The Nocturnal Nomad FREE Hat Pattern

I said I had more patterns headed your way and here's the proof! And it's a FREEBIE, folks! Can't get better than that!

Introducing the Nocturnal Nomad Hat.

The thing I really love about this hat is how versatile it is. Not only can you easily customize it to any size you want, but you can change the look completely by making it a slouchy hat or a regular beanie. And the texture is simply drool-worthy. Seriously, look how pretty the texture is!

Dress it up with buttons, bows, flowers the size of Antarctica, whatever floats your goat! Any embellishment would look fantastic on this puppy! Or leave it simple. That's cool, too. In fact, I use this hat without any bells or whistles much like I do my Reckless Renegade hat and donate them to local shelters to be given out to the homeless.

However you decide to finish it, I'd really love to see it! So once you're done head on over to my Facebook page (HERE) and share a picture!

Enough of my blabbering, onto the pattern!

US Terms

Materials Used:

Medium Worsted Weight (4) Yarn

K hook

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Stitch Markers

Buttons or other embellishment (optional)

Stitches Used:

Chain (Ch)

Slip Stitch (Sl St)

Single Crochet (SC)

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Half Double Crochet Third Loop (HDC3rd)

Gauge:

12 Half Double Crochets x 6 Rows = 4inches x 2.5 inches

Notes:

This hat is made with continuous rows and gathered/cinched at the top.

Chain does NOT count as a stitch at the beginning of each row.

If you crochet tightly, you may want to go up a hook size.

This hat can be easily customized to any size. Just make sure your starting chain is in multiples of 2, other than that it doesn't matter how many you start with. I will start with 64 chains to make it an adult size, but you can start with any even number.

To make the hat for other sizes, measure the head of the individual and make your starting chain is the same length (with an even number of chains).

Hat can be made less slouchy by adding fewer rows or more slouchy by adding more rows.
Use a long tail at the end of the hat. This will be used to gather the top of the hat together.

Special Stitch - Half Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop:

The Half Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop is a simple stitch once you know where to find that pesky 3rd loop. There are two main loops at the top of the HDC. They form the familiar V on top of each stitch. Shown below.

When starting each stitch you yarn over, and that yarn over actually creates the 3rd loop on both sides of the stitch. When you crochet into this 3rd loop it pushes the top V forward, creating some beautiful stitching. To find the 3rd loop simply rotate your work towards you just a bit so you can see just behind the regular back loop. See the image below of the 3rd loop in the back of the stitch. This is the loop you will be using for this pattern.

Pattern:

Row 1.) Chain 64. Join with the 1^st chain to make a circle. Make sure your chain does not twist.

Row 2.) Ch 1, Single Crochet (SC) in each stitch around. Do not join. Mark last stitch with a stitch marker.

Rows 3-7.) Repeat Row 2 (minus the Ch 1 at the beginning of the row) After the last row, join with a Slip Stitch (Sl St) to first SC in row.

Row 8.) Ch 1. Half Double Crochet (HDC) in each stitch around. Do not join. Mark last stitch with a stitch marker.

Row 9.) HDC in first stitch, Half Double Crochet 3^rd Loop (HDC3rd) in next stitch, *HDC in next stitch, HDC3rd in next, repeat from * around. Do not join. Mark last stitch with a stitch marker.

Rows 10-30.) Repeat Row 9 until desired amount of slouch has been achieved.

To fasten off, stop crocheting 3 stitches before the end of row. Instead of doing a HDC in the last three stitches, Single Crochet in the first, then Slip Stitch in the last two. Cut yarn leaving a long tail at the end so you can gather the top together. Turn inside out. Using a yarn needle, weave the yarn between every other or every third stitch around the top of the hat. Pull tight to cinch the top. You will want to tie a knot to prevent it from coming undone. Fasten off and weave in ends. Turn right side out. Add buttons, pom pom, or other embellishments if desired. 

That's it! I hope you enjoyed the pattern. Don't forget, share your hats with me on my Facebook page! I'd LOVE to see them!!! And, as always, you are more than welcome to sell any finished items made using this pattern.

If you'd like a PDF version of this pattern, you may purchase one inexpensively ($1) on my Etsy page HERE.

 Happy Hooking!