st. Join. 24 v-sts or 48 dc.
5th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in each v-st around. Join. 24 v-sts or 48 dc.
Rep 5 th rnd until the hat measures 5.5” tall from beg of the hat.
Last rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. 48 sc.
DOWNLOAD 6 months to 12 Months
PATTERN: 12 Months to 18 Months
Please spend a few minutes gauging before starting, as gauging is faster than making an entire hat that will turn out the wrong size.
With A, ch 3.
1st rnd: RS. 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg hdc. 8 hdc
2nd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout). 1 dc in st as join. Ch 1. *V-st in next hdc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Join. 16 dc and 8 ch-1 sps.
3rd rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp. *V-st in next v-st, v-st in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Join. 16 v-sts or 32 dc.
4th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. [V-st in sp before the next v-st, v-st in the next v-st] twice. V-st in the next v-st. V-st in sp before next v-st. [V-st in next 2 v-sts, v-st in sp before next v-st] twice. [V-st in next v-st, v-st in sp before next v-st] twice. [V-st in next 2 v-sts, v-st in sp before next v-st] 3 times. Join. 26 v-sts or 52 dc.
5th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in each v-st around. Join. 26 v-sts or 52 dc.
Rep 5 th rnd until the hat measures 6.5” tall from beg of the hat.
Last rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. 52 sc.
DOWNLOAD 12 Months to 18 Months
PATTERN: 18 Months to Toddler (Up to 3 Years Old)
Please spend a few minutes gauging before starting, as gauging is faster than making an entire hat that will turn out the wrong size.
With A, ch 3.
1st rnd: RS. 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg hdc. 8 hdc
2nd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout). 1 dc in st as join. Ch 1. *V-st in next hdc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Join. 16 dc and 8 ch-1 sps.
3rd rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp. *V-st in next v-st, v-st in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Join. 16 v-sts or 32 dc.
4th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. [V-st in sp before the next v-st, v-st in the next v-st] four times. V-st in the next v-st. V-st in sp before next v-st. V-st in next v-st. [V-st in next v-st, v-st in sp before next v-st] three times. V-st in next 2 v-sts. [V-st in next sp before next v-st, v-st in next v-st] three times. V-st in next v-st. V-st in last sp. Join. 28 v-sts or 56 dc.
5th rnd: Sl st in sp bet 2 dc. (Ch 3, 1 dc) in same sp. V-st in each v-st around. Join. 28 v-sts or 56 dc.
Rep 5 th rnd until the hat measures 7” tall from beg of the hat.
Last rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. 56 sc.
DOWNLOAD 18 Months to Toddler
Dawn Holland says
A cardigan made to go with the seedling hat