One of the easiest wearable items to crochet is a hat. There are a number of different designs that you can make from beanies to berets. However, this How to Crochet a Hat page demonstrates how to create a winter hat inspired by traditional hats worn in the Andean Highlands. Their hats are created with knit stitches. However, this pattern replicates the feel of the design with single crochet stitches.

Any crocheter should be able to handle this craft tutorial. If you need a refresher course on crochet basics, read the How to Do Basic Crochet Stitches page. You need to have a stitch marker, (2) 5 ounce skeins of black worsted weight and (1) 5 ounce skein of red worsted weight yarn. Also, you should use a size G crochet hook or whatever sizes it takes to match the gauge. A yarn needle is needed to work in the tail ends and finish off the project. It should take from 4 to 5 hours to complete this craft.

In this do it yourself tutorial, you will learn how to use tapestry crochet techniques to make a crochet hat. Tapestry crochet is an ancient looping method that allows you to use multiple colors in your crochet projects without having long color floats on the wrong side. You find out how to add ear flaps to the hat as well. Finally, the article teaches you how to make decorative pom poms and edgings to give your winter hat a finished appearance.

• Slip Knot:

1. Make a loop with the yarn then hold the tail end behind it.
2. Insert the hook in the loop on the right side. Bring it up beneath the bar made by the tail. Take it through the loop on the left side.
3. Pull the tail taut. Leave a 6 inch tail.

• Circle Chain:

1. Make a slip knot on the crochet hook.
2. Holding the hook in your right hand, wrap the yarn over the hook.
3. Bring it through to create your first loop.
4. Repeat the process until you have the loops needed for the instructions. The loop on the hook is not counted.
5. Slip stitch into the first loop.

• Straight Chain:

1. It is made like the circle chain. However, you do not slip stitch it to create a circle.

• Slip Stitch:

1. Insert the hook in the stitch.
2. Wrap your yarn over. Take up a loop through the stitch and loop on the hook.

• Single Crochet:

1. Push the hook through the stitch.
2. Yarn over.
3. Pull up a loop and yarn over once more.
4. Take the loop through both loops on the hook. A single crochet stitch has been made.

• Tapestry Crochet Color Swapping

When working with color changes, it is best to have a round or two of stitches over the secondary colors to anchor it well. To anchor the secondary color, just lay it over the stitches then make your single crochets over it with your main color like normal. You need to maintain a constant and consistent tension on both cords so that the second color remains hidden.

Once the pattern indicates a color change, you have to start the process on the single crochet preceding the new color stitch. Start by making a single crochet in the old color. However, do not finish the last two loops. Instead of using the old color, wrap the new color over the hook and pull through to complete the last stitch of the old color.

Insert the hook into the next single crochet stitch then twist the new color in the downward direction over the old working yarn. After that, hook up the new color yarn and bring up a loop. Now, the old color has been secured. Yarn over with the new color and finish off the single crochet. Continue with your new color or swap colors again depending on what the pattern indicates.

To begin the actual creation process, you need to make a swatch and compare it to the gauge for this pattern. The gauge dimensions are 4.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall. A size G needle and worsted weight yarn were used to create the gauge.

• Gauge:
• Make a chain with 20 loops in black.
• Row 1: Create a single crochet in the second chain loop from the hook. Continue making single crochet stitches in each remaining loop of the chain. Chain 1 and turn.
• Row 2 - 12: Make single crochets in each single crochet stitch across the row. Chain 1 and turn.

• Instructions:

Chain 2 then slip stitch into the first chain to join it into a circle.

• Round 1: Chain 1 then make 10 single crochet stitches into the ring. Once done, form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 10 stitches
• Round 2: Make 2 single crochets in the next 9 stitches. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 20 stitches
• Round 3: Create 1 single crochet in the next single crochet stitch. Sequence: Make 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 30 stitches
• Round 4: Make 1 single crochet in the next 2 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Create 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 2 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 40 stitches
• Round 5: Construct 1 single crochet in the next 3 single crochet stitches Sequence: Create 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 3 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 50 stitches
• Round 6: Create 1 single crochet in the next 4 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Make 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 4 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 60 stitches
• Round 7: Create 1 single crochet in the next 5 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Form 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 5 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 70 stitches
• Round 8: Make 1 single crochet in the next 9 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Construct 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 9 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 77 stitches
• Round 9 - 10: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 1 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark it with a stitch marker.
• 77 stitches
• Round 11: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 2 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark the first one with a stitch marker.
• 77 stitches
• Round 12: Form 1 single crochet in the next 10 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Make 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 10 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 84 stitches
• Round 13 - 17: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 1 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark it with a stitch marker.
• 84 stitches
• Round 18: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet and mark the first one with a stitch marker.
• 84 stitches
• Round 19: Form 1 single crochet in the next 13 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Make 2 single crochets in the next stitch followed by 1 single crochet in the next 13 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 2 single crochets in the first single crochet. Mark the first of these 2 stitches with a stitch marker.
• 90 stitches
• Round 20: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 1 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark it with a stitch marker.
• 90 stitches
• Round 21: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 3 single crochets in the first single crochet and mark the first one with a stitch marker.
• 90 stitches
• Round 22: Create 1 single crochet in the next 9 single crochet stitches. Sequence: Make 2 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in the next 9 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch and 1 single crochet in the next 9 stitches. Repeat the sequence across the round. Form 1 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark the stitch with a stitch marker.
• 104 stitches
• Round 23 - 26: Single crochet in each single crochet stitch across. Form 1 single crochet in the first single crochet and mark it with a stitch marker. (Place your secondary color tail under the stitches of round 26.)
• 104 stitches

• Pattern Round 27: Use the contrasting color across. (This is the first pattern round. All pattern rounds use 1 single crochet stitch per stitch. Join rounds with a single crochet stitch.)
• Round 28: Repeat 2 red, 4 black, 1 red, 3 black and 3 red across.
• Round 29: Repeat 1 red, 1 black, 2 red, 1 black, 1 red, 1 black, 3 red, 1 black and 2 red across.
• Round 30: Repeat 1 black, 2 red, 1 black, 1 red, 1 black, 5 red, 1 black and 1 red across.
• Round 31: Repeat 1 black, 2 red, 2 black, 2 red, 2 black, 2 red, 1 black and 1 red across.
• Round 32: Repeat 1 black, 5 red, 1 black, 1 red, 1 black, 2 red, 1 black and 1 red across.
• Round 33: Repeat 1 red, 1 black, 3 red, 1 black, 1 red, 1 black, 2 red, 1 black and 2 red across.
• Round 34: Repeat 2 red, 3 black, 1 red, 4 black and 3 red across.
• Round 35: Use the red yarn across the row.
• Round 36 - 37: Use the black yarn across the row.

• Ear Flaps:
• Make a 4 loop chain in black.
• Row 1: Create a single crochet in the second chain loop from the hook. Continue making single crochet stitches in each remaining loop of the chain. Chain 1 and turn.
• 3 stitches
• Row 2: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the next stitch. Then, make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 5 stitches
• Row 3: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 3 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 7 stitches
• Row 4: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 5 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 9 stitches
• Row 5: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 7 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 11 stitches
• Row 6: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 9 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 13 stitches
• Row 7: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 11 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 15 stitches
• Row 8: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 13 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 17 stitches
• Row 9: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 15 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 19 stitches
• Row 10: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 17 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 21 stitches
• Row 11: Place 2 single crochets in the first single crochet stitch. Single crochet the 19 next stitches. Make 2 single crochets in the last stitch.
• 23 stitches
• Row 12 -15: Single crochet across in each stitch.
• 23 stitches

Finish the ear flap with single crochet edging. To do this, single crochet along every stitch along the edge of the flap with the black yarn.

• Repeat the entire process for another flap. Once you are done with the flaps, line up one flap with the 12th single crochet from the stitch marker on the hat edge. With the right sides together, overcast the back loops to make a seam. To overcast a seam, take your threaded needle through the farthest right single crochet back loops of both pieces. Draw the yarn through and repeat the process until you reach last double crochet on the side. Do the same with the last flap at the 66th stitch position.

• Single Crochet Ribbing:

Make a few rows of single crochet ribbing by adding a round of single crochet stitches around the hat edge. Then, single crochet in the back of each stitch loop on the next row.http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-border-with-single-crochet-ribbing.html Repeat the last step for 4 rounds.

• Pom Poms:

Make (2) 12 inch chains for ties by slip stitching them to the middle edge of the ear flaps. Finish them off with pom poms. To construct a pom pom, cut a 3.5 square piece of cardboard. Wrap your yarn around the the cardboard until it measures a half inch thick in the middle. Remove the yarn from the cardboard. Make sure to pinch the middle to keep it wrapped. Tie a 12 inch piece of yarn around the middle while trapping the hat tie in it. Once all is secure, cut the ends of the thread bundles and fluff out the pom pom into a round shape.