Easy Preemie Hat
If you’re a creative and passionate person, why not use your incredible talents to give back to the community! There are so many benefits to donating your crochet or knitting to charity. Aside from helping others in need, it also gives you a chance to be more involved and discover new volunteer opportunities.
One organization that is always looking for donations is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Premature and low birth weight babies usually have very little body fat and are unable to regulate their own temperature, even in a warm environment. Since a baby can lose large amounts of heat through his or her head, they are usually given a warm hat to wear. Hospital workers enjoy receiving crochet or knit hats to place on the babies because it brings a bit of cheerfulness to what is often a heartbreaking situation.
The pattern below is simple in design, but comes in three different sizes by birth weight. You can easily add a cute embellishment or something special to make the hat unique. Sometimes, this is the only “outfit” the baby will get to wear, so a little extra personality will be very much appreciated by the family. Some embellishment ideas: flowers, buttons, stripes, ears, pom-pom, etc. Just be sure to check with your local NICU first to see if they have any guidelines about attachments or fiber content.
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Sizes: Preemie; 1 to 5 lbs
Supplies:
- Worsted weight yarn such as Red Heart Soft
- Size 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook or size needed to obtain the gauge
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Gauge in HDC: 14 stitches and 11 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Abbreviations: ch = chain, sl = slip, st(s) = stitch(es), sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet
Special Instructions:
- The beginning chain does not count as a stitch.
- Each round is started in the same stitch as your beginning chain.
- The end of each round is joined by slip stitching in the first stitch of the round, not the beginning chain.
Pattern Instructions
Size: 1 – 2 lbs • Head Circumference = 8″ – 9″ • Hat Circumference = 8″ • Hat Height = 3.5″
Round 1: Ch 2, work 8 hdc into 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join in first st (8)
Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (16)
Round 3: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next st* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (24)
Round 4: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next 5 sts* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (28)
Round 5 – 9: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (28)
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (28)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Size: 2 – 3 lbs • Head Circumference = 9″ – 10″ • Hat Circumference = 9″ • Hat Height = 4″
Round 1: Ch 2, work 8 hdc into 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join in first st (8)
Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (16)
Round 3: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next st* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (24)
Round 4: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next 2 sts* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (32)
Round 5 – 10: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (32)
Round 11: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (32)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Size: 4 – 5 lbs • Head Circumference = 10.25″ – 11.25″ • Hat Circumference = 10.25″ • Hat Height = 4.5″
Round 1: Ch 2, work 8 hdc into 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join in first st (8)
Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (16)
Round 3: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next st* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (24)
Round 4: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next 2 sts* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (32)
Round 5: Ch 1, in first st *make 2 hdc, hdc in next 7 sts* repeat between * to end, sl st to join in first st (36)
Round 6 – 12: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (36)
Round 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st (36)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
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I’m always happy to help you with questions regarding my patterns. Send me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please feel free to sell finished items from my patterns. Pattern credit is not required, but is always appreciated.
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Hi, are your patterns in English or in American, as I know stitches vary.
All my patterns are written in Standard American terms.