Are you looking for a simple, yet cute crochet hat for a preemie? These preemie/newborn button hats have become pretty popular, and everyone loves how cute they are! Scroll down for the complete free pattern or get the ad-free, printable PDF pattern here.
Download the ad-free PDF of this pattern here.
Our version is sized from a 1-3 pound preemie to a full-term newborn up to 11 pounds, so you can make them for all the babies in your life or make a range of sizes to donate to a local hospital or mom’s group.
The great thing about crochet baby hats is you can make them in any color and they will be adorable. Every baby looks extra cute in a sweet little hat!
Download the ad-free PDF of this pattern here.
Skill Level: Easy
Materials:
Yarn:
20 [40, 50, 60] yds extra soft, worsted weight yarn
Hook:
US size G/6 (4.00mm) crochet hook or size needed to match gauge
Notions:
Scissors
Yarn needle
1” button
Gauge: 12 dc x 8 rows = 4”
Sizes:
1-3 [3-5, 6-8, 9-11] lbs
To fit head circumference: 8.5-9 [11-11.5, 12-12.5, 13-14]” Height: 4 [5, 6, 6.5]”
Pattern uses US crochet terms
| ABBREVIATIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| bpdc | Back post double crochet |
| ch | Chain |
| dc | Double crochet |
| fpdc | Front post double crochet |
| rnd | Round |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
Note: Join rounds where indicated with a sl st in the first st of the rnd.
1-3 lb Preemie Hat
Ch 3.
Rnd 1: 11 dc in 3rd ch from hook, join. (11 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), 2 dc in each st around, join. (22 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in each of next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts] around to last st, dc in last st, join. (29 dc)
Rnds 4-6: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join.
Rnd 7: Ch 2, fpdc around first st, bpdc around next st, [fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st] around to last st, fpdc around last st, join. (15 fpdc, 14 bpdc)
Fasten off.
3-5 lb Preemie Hat
Ch 3.
Rnd 1: 11 dc in 3rd ch from hook, join. (11 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), 2 dc in each st around, join. (22 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next st, [2 dc in next st, dc in next st] around, join. (33 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in each of next 7 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 7 sts] around to last st, dc in last st, join. (37 dc)
Rnds 5-8: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join.
Rnd 9: Ch 2, fpdc around first st, bpdc around next st, [fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st] around to last st, fpdc around last st, join. (19 fpdc, 18 bpdc)
Fasten off.
6-8 lb Preemie Hat
Ch 3.
Rnd 1: 11 dc in 3rd ch from hook, join. (11 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), 2 dc in each st around, join. (22 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next st, [2 dc in next st, dc in next st] around, join. (33 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in each of next 4 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 4 sts] 5 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, join. (40 dc sts)
Rnds 5-9: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join.
Rnd 10: Ch 2, fpdc around first st, bpdc around next st, [fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st] around, join. (20 fpdc, 20 bpdc)
Fasten off.
Download the ad-free PDF of this pattern here.
9-11 lb Newborn Hat
Ch 3.
Rnd 1: 11 dc in 3rd ch from hook, join. (11 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), 2 dc in each st around, join. (22 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in next st, [2 dc in next st, dc in next st] around, join. (33 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, dc in each of next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts] around, join. (44 dc)
Rnds 5-11: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join.
Rnd 12: Ch 2, fpdc around first st, bpdc around next st, [fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st] around, join. (22 fpdc, 22 bpdc)
Fasten off.
Finishing (All Sizes)
Sew button to hat, about 4-5 rows up from the bottom edge.
Weave in all ends.
One great thing about this crochet project is that it's super quick. If you enjoy crocheting projects that are quick and easy, check out 90 amazing “Done in a Day” crochet patterns.
What is CA yarn?
Thank you for sharing this pattern. I have not crocheted in years but after seeing this adorable little hat I’ve decided to start again. When I get my disability pay on the 3rd of August I will buy everything I need and hopefully it will all come back to me. I used to make baby blankets for any friend who had a baby. Now it will be blankets and matching hats for their baby’s babies! I can’t wait to get started. Another commenter mentioned donating them for chemo patients and that gave me an idea to donate some to the women and children’s hospitals and birthing centers. When my son was born 18 years ago he wasn’t a preemie (induced at 38 weeks, he was 18”, 5 lb 15 oz) but he had a lot of issues that preemies usually have. One was his body temperature, he couldn’t keep it up so he had to wear a hat 24/7 for about 10 weeks. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks, not NICU, just a regular room on the children’s floor, while they tried to figure out what was causing all the problems. When he was 4 weeks old he went back to the hospital for another week because he still weighed just 5 lbs 15 oz. Oh my, I’m so sorry I wrote so much! Thank you so much for this pattern. It will get used a lot and shared with many precious babies!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your patterns! I will use them to make my great granddaughter a couple then I will make some for the premies at our local hospital! I’m so excited that I live closer to the hospital where I can share them! Thanks again!
Be blessed
Debbie
Thank You so Much for this pattern! I do hats for the homeless, men, women, & children. But I didn’t have a pattern for the small babies. Again Thank you so MUCH!!!!!
That’s great, Becky! Have fun making them!
Thanks so much for sharing this pattern…..on a roll making these for Feb. Heart Month/Little Hats, Big Hearts. Will also be using this pattern to do some hats for little Chemo patient’s here in WI for the American Family Children’s Hospital. It’s so nice to have a pattern that I can make in different sizes. Those little ones are never the same size!!! Thanks again, so greatly appreciated. Becky