Free Crochet Winter Hat Pattern, Afton Hat

Free crochet winter hat pattern in turquoise worn by a woman in the woods. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

A free crochet winter hat pattern

This free crochet winter hat pattern begins with a ribbed band for extra warmth around the ears, and then uses the Forked Half Double Crochet Stitch for the main body of the hat. It includes 7 sizes from preemie through L Adult. Even the largest size uses just one skein of worsted weight yarn, so it’s great for gifting and working up quickly.

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Crochet hat pattern for adults, children, and babies

This free pattern includes 7 crochet hat sizes for preemies, babies, toddlers, children, tweens, and adults. You’ll be able to make one for everyone you know.

It’s also a great pattern for making hats to donate to hospitals and other organizations helping provide for those in need. It uses easy care yarn and can be made in whatever size is needed.

What supplies to I need to crochet this winter hat?

For this crochet winter hat pattern you will first need worsted weight acrylic yarn. I used Cascade Yarns Anthem Worsted, and even the Adult L size needs just one skein. It is an easy care, soft, premium acrylic yarn that comes in a very wide range of colors. You can see all the colors of Anthem Worsted here.

Cascade Yarns Anthem can be purchased at your local yarn shop. If they don’t have it in stock, they should be able to order it for you.

Additionally, you will need a crochet hook. My favorite crochet hooks are the resin Streamline crochet hooks from Furl’s Fiberarts.

Five blue swirled resin crochet hooks from Furl's Fiberarts on a wooden hook stand.

And of course, you will also need a tapestry needle for weaving in your ends when finished.

Where can I get this free crochet pattern?

This free crochet winter hat pattern is available right here in this post. Just scroll down for the free version.

If you decide to use the free version, please bookmark this page and come back to it when you work on your project rather than trying to print or screenshot the page. Your time on this page helps me get paid for my work, so thank you!

You also have the option to purchase an ad-free PDF if you prefer that. It’s available on both Ravelry and Etsy.

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Purple crochet winter hat with a ribbed band on a white surface. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Afton Hat, a free crochet winter hat pattern

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Available Sizes: Preemie [Baby, Toddler, Child, Tween, Adult S, Adult L].

Finished Measurements: circumference 9 ¾ [14 ½, 16 ¼, 18, 19 ¾, 20 ½, 22 ½] inches; height 5 ¾ [7, 8, 8, 9 ½, 9 ½, 9 ½] inches.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Anthem (100% Acrylic; 186 yds; 100 g; yarn weight category: 4/worsted/medium): 1 skein any color.

Crochet Hook: J (6 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Tapestry needle.

Gauge: 9 patt reps x 6 rows = About 4 inches in Forked Half Double Crochet Stitch from p. 10 of Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia by Robyn Chachula.

Special Stitches

Forked half double crochet (fkhdc): Yo, insert hook in first designated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook in second designated st, yo, pull up a loop, [yo, pull through 3 loops] 2 times.

Forked half double crochet decrease (dec): Yo, insert hook in first designated st, yo, pull up a loop, [yo, insert hook in next designated st, yo, pull up a loop] 2 times, yo, pull through 5 loops, yo pull through remaining 3 loops.

Uncommon Abbreivations

blo, back loop only

Notes

This pattern uses standard US terms. For help with abbreviations, get my free, printable crochet abbreviations list here.

See this tutorial post for help with basic crochet stitches.

For help crocheting this hat for an additional smaller preemie size, see my tutorial post here.

Hat

Brim

See this tutorial if you need help with the ribbed brim.

Ch 7 [9, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11]

Row 1: Working in bottom ridge loops of chs, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn – 6 [8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10] sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc blo in each st across, turn.

Repeat Row 2 for a total of 32 [44, 50, 56, 62, 66, 70] rows, turn.

Seaming row (WS): Without twisting band, bring beginning end up behind and even with working edge. Working through blo of working edge and under both loops of foundation chs, sl st across.

Turn band RS out.

Main Body of Hat

Setup Row: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 row ends, skip next row end, sc in next 3 row ends, skip next row end, repeat from * until 4 [9, 8, 7, 6, 10, 7] row ends remain, skip next row end, sc in all remaining row ends, join to first st with sl st – 23 [33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 51] sts.

Work in Forked Half Double Crochet stitch pattern for 2 [2, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5] rnds, as follows.

Rnd 1: Ch 2, fkhdc over first 2 sts, *fkhdc over last worked st and next st, repeat from * around, dc in last st worked, join to first st with sl st, turn – 22 [32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 50] fkhdc; 1 dc.

Repeat Rnd 1 for pattern.

Crown

Adult S and Adult L sizes only.

Rnd x [x, x, x, x, 1, 1]: Ch 2, fkhdc over first 2 sts, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 3 times, dec (see Special Stitches) over last worked st and next 2 sts, *[fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 4 times, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, repeat from * until x [x, x, x, x, 0, 2] sts remain unworked, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] x [x, x, x, x, 0, 2] times, dc in last st worked, join to first st with sl st, turn – x [x, x, x, x, 40, 42] fkhdc; 1 dc.

Baby, Toddler, Child, Tween, Adult S, and Adult L sizes only.

Rnd x [1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2]: Ch 2, fkhdc over first 2 sts, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 2 times, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, *[fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 3 times, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, repeat from * until x [2, 1, 0, 4, 0, 2] sts remain unworked, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] x [2, 1, 0, 4, 0, 2] times, dc in last st worked, join to first st with sl st, turn – x [26, 29, 32, 36, 32, 34] fkhdc; 1 dc.

All sizes.

Rnd 1 [2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3]: Ch 2, fkhdc over first 2 sts, fkhdc over last worked st and next st, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, *[fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 2 times, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, repeat from * until 2 [2, 1, 0, 4, 0, 2] sts remain unworked, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 2 [2, 1, 0, 4, 0, 2] times, dc in last st worked, join to first st with sl st, turn – 17 [20, 22, 24, 28, 24, 26] fkhdc; 1 dc.

Rnd 2 [3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4]: Ch 2, fkhdc over first 2 sts, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, *fkhdc over last worked st and next st, dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, repeat from * until 2 [2, 1, 0, 4, 4, 2] sts remain unworked, [fkhdc over last worked st and next st] 2 [2, 1, 0, 4, 0, 2] times, dc in last st worked, join to first st with sl st, turn – 12 [14, 15, 16, 20, 16, 18] fkhdc; 1 dc.

Rnd 3 [4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5]: Ch 2, dec over first 3 sts, *dec over last worked st and next 2 sts, repeat from * until 0 or 1 sts remain unworked, dc in last st, join to first st with sl st – 6 [7, 7, 8, 10, 8, 9] fkhdc; 1 dc. Fasten off with a long tail.

Purple, green, and pink crochet winter hats in different sizes grouped together on a white surface. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Finishing

Using the long tail and a tapestry needle, weave tail back and forth through tops of sts of final rnd and pull to close hole, go through tops of sts once or twice more to secure, pull tail to inside and weave in.

Weave in beginning yarn tail. Finished!

And that’s it! That finishes this free crochet winter hat pattern. I’d love to see your progress and your finished projects! Share them on Instagram and tag me or join my Facebook group and share them there.

Happy crocheting!