Hats

The students in Knots for NICU hand-make numerous items from receiving blankets (which double as incubator crib sheets), to crocheting & knitting beanie hats & headbands, to designing and sewing burial gown sets from donated wedding dresses, as well as scent hearts from leftover blanket fabric. Below are instructions & tutorials we follow, & invite others to join in making these rewarding items!

Jump to Hat Sizes

Knitted or crocheted hats are always a hit (any colors). You can make them plain or adorned with pom-poms, flowers, animals, whatever!

SIZES - It is okay if your hat sizes vary in diameter between 7"-13" (see size chart reference below) because of the vast size difference in all preemies. Remember, a preemie in the NICU can vary from 22 weeks all the way up to full-term babies!
VIDEOS - Follow these YouTube videos for measurements and patterns for preemie sized hats.
- How to Crochet a Preemie Baby Hat for Beginners
- Crochet Preemie Hat
YARN - Smoke-free please!
- The best yarn to use is baby yarn because it’s soft and lightweight (e.g. 5oz/140g; or 4oz/113g). (See yarn label example image below.)
- The yarn should be soft, warm, washable, and hypoallergenic, such as: acrylic, cotton, bamboo, alpaca, and similar soft yarns are good choices - as long as they are labeled washable.
- Wool is not a great idea (unless it says "superwash" wool/merino - which is okay!) because some babies may be sensitive to it.
SUPPLIES/TOOLS - Additional tools needed for these projects are:
- crochet hooks (5mm or size US-H-8, -OR- 4mm or size US-G-6); or knitting needles work!
- Optional beginner's shortcut: a Loom Knitting Set can be purchased from Amazon.
MAKING A HAT INSTRUCTIONS - VERSION 1
- Definitions:
  - Enlargement Stitch: is doing two stitches in one hole/spot.
  - Normal Stitch: is a half double crochet.
1. ROW 1: Magic circle, 5 half double crochet, slip stitch the row together.
2. ROW 2: Chain 2, fill the whole row with enlargement stitches, slip stitch the row together.
3. ROW 3: Chain 2, alternate enlargement stitches and normal stitches, slip stitch.
4. ROW 4: Chain 2, do two normal stitches and one enlargement stitch until the row is full, slip stitch.
5. ROW 5: Chain 2, all normal stitches, slip stitch.
6. Repeat row 5 until hat is the appropriate length (see size chart below).
MAKING A HAT INSTRUCTIONS - VERSION 2
- Definitions:
  - hdc - half double crochet
    st - stitch
    ch - chain
    sc - single crochet
    sl sc - slip stitch
1. Make a magic ring.
2. R1: 8 hdc onto ring (8 sts). Pull yarn to close mc. Sl st into first hdc, ch 1 Use a stitch marker to keep track of the rows.
3. R2: 2 hdc in ea st around (16 st). Sl st into 1st sl st chain 1 to close row, then Chain 1.
4. R3: *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around (24 st). Sl st into 1st sl st chain 1 to close this row, then Ch 1.
5. R4: *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around (32 st). Sl st into 1st sl st chain 1 to close this row, then chain 1.
6. R5-9: hdc in ea st around (32 st). Sl st into 1st sl st chain 1 to close this row, ch 1 Work in rounds through row 9.
7. R10: ch 1 (counts as the first stitch in the row). Then hdc in each stitch around. To end, sl st into 1st sl st chain 1 to close this row, ch 2.
8. R11: ch 2 (counts as a stitch), *front post hdc in next st, back post hdc in next st* repeat * to * around row. Join with top of the ch 2. (32 st).
9. R12: ch 1 and sc in same stitch as joining (counts as first post stitch), *front post sc in next st, back post sc in next st* repeat * to * around row. Join to top of first stitch. (32 st). Sl st, tie knot
10. To finish: Weave in yarn at mc and last knot. If desired, add embellishments: pompom, bow, heart, flower, etc.