How to Crochet a Basic Cloche Style Hat Using Scrap Yarn

I’m notorious for making my own hat patterns or modifying crocheted hat patterns. I often have to modify or make my own pattern because I use scrap yarn. Most patterns call for a specific type of yarn and a specific size of crochet hook. Once you’ve made a few hats, you begin to realize that underlying each pattern are some very basic mathematical rules.

I began this basic cloche by crocheting 4 chain stitches, then I made 11 double crochets (dc) he 4th chain from the hook and join the first to the last crochet with a slip stitch. To expand the hat I add 12 additional stitches to each row or round. For example the second round would have two double crochets in the top of each dc from the first round; the third row would have 2 dc in every other dc; the fourth would have dc in every 3rd dc and so on. I increase until the hat size until I reached the desired diameter. Then I start down the sides of the hat by crocheting 1 dc per 1 dc in the previous round.

Note: I did add some dc shells in the hat to add interest.

Unfortunately for this hat, I ran out of the grey yarn for the crown before the hat was long enough. I did add a little white shell ruffle made with a single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), single crochet (sc) in each dc from the previous row. The hat was still too short. All is not lost.

To make my cloche a little longer after I had run out of the grey yarn at the crown of my hat, I expanded my shell ruffle by adding a row of dc(s). Then I added 3 rows underneath the ruffle using a different colored grey yarn underneath. The first row was a sc row to connected to the last round of the first grey yarn. The second row is all dc(s). The third round is sc(s).

My daughter thinks the hat looks like a flower.

If you’re not comfortable with making your own design yet, you can always modify a pattern. I took the “Open Diamond Shell” pattern from the book Cool Crocheted Hatsby Linda Kopp and modified it. I thought the hat should cover the ears. I added a few more rounds of sc(s). Then I added a little shell (sc, hdc, sc) at the bottom of the hat.

If you’ve been crocheting for a while you’re probably an old hat (LOL, pun intended) at making your own pattern.  If you’re just beginning to intermediate take a good look at that crochet pattern, you may find some interesting ways to modify or design your own pattern.

By the way, I generally use an H or J hook if I’m crocheting with standard worsted weight yarn.