Donate this adorable crochet preemie hat and make a difference in a little one’s life. The pattern is free to view on the blog.

The Wee One Crochet Preemie Hat

This beautiful little crochet preemie hat is this year’s contribution to the 2024 Preemie Challenge hosted by Helen of Sunflower Cottage Crochet. I am so honored to be included in this fine tradition.

Crocheters love to share their craft, especially when it comes to serving the smallest among us. This little crochet preemie hat is a quick project which makes it ideal for making multiples. That way you can donate a bag full!

Design + Construction

Two years ago, I designed the Wee One Lovey for the Preemie Crochet Challenge. I thought it would be fun to create an adorable crochet preemie hat that matches it. Together, they make the perfect set!

This crochet preemie hat uses exactly the same stitches as the Wee One Lovey, combining clusters and single crochets for a lightly textured, breathable fabric. Make both of them with a DK weight yarn that’s gentle against baby’s sensitive skin.

The construction of this crochet preemie hat is quite simple. The hat is worked top down in joined rounds starting with the crown, a simple flat double crochet circle. 

The body of the hat is where the magic happens. Rounds of cluster stitches are alternated with rounds of single crochet. This 2-row repeat is easy to work and easy to remember for a mindful crochet project you can work over and over.

Finish off the whole crochet preemie hat with a round of shells and you have a cute hat with an adorable look. 

While this post includes the free pattern for the Wee One crochet preemie hat, the PDF includes 2 other sizes: 0-3 months (13.75″) and 9-12 months (18.5″).

The Yarn

I chose a DK weight yarn for this crochet preemie hat and its companion lovey because I love how delicate it makes them feel. Choose a yarn that’s soft against a preemie’s sensitive skin to avoid causing an allergic reaction. 

Tips to pick the perfect yarn:

• Fiber content matters. Baby’s skin, especially a preemie’s, is sensitive and prone to irritation. Avoid wool or other fibers that may cause an allergic reaction. I like cotton and cotton/acrylic blends because they’re soft against the skin.
• Fiber content also matters when it comes to stretch. Cotton generally has no stretch or give so the size you choose should be as close as possible to the baby’s head size for a proper fit. On the other hand, acrylic has a fair amount of stretch which affords you a little more leeway where the finished size is concerned.
• Make sure it’s durable and easy to care for. It should be easy to launder and retain its shape with repeated washings.

One last tip: Before gifting your crochet preemie hat, hand wash it in a gentle, non-allergenic detergent to remove residual chemicals from its manufacture. You’ll also be removing oils left there by your hands and any dirt that might have gotten on the hat while you were making it.

The Wee One Lovey

As I said earlier, this crochet preemie hat was designed to coordinate with the Wee One Lovey. The lovey is the perfect partner to create an incredibly thoughtful gift set. 

The preemie size lovey – 12″ square – is free to view on the blog. The premium PDF for the Wee One Lovey Blanket includes a crochet chart for stitch placement. It’s available for purchase in my Ravelry and Etsy

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2024 Preemie Crochet Challenge

I’m excited and honored to be the featured designer on Friday, June 7, for the 2024 Preemie Crochet Challenge hosted by Helen of Sunflower Cottage Crochet.

The Wee One Preemie Hat is the featured design. Beginning on June 7, and available through the month of June, you can download the premium PDF of the Wee One Hat absolutely free.

When you do, you are making a pledge to make at least one item from the pattern and donate it to a NICU or an organization that works with premature babies.

Many of the designs featured in the challenge are free to download until the end of June. Visit the event post to find out more about the event and see some of the other designs available for download.

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The Wee One Preemie Hat Free Pattern

Materials

Yarn

Any DK weight yarn appropriate for babies – Approx. 50 yds for the Preemie size

For the sample: Hobbii “Acacia Print” 51% acrylic, 49% cotton DK weight (3.5oz/273yd; 100g/250m) – Color #14 – Candy Store

Hook

US size H-8 (5mm) or size needed for gauge

General Information

Preemie size fits head circumference 9.5-10.5″.

Finished Size: 10.5″ around

Gauge: The crown of the hat measures 3.25″ across.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• rep – repeat
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• STsc – stacked single crochet (see Special Stitches)
• MR – magic ring
• RS – right side
• YO – yarn over

Special Stitches

2-dc cluster (2-dc cl) – [YO, insert hook in indicated st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops] twice, YO, pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

3-dc cluster (3-dc cl) – [YO, insert hook in indicated st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops] 3 times, YO, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

5-dc shell (shell) – 5 dc in the same st

Pattern Notes

1. A ch-1 at the beg of a rnd does not count as a st.
2. A ch-2 or ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time.
3. Do not turn after any rnd.
4. A ring of chains may be substituted for the magic ring. However, the magic ring creates a tighter center for the crown of the hat.
5. The fiber content of the yarn you choose will affect the amount of stretch the finished hat has. Acrylic has a fair amount of stretch while cotton has none. Adjust hook size if gauge is affected by the fiber content.

Pattern Instructions for the Wee One Crochet Preemie Hat

Crown

Substitute for MR: Ch 4, join with slip st to form ring.

Rnd 1 (RS): MR, ch 1, (STsc, 11 dc) in the ring, join with a slip st to beg st, close MR. < 12 dc >

Rnd 2: (STsc, dc) in the same st, 2 dc in the next st 11 times, join with slip st to beg st. < 24 dc >

Rnd 3: (STsc, dc) in the same st, dc in the next st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st] 11 times, join with slip st to beg st. < 36 dc >

Do not fasten off; proceed to Body.

Body

Rnd 1: Ch 1, (sc, 2-dc cluster) in the same st (counts as the 1^st 3-dc cluster), ch 1, sk 1 st, [3-dc cluster in the next st, ch 1, sk 1 st] 17 times, join with slip st to the top of beg cluster. < 18 clusters, 18 ch-1 sp >

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st and in the top of each cluster and ch-1 sp around, join with slip st to beg st. < 36 sc >

Rnds 3-6: Rep Rnds 1-2 2 times.

Do not fasten off; proceed to Border.

Border

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st, sk 1 st, shell in the next st, sk 1 st, [sc in the next st, sk 1 st, shell in the next st, sk 1 st] 8 times, join with slip st to beg sc.  < 9 sc, 9 shells >

Fasten off and weave in ends.