The Wanderlust Hat

It is Monday you guys!!! I could hardly wait to show you the Wanderlust hat. It is a truly amazing design (if I might say so myself) with stunning texture and perfect fit! With just the right amount of slouch, this hat will turn eyes wherever you go. 🙂

When I saw the Rudbekia hat by Drea Renee Knits, I just fell in love with the texture and wanted to create something similar for the crocheters of the world. So that beautiful knit pattern was the inspiration for the Wanderlust. Hopefully, you love it as much as I do! 

The pattern is made for DK weight yarn. Use wool for warmth and durability, and this beautiful accessory will serve you well for years to come! One of my favourite features is that it uses decrease rows on the top rather than being gathered, which means it does not require a pompom to “hide” that gather. (Of course, you are still welcome to add one!)

A few notes before we go to the pattern:

• Please make sure you have the right gauge or measure the band on your hat before going on to the body of the hat. This is VERY important. The band should fit with a bit of ease, not too tightly. The stitch count does not matter in this design so much, except you might have to make some alterations in the decrease rows. This is not very hard to do though and well worth it to get a hat that fits properly.
• Crochet the slst VERY loosely, otherwise those rows will be too tight later. 

Here goes:

Sizes:

Toddler (18-19” head circumference)

Child (20-21” head circumference)

Adult (22-23” head circumference)

Gauge: 9sts & 5 rows/2” of fpdc/bpdc section

Materials:

Yarn: DK weight yarn. Sample was made in Knitpicks Gloss DK (70% Merino wool, 30% Silk; 123yrds/50g)  2 (2, 3) skeins

Hooks: G/4.5mm  & J/6mm crochet hooks

Other: Stitch marker

Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Sc – Single Crochet

Dc2tog – Double Crochet two Stitches Together

Dc – Double Crochet

Slst – Slip Stitch

Blo – Back Loop Only

Slst2tog in BLO – Slip Stitch 2 Together in Back Loops

Inc – Increase

Slst2tog in blo: put hook into the back loop of next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook. (If you have another way of doing it, go for it. This is what I do)

Increase: Work two sc in the same stitch/chain.

Notes:

• Please read instructions and notes carefully
• When doing slst, remember to do so loosely, it is easy to make them too tight
• The band is worked in the back loops only
• The body of the hat consists of 2 sections that are repeated 3 times each. The slst section is entirely worked in the back loops 

Instructions:

Toddler:

Using smaller (G/4.5mm) hook, leave a long tail about 7”. Ch 9

Row 1. sc 2 in 2^nd chain, sc in next 5 chains, sc last 2 chains together, turn (8 sc)

Row 2. ch1, sc2tog in BLO, sc in BLO in next 5 sts, inc in BLO, turn

Row 3. ch1, inc in BLO, sc in BLO in next 5 sts, sc2tog in BLO, turn

Continue rows 2-3 until you have 60 rows or your band measures about 16”.

Slst into the top of the first row to create a loop. DO NOT FASTEN OFF. You will be working on the outside of the hat in the round and use the tail to sew the band together later.

Body:

Change to J/6mm hook and work into the side on the band (picture demonstrates where to put stitches):

Round 1. Ch1, (sc in next 4, 2sc inc in next) repeat around, join (72)

Round 2.  Ch1, slst in BLO in each stitch around. Work your slst loosely! Do not join, instead pleace a stitch marker in the first stitch and work in the round.

Rounds 3. -5. slst in BLO in each st around. At the end of round 5, join into first stitch.

Round 6. ch2, dc in each st in BLO around, join

Round 7. ch2, (bpdc around first st, fpdc in next st) repeat around, join

Round 8. ch2, (bpdc, fpdc)  around, join

Round 9. ch1, sc in each st around, join

Rounds 10.-14. Repeat rows 2-5

Repeat rounds  6-14 one more time. Repeat rounds 6-8 one more time. You should now have three slst sections and three dc sections.

Decrease:

Round 1. ch1, (sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog) 12 times around, do not join. Place stitch marker. (60)

Round 2. (slst in BLO in next 3, slst2tog in BLO) around (48)

Round 3. (slst in BLO in next 2, slst2tog in BLO) around (36)

Round 4. (slst in BLO in next, slst2tog in BLO) around(24)

Round 5. (slst2tog in BLO) around (12)

Slst2tog in BLO around until the hole is almost closed. Cut yarn, weave through remaining stitches and pull hole closed. Weave in/secure tail.

Use the long tail you left in the beginning to sew the band closed on the inside of the hat and weave in/secure yarn.

 Child:

Using smaller (G/4.5mm) hook, leave a long tail about 7”. Ch 11

Row 1. sc 2 in 2^nd chain, sc in next 7 chains, sc last 2 chains together, turn (10)

Row 2. ch1, sc2tog in BLO, sc in BLO in next 7 sts, inc in BLO, turn

Row 3. ch1, inc in BLO, sc in BLO in next 7 sts, sc2tog in BLO, turn

Continue rows 2-3 until you have 68 rows or your band measures about 18”.  

Slst into the top of the first row to create a loop. DO NOY FASTEN OFF. You will be working on the outside of the hat in the round and use the tail to sew the band together later. (See picture in the Toddler instructions)

Body:

Change to J/6mm hook, working into the side on the band (See picture in the Toddler instructions):

Round 1. Ch1, (sc in next 4, 2sc inc in next) repeat 13 times, sc in last 3 sts, join (81)

Round 2.  Ch1, slst in BLO in each stitch around. Work your slst loosely! Do not join, instead pleace a stitch marker in the first stitch and work in the round.

Rounds 3. -6. slst in BLO in each st around. At the end of round 6, join into first stitch.

Round 7. ch2, dc in each st in blo around, join

Round 8. ch2, (bpdc around first st, fpdc in next st) repeat around, join

Round 9. ch2, (bpdc, fpdc)  around, join

Round 10. repeat 9

Round 11. ch1, sc in each st around, join

Rounds 12.-16. Repeat rows 2-6

Repeat rounds 7-16 one more time. Repeat rounds 7-10 one more time. You should now have three slst sections and three dc sections.

Decrease:

Round 1. ch1, (sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog) 13 times, sc in last 3 sts, do not join. Place stitch marker. (68)

Round 2. (slst in BLO in next 3, slst2tog in BLO) around, slst in BLO in last 3 sts (55)

Round 3. (slst in BLO in next 2, slst2tog in BLO) around, slst in BLO in last 3 sts (42)

Round 4. (slst in BLO in next, slst2tog in BLO) around, slst in BLO in last 3 sts (29)

Round 5. (slst2tog in BLO) around (16)

Slst2tog in BLO around until the hole is almost closed. Cut yarn, weave through remaining stitches and pull hole closed. Weave in/secure tail.

Use the long tail you left in the beginning to sew the band closed on the inside of the hat and weave in/secure yarn.

Adult:

Using smaller (G/4.5mm) hook, leave a long tail about 7” Ch 13

Row 1. sc 2 in 2^nd chain, sc in next 9 chains, sc last 2 chains together, turn (12)

Row 2. ch1, sc2tog in BLO, sc in BLO in next 9 sts, inc in BLO, turn

Row 3. ch1, inc in BLO, sc in BLO in next 9 sts, sc2tog in BLO, turn

Continue rows 2-3 until you have 75 rows or your band measures about 20”

Slst into the top of the first row to create a loop. You will be working on the outside of the hat in the round and use the tail to sew the band together later. (See picture in the Toddler instructions)

Body:

Change to J/6mm hook, working into the side on the band (See picture in the Toddler instructions):

Round 1. Ch1, (sc in next 4, 2sc inc in next) repeat 15 times,join (90)

Round 2.  Ch1, slst in BLO in each stitch around. Work your slst loosely! Do not join, instead pleace a stitch marker in the first stitch and work in the round.

Rounds 3. -6. Slst in BLO in each st around. At the end of round 6, join into first stitch.

Round 7. ch2, dc in each st in BLO around, join

Round 8. ch2, (bpdc around first st, fpdc in next st) repeat around, join

Round 9. ch2, (bpdc, fpdc)  around, join

Round 10. repeat 9

Round 11. ch1, sc in each st around, join

Rounds 12.-16. Repeat rows 2-6

Repeat rounds 7-16 one more time. Repeat rounds 7-10 one more time. You should now have three slst sections and three dc sections.

Decrease:

Round 1. ch1, (sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog) around, do not join. Place stitch marker. (75)

Round 2. (slst in BLO in next 3, slst2tog in BLO) around (60)

Round 3. (slst in BLO in next 2, slst2tog in BLO) around (45)

Round 4. (slst in BLO in next, slst2tog in BLO) around (30)

Round 5. (slst2tog in BLO) around (15)

Slst2tog in BLO around until the hole is almost closed. Cut yarn, weave through remaining stitches and pull hole closed. Weave in/secure tail.

Use the long tail you left in the beginning to sew the band closed on the inside of the hat and weave in/secure yarn.

You’re done 🙂

I hope you have lots of fun with this pattern, and share with me on Social Media! Use hashtags #snowdropwanderlust #snowdropcrochet #wanderlusthat

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Have a happy, crafty week and until next week!

Emma