Ultimate Vintage-Style Crochet Baby Cap Pattern (2 sizes)
Cute as a Button Brimmed Cap Hat for Baby
This crochet cap for a baby was inspired by a vintage pattern; cute as a button brimmed hat baby.
It has a completely different construction from a traditional crochet beanie, with raised front post double crochet ridges, V-stitches and a shaped crochet brim. in 2 sizes, 0-3 months baby hat and 3-6 months baby hat with visor brim.
The cap is worked in the round from the center out. During the first part of the pattern, your crochet will lie quite flat and may even look as though you have increased too much.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
This is normal. The cap begins to take shape once the decrease rounds are worked.
I do have another peaky Blinders style baby peaked cap pattern available on my website here which is easier than this one to make
Skill Level – Intermediate.
You should be comfortable working:
- Double crochet
- Front post double crochet
- Front post double crochet decreases
- V-stitches
- Increasing and decreasing
- Working in joined rounds
Yarn Required
I originally made this cap using Cygnet Baby 4ply yarn.
- This pattern does use quite a lot of yarn because of the raised post stitches and textured construction.
Crochet Hook and Finished Size 0-3 months
- 0-3 months, follow the first pattern and it was made using a 3.50mm crochet hook and 4ply yarn (approx 14.5 inches around)
- 3- 6 months (approx) follow the 2nd pattern below and a 3.50 mm hook = 16 inches around
- Measure the hat inside circumference BEFORE making the brim, if too big then undo 2 rounds and drop a hook size)
Can you Make this hat Bigger?
- Yes If you are a confident crocheter, start with more DC sts at the beginning. Or switch the hook and yarn size and extend the pattern before decreasing for a few more inches.
I have made this in a 4.00mm hook and DK yarn and hat circumference was 20 inches around and would fit a small child
- Others on Ravelry have used other yarn weight and hook size and achieved the right size for a kid (aran weight yarn and a 5.00mm hook) see details of picture below here
Abbreviations – US Crochet Terms
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- skip = skip
- dc = double crochet
- FPDC = front post double crochet
- FPDC2tog = front post double crochet 2 together
- sl st = slip stitch
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- rnd = round
- V-Stitch
- Work (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space as instructed.
Pattern Notes
- The pattern is worked in joined rounds.
- Always slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain to join unless otherwise stated.
- The beginning chain is used as part of the round as indicated.
- Measure the cap from the center of the crown outward.
- The work will initially lie quite flat.
- This is an important part of the construction and does not mean you have increased too much.
- The cap starts taking its recognizable shape during the decrease section.
- IF you do NOT want the hole at the top where the button goes use a magic ring for the beginning of hat and pull tight to close
Crochet Cap Pattern 0-3 months baby
Round 1: Ch 6 and join with a sl st to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 19 dc into the ring. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (20 sts)
Round 2: Ch 3.(counts as first dc) *FPDC around next st, dc in top of next st.* Repeat from * to * around.Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (38 sts)
Round 3: Ch 3.(counts as first dc) *Work 2 FPDC around next FPDC, dc in next dc*.Repeat from * to * around.Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (57 sts)
Round 4: Ch 3, (counts as first dc) dc , *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, dc on either side of the dc from the previous round.* Repeat from * to * around so that you establish groups of: (2 FPDC, 2 dc) Sl st to the top of the beginning chain to join. (76 sts)
You should now have:19 groups of 2 FPDC and 19 groups of 2 dc.
At this stage your work may look very full or even resemble a scrunchie. This is normal. The cap will take shape during the decrease section.
Round 5:
- Sl st into the space between the first 2 dc to position your hook for the start of the round.
- Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch 1 of the first V-stitch), dc in the same space.
- *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC; work a V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) in the space between the next 2 dc.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st into the 3rd ch of the beginning ch 4 to join. (19 V-stitches and 19 groups of 2 FPDC)
Continue working the next few rounds in the established pattern until work reaches 3.75 inches from center out.
Rnd 6 and proceeding rounds: *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, work a V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 space of the next V-stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join at the end of each round.
Continue until the piece measures approximately 3.75 inches from the center of the crown.
Shaping the Cap
Decrease Round
This is where the flat, full-looking crown begins to pull in and form the cap.
I prefer to work these round using a slightly firmer tension, as this is the main shaping round that brings the cap in to fit around the head.
- Ch3, (counts as dc) skip to the FPDC sts, *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, FPDC2tog around the 2 dc posts that form the next V-stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join.
Next 3 Rounds: Work FPDC around each st around. Sl st to join at the end of each round.
- After completing these rounds, measure the cap circumference before adding the brim.
- For the 0–3 month size, aim for approximately 15½ inches around unstretched.
Fasten off.
Cap Brim
Work the cap visor only over the next 20 sts. turning at end of each of the following rows
Row 1: With the top of the cap toward you, join yarn at the first marker. Ch 2, FPDC around the first 2 sts, *2FPDC around the next st, FPDC around each of the next 2 sts*. Continue in the established pattern * to * across the brim. Ch 2, TURN.
Row 2: BPDC2sctog (decrease), BPDC across until the last 2 sts, BPDC2tog around the last 2 sts (decrease). TURN
Row 3: Ch 1, 2FPDCtog (decrease), FPDC across until the last 2 sts, FPDC2tog around the last 2 sts (decrease). DO NOT TURN
Finishing round, slst down the side of brim, then continue working in FPHDC around the hat, slst up the opposite side of brim and then continue in slst along the brim. You may need to make 2 slsts in the corners of brim to allow it to not curl up.
Fasten off and weave in all ends neatly and securely.
Crochet Cap Pattern ( 3-6 months)
Crown
Round 1: Ch 6 and join with a sl st to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 23 dc into the ring. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (24 sts)
Round 2: Ch 3. FPDC around next st, dc in top of next st. Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (46 sts)
You should now have 23 FPDC and 23 dc, plus the beginning ch 3 counting as the first dc.
Round 3: Ch 3. Work 2 FPDC around next FPDC, dc in next dc. Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 to join. (69 sts)
You should now have 23 groups of 2 FPDC and 23 dc, plus the beginning ch 3.
Round 4: Ch 3, dc, FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, dc on either side of the dc from the previous round. Repeat from * to * around so that you establish groups of: (2 FPDC, 2 dc) Sl st to the top of the beginning chain to join. (92 sts)
You should now have:
23 groups of 2 FPDC and 23 groups of 2 dc.
At this stage your work may look very full or even resemble a scrunchie. This is normal. The cap will take shape during the decrease section.
Round 5: Sl st into the space between the first 2 dc to position your hook for the start of the round.
- Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch 1 of the first V-stitch), dc in the same space.
- *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC; work a V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) in the space between the next 2 dc*. Repeat from * to * around. Sl st into the 3rd ch of the beginning ch 4 to join. (23 V-stitches and 23 groups of 2 FPDC)
Round 6 and Proceeding Rounds: *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, work a V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 space of the next V-stitch*. Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join at the end of each round.
Continue working in the established pattern until the piece reaches the required measurement from the centre of the crown. 4.5- 5 inches
Shaping the Cap – Decrease Round
Ch 3, skip to the FPDC sts. *FPDC around each of the next 2 FPDC, FPDC2tog around the 2 dc posts that form the next V-stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join.
- I prefer to work this round using a slightly firmer tension, as this is the main shaping round that brings the cap in to fit around the head.
For the Next 4 Rounds Work *FPDC around each st* around. Sl st to join at the end of each round.
After completing these rounds, measure the cap circumference before adding the brim. Ensure this is the correct circumference around the edge of the hat to fit
Fasten off.
Cap Brim
To find the correct position of the brim, fold the hat in half using the slip-stitch joins as the guide for the back of the hat.
Find the centre front and place a marker. count 12 sts BACK on each side from the center front marker and place markers and work the cap only over these 24sts.
Row 1: With the top of the cap toward you, join yarn at the first marker. Ch 3, FPDC around the first 2 sts, *2FPDC around the next st, FPDC around each of the next 2 sts*. Continue in the established pattern * to * across the brim. Ch 2, TURN.
Row 2: FPDC2sctog (decrease), FPDC across until the last 2 sts, FPDC2tog around the last 2 sts (decrease). TURN
Row 3: Ch 2, 2FPDCtog (decrease), FPDC across until the last 2 sts, FPDC2tog around the last 2 sts (decrease). DO NOT TURN
Finishing round, slst down the side of brim then continue working in FPHDC around the hat, slst up the opposite side of brim and then continue in slst along the brim. You may need to make 2 slsts in the corners of brim to allow it to not curl up.
Fasten off and weave in all ends neatly and securely.
Please READ FULL TERMS and Conditions of USE HERE
Thank you for visiting my website or purchasing a pattern.
It helps me to maintain the website and buy new materials to make even more FREE CROCHET PATTERNS.
As always you are free to make and sell items you have made from the pattern.
You MUST acknowledge LisaAuchCrochet as the original designer.
YOU will NOT copy or distribute the pattern online TEXT OR PDF, in part or whole anywhere else,
NO Factory Distribution nor mass production of any kind.
Happy Crocheting (c)All Rights Reserved LisaAuchCrochet
