Chunky-Like Preemie Baby Beanies – 4 Sizes – Free Crochet Pattern

Earlier this month, I shared my Chunky-Like Preemie Granny Square Beanie crochet pattern with you, and mentioned The Preemie Project. I have been wanting to share some preemie hat crochet patterns, so I figured since I already had the base down with the granny squares, that I would go ahead and work up the regular beanies with my leftover yarn.

I am calling this one Chunky-Like even though it uses worsted weight yarn, because on a preemie baby, worsted weight is going to appear large and chunky. I do not suggest using #5 chunky/bulky yarn for preemie hats.

Materials:
     – Small Amount of Worsted Weight Yarn – I used Red Heart’s Soft Yarn in Really Red, White and Rosy Blush
     – I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook
     – #18 Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends

Material Notes:
     If you use a different yarn, make sure you find a soft acrylic or cotton blend – do not use wool. Choose something that you know can withstand being machine washed and dried multiple times, because it most likely will be. Aside from the Red Heart Soft, you may also like to try Deborah Norville’s Everyday Soft.

     I am estimating you can make 8-10 hats or so per skein of Red Heart’s Soft – maybe even a couple more depending on the size you are working.

Time Spent:
     I had the 1-1 1/2 lb and 2-3 lb sizes done in just under 15 minutes each, the 3-5 lb done in just under 20 minutes and the 6-8 lb hat done in just under 30 minutes. That’s less than an hour and a half for all four!

Measurements:
The 1 – 1 1/2 lb size has a crown of 2 1/2″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 7 7/8″ to fit a head size of 8″ – 9 1/4″, and is 3″ in length.

The 2 – 3 lb size has a crown of 3 1/4″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 10 1/4″ to fit a head size of 9 3/4″ – 11″, and is also 3 1/2″ in length.

The 3 – 5 lb size has a crown of 3 1/2″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 11″ to fit a head size of 11 1/4″ – 12 3/4″, and is 4 3/8″ in length.

The 6 – 8 lb size has a crown of 4 1/8″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 13″ to fit a head size of 13″ – 14″, and is 5 3/8″ in length.


*Stretch depends on your yarn brand selected. The Red Heart Soft (and Everyday Soft) yarn has about an inch to an inch and a half, while a yarn such as Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn has about two inches worth. Typically, I work my hats two inches smaller than needed to account for the stretch, but following the Preemie Project guidelines, they would like each hat to be just one inch smaller than the given sizes and so I have worked this pattern accordingly.

Gauge:
With Soft Yarn and an I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook = 4″ x 4″:
     Chain 19, DC in the 4th chain, and in each stitch across. (16 DC)
     R2 – R8: Chain 2, turn. DC in the 2nd DC and in each DC across.
     Fasten Off.

Abbreviations:
     DC – Double Crochet

Pattern Notes:
     Beginning chain 2 does not count as a stitch in the crown, but does in the body of the hat.

Join to the first stitch of each round, unless otherwise stated.

Crown is worked (and written) in a non-traditional manner to help keep seam straight. You will work the last stitch of the round into the same place as the first stitch, however, it will be on the right side of the beginning chain.

Patterns:

1 – 1 1/2 lbs:
     Chain 5. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 11 DC into the ring. Join. (11 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 10 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (22 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the 2nd DC, and the next 20. Join. (22 DC)

R4: Chain 2. DC into the 1st DC, and the next 20. Join. (22 DC)


R5 – 6: Repeat Rounds 3 & 4, 1 more time. At the end of Round 6, join to the beginning chain 2. (22 DC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

2 – 3 lbs:
     Chain 4. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 9 DC into the ring. Join. (9 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 8 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (18 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first 2 DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (27 DC)

R4: Chain 2. DC into the 2nd DC, and the next 25. Join. (27 DC)

R5: Chain 2. DC into the 1st DC, and the next 25. Join. (27 DC)

R6 – 7: Repeat Rounds 4 & 5, 1 more time. At the end of Round 7, join to the beginning chain 2. (27 DC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

3 – 5 lbs:
     Chain 5. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 11 DC into the ring. Join. (11 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 10 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (22 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first 2 DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 10x, DC into the first DC. Join. (33 DC)

R4: Chain 2. DC into the 2nd DC, and the next 31. Join. (33 DC)

R5: Chain 2. DC into the 1st DC, and the next 31. Join. (33 DC)


R6 – 9: Repeat Rounds 4 & 5, 2 more times. At the end of Round 9, join to the beginning chain 2. (33 DC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

6 – 8 lbs:
     Chain 4. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 9 DC into the ring. Join. (9 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 8 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (18 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first two DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (27 DC)


R4: Chain 2. DC into the first three DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next two DCs) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (36 DC)

R5: Chain 2. DC into the 2nd DC, and the next 34. Join. (36 DC)

R6: Chain 2. DC into the 1st DC, and the next 34. Join. (36 DC)


R7 – 10: Repeat Rounds 5 & 6, 2 more times. (36 DC)


R11: Repeat Round 5. At the end, join to the beginning chain 2. (36 DC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

A set of these hats work up in less than an hour and a half, and don’t take much yarn. Please take time to work up at least a set, and send in to either The Preemie Project or your local baby hospital.

Please feel free to make and sell your own Chunky-Like Preemie Baby Beanies using this pattern, but please DO NOT claim this pattern as your own nor should you sell my pattern, and DO NOT re-publish my photos as your own. DO NOT copy and paste my pattern anywhere, link to it instead.