Whirly Swirly Baby Hats

I love making baby hats and have recently been working on making them for newborns in hospitals as part of a church charity project. I started out making simple hats from other designers but quickly got bored and started creating my own. This Whirly Swirly baby hat is one of a few of the designs I came up with. I love how the ribs twist and add a fun splash of color to these sweet little hats.

To make these hats I recommend you have intermediate crochet skills since this is a tricky pattern! You need to be able to switch colors, make front post single and double crochets and get all the stitches in the right places. This design is tricky to get started but once you get past those first few rounds its really fun to make. I’ve included photos of the first four rounds so you can compare what you have with mine. Be sure to use your tape measure and check the size of your circle against the chart. The size of your hat may be different dependent on your tension – I work on the tighter side.

If you would prefer a downloadable, printable PDF copy of this pattern without the ads, you can purchase it HERE for a small fee.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase via these links I may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my site and free pattern production.

Yarn: I used Red Heart Super Saver but you could use anything of a similar weight.

Light Shade = Main Color (MC) Dark Shade = Contrasting Color (CC)

Hook Size: Different size hooks are used to achieve different size hats. Use the hook suggested for the size you want to make. At the end of round 4 measure the diameter of your circle and check it against the chart. You may need to go up or down a hook size to achieve the size you want.

G/6 – 4.25mm for Premie size

H/8 – 5mm for newborn (green hat)

I/9 – 5.5mm for 0-3 months (blue hat)

J/10 – 6mm for 3-6 months (purple hat)

K/10 1/2 – 6.5mm for 6-9 months (pink hat)

I love this baby words book with bright and colorful pictures.

Using CC (dark color), make a magic ring. You could also start with ch 4 and slip stitch to join to make a ring if you prefer.

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 11 DC into ring. Use Main Color (light color) to slip stitch in top of 1st DC to join (12 DC)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, switch color on 2nd ch, FPDC around same stitch, switching colors on the last loop (pull through last 2 loops of dc with other color). Continuing to switch colors on the last loop of each double crochet: DC in next, FPDC around same all the way around. You should finish with a fpdc then slip stitch in top of 1st fpdc to join. (24 DC)

Rnd 3: Sl st in next then ch 2, dc in same stitch, switching colors on the last loop again. FPDC around FPDC and switch on last loop, 2 DC in next stitch switching on last loop of 2nd dc. Continue to work around in this way. Sl st to join in top of 1st dc. (36 DC)

Rnd 4: Ch 1 and switch colors on 2nd ch. *FPDC around FPDC and switch colors on last loop, 3 DC in next, switching colors on last loop of 3rd dc. Repeat from * around. Finish with 2 dc in last and slip st to join. (48 DC)

Diameter of circle:

3.5 – 4″ for a premie

4 – 4.25″ for a newborn

4.25 – 4.5″ for a 0-3 months

4.5 – 5″ for 3-6 months

5 – 5.25″ for 6-9 months

Take a look at this comfy little baby carrier – great for on the go or holding your little one close while you do a million tasks with your free hands!

Rnd 5: Sl st in next, ch 2, 2 dc in same stitch, *change color on last loop. Skip next 2 stitches and fpdc around fpdc changing colors on last loop. 3 dc in next. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 6: Repeat round 4.

Rnd 7: Repeat round 5.

Rnd 8: Repeat round 4.

Rnd 9: Repeat round 5.

Rnd 10: Repeat round 4.

Rnd 11: Repeat round 5.

Rnd 12: Repeat round 4. Slip stitch to join. Cut main color and weave in tail as you make next round.

Check out this breast milk storage kit – great for nursing moms who need to store their milk.

Lay your hat down flat and measure the length from top to brim:

4.5″ for premie

5″ for newborn

5.5″ for 0-3 months

6″ for 3-6 months

6.25″ for 6-9 months

If you need to, add or reduce the number of rounds above to get the correct length.

Rnd 13: Using CC, Sl st in next, Ch1, SC in next 2 DC, *FPSC around FPDC, SC in top of next 3 DCs; rep from * around. Finish with invisible finish or slip stitch and fasten off. Weave in ends.

If you’d like to feature this pattern on your website, you have my permission to use 1 photo as long as you provide a link back to my site.