This cute chunky crochet hat has lots of texture and a slouchy style. The pattern works up quickly thanks to thick yarn and a big hook, plus it’s simple enough for a confident beginner to tackle. This post was originally created by me for Darice. I have included affiliate links, which help to support this blog. Thank you!
Welcome to Persia Lou! If you are new here, you may want to check out some of my other free crochet patterns right HERE. Or sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date on new posts.
I love me a chunky, slouchy hat. This basic pattern is my new favorite, and I’m planning on making a bunch as gifts this holiday season. They work up super quickly, so that makes them a great project to work on at night while watching cheesy Christmas movies.
If you want to make one for yourself or someone on your gift list, I will show you how!
Chunky Crochet Hat Supplies:
- Size 5 Bulky Weight Yarn (I used one skein of Darice Folklore, you can also try Wool Ease Chunky, Paton’s Classic Wool, Knit Picks Brava Bulky, or Lion Brand JiffyBulky.)
- Size N (10.00 mm) Crochet Hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Pom Pom Maker (optional – you can also make pom poms just using your fingers OR try a faux fur pom pom)
Chunky Crochet Hat Pattern
Please note: This pattern is free for personal use. You may sell items you make using my patterns, but please use a link when possible. You may not sell or redistribute my pattern. If you would like to share the pattern with a friend, please send them the link. Pageviews help to support this blog and allow me to provide free patterns like this one. Thank you! 🙂
This pattern uses American crochet terms.
This chunky crochet hat is made using a technique similar to that used in my Black Cat Slouch Hat. First, you crochet a rectangle, sew it into a tube, and then close up the top; however, this had is topped off with a fluffy pom pom instead of the cute cat ears from last week’s pattern. 🙂
The hat’s ribbed look is created by working half double crochet stitches into the back loops only. This means that rather than working the stitches under both strands of yarn at the top of the stitch, you will work the stitch only through the back strand as shown in the image below.
Row 1: Begin by chaining 23 and then working a half double crochet (hdc) stitch in the third chain from your hook and each remaining chain down the line. (The length of this first row is about an inch shorter than the finished hat will be brim to crown, so if you want your hat to be longer or shorter, you can adjust the crochet hat pattern length by beginning again with more or fewer chains.) Chain 2, Turn.
Row 2: Working in the back loops only, work 1 hdc in each stitch across, Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 2 until your rectangle is long enough to wrap around your head. It took me 23 rows. You don’t need to finish off the yarn yet.
Fold the rectangle in half so the two short ends of the rectangle line up. Work a slip stitch through each stitch of both sides to crochet the rectangle together into a tube.
When you have your tube, finish off the yarn and weave in the ends.
With the tube wrong side out (with the seam on the outside), thread a long piece of yarn onto your yarn needle and pull the needle through each row all around one end of the tube. Grab both ends of the yarn and pull tight to gather the top of the hat. Tie the ends together with a double knot and weave in the ends.
Finally, just flip the hat right side out, and – ta-da! – it’s a hat! Well, kind of. It just needs a bit of finishing and then it will be awesome.
Adding a brim takes it to the next level. A few rounds of single crochet will do just fine.
Rnd 1: Join the yarn to the brim edge of the hat. Work single crochet stitches evenly around the edge. It took me 38 stitches to go all the way around. Slip stitch to the first single crochet to join. Chain 1.
Rnd 2: Working in back loops only (see image below), single crochet in each stitch around. Slip stitch to join. Chain 1.
Rnd 3: Repeat Round 2 leaving off the last chain 1. Finish off, weave in ends.
Last but not least, you can top the hat with a pom pom. I used the largest pom pom loom to make my fluffy pom pom, and then tied it onto the crown of the hat.
Fingers are great pom pom making tools too, OR a faux fur pom pom would also look pretty amazing. Right?
And that’s it. Your new cozy hat is all ready to enjoy or gift. The ribbed stitch makes it nice and stretchy. It’s long enough to leave it pushed back and slouchy or you can pull it down and fold up the brim.
If you make your own chunky crochet hat, I want to see it! Share your photos to my facebook page or tag me on instagram or twitter (@persialou), and don’t forget to use the hashtag #persialou for a chance to be featured.
Happy Making!
If you are looking for more crocheted gift ideas check out some of these patterns:
30 Minute Chunky Crochet Beanie
You make it look so easy! I want to go and pick up my crochet needles again and try… it’s been a while!!
You could totally do it!
Have you ever thought about opening up an Etsy shop for all these awesome crochet projects you make? You’d make a killing, I bet!!
Haha… I’ve thought about it. One day maybe.
Awesome pattern! I just finished making this hat and I love it! Thanks so much for sharing your talent!
Thank you, Marissa! I so appreciate it. 🙂
I love this! I found a pattern last year and couldn’t figure it out but this seems so simple, Thank you!!
You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping by, Jaclyn, and good luck!
This is by far the easiest pattern I have found, and I love my new creation! I can’t thank you enough!
Oh I love to hear that! You are so welcome, Jen!
I love the look of this chunky hat but I have a question. After the chain, the direction for the first row called for hdc in every other stitch. This seems to make the following rows too short. Should it be hdc in every stitch for a total of 23 hdc?
Yes, you should hdc in every chain. I’m sorry I can see how that could be confusing! I will try to change the wording to make it more clear. Thank you!
HI! I only have a local Walmart to buy my yarn at.. they don’t seem to sell the brand of yarn you used. Can you suggest a different brand of yarn? Thank you 🙂
Hi Alex! Any bulky weight yarn should work. If you look at the label on the skein of yarn, there should be a little picture of a ball of yarn with a number on it. That’s the weight category. You want to fine one with a number 5 on it. I’m not sure what brands Wal Mart carries, but Red Heart makes a bulky yarn called Heads Up that should work (you can see that here: http://amzn.to/21PZ3tU) or Wool Ease Chunky (here: http://amzn.to/1IVOk5z) should work. Good luck! 🙂
Thanks for the pattern going to try it.
Alexis, I made your wonderful slouchy hat last evening. It is quick and simple, and just flows along so easily. I will be making more of these hats. I do have a question though. I just saw your comment about the 23 hdc. I only had 21 because of the instructions to crochet the hdd in the third chain. Thank you for your help and the pattern of course. Susie
Alexis.your chunky slouch hat pattern is great. So simple and easy, and it all flows together nicely. I made one last night!and am just pondering the color of the pom pom. I do have a question though. I read your answer above about the 23 HDR, however, I get 21 since crocheting into the third chain from the hook. Can you please clarify? Thank you for your help and, of course the pattern.
Yes that’s what you should get
This is so adorable and I bet it is indeed really fast. Just pinned and shared it.
I make hats to donate for cancer patients. Do I need to put your site address on each card ?
No, that’s not necessary. Thank you!
I can’t wait to try this hat!! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
You’re welcome, Jackie! Thanks for coming by! 🙂
Hi, great hat pattern! It’s fast, easy and cute! Thanks for sharing it. It reminds me of one my great aunt made me when I was a kid. Happy memories! Instead of chunky yarn, I used two strands of regular Red Heart. I was thinking of using this pattern for a group I work with, not to sell but for the group to use as part of a Christmas gift for underprivileged children. Do you have any suggestions for making it smaller to fit a child under 10?
Thanks!
Dena
I’m so glad you like the pattern! I made the hat for my daughter and just kind of eyeballed it to her head. So, I did the row as long as I wanted the hat to be tall, and then did as many rows as it took to go around her head. I am planning on working up a more detailed pattern for kids’ sizes but I haven’t had a chance to get it written up yet. Good luck!
Thank you for this pattern! It’s so easy and pretty fast to make. I just finished mine and it’s my favorite hat right now.
Oh yay! I love to hear that! 🙂
I’ve been looking for a pattern like this and I completed it in only 2 hours! An accomplishment for me at least 🙂 I loved it so much and it was so easy to follow! Definitely checking out some of your other patterns as well!!
Oh I love to hear that! So glad you liked the pattern. 🙂
I like your crafts seem pretty easy, I stopped crocheting for years I am now going to go a get a new needle to make the hats Great job
Hi Fay! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Good luck with the hats. I would love to see them when you finish!
So I’ve been crocheting for quite a while now but am attempting to make hats/beanies again (cause I was never good at them!) and this looks definitely doable but I was just wondering what is the best way to join the yarn to the rim of the hat to do your single stitch?? Or is there a specific way of doing it? Let me know! Thanks for the pattern!
Hi Rae! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂 To join the yarn to the rim, you really just draw up a loop of yarn through one of the stitches and start crocheting. You will have to kind of hold the end in place so it doesn’t pull all the way through, and then weave it in when you are done crocheting so it doesn’t unravel, but that’s really all there is to it. I hope that helps! Good luck!
My daughter wants to try and make a hat. Yours looks perfect for the project. Thanks for the great pattern. I can already tell it is going to turn out so cute.
Oh good! I hope it turns out great! Good luck! 🙂
so i attempted top make this hat but i just got one end longer than the other altogether and nothing lined up. followed pattern and everything
Hi Trinity – I’m sorry your hat didn’t work out for you. I know that can be disappointing. If you finish with one end longer than the other, then you are probably adding in extra stitches somewhere along the way. I recommend counting your stitches after each row to make sure you have the same number in each row.
I love this! I’m wondering if I could get away with using 6 weight yarn for this? Any suggestions for hook size?
Yes – several people have had success with a 6 weight yarn. In fact, I have seen Bernat Mega Bulky labeled as both a six and seven, so I would say it’s kind of in between. I think a 6 weight should give you a similar result as I got with the Mega Bulky. I would stick with either the Q or S hook. Good luck!
Hello, i just finished my hat, but my is grey and a little rigid. I think my crotchets are too strict. Hovever, thank you for the pattern.. Maybe some day I make another- better. Greetings from Poland.
I just finished my hat, but my is grey and a little rigid. I think my crochets are too close(sorry for my english). However, thank you for the pattern- it’s great. Maybe some day I make another…Greetings from Poland.
Hello! If your stitches are a little too close or tight, you might try using a larger hook next time. Hope that helps! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. 🙂 Have a great day!
Thanks for advice.
I live this style of hat , I struggle with keeping my rows even even with a stitch marker 😢 Any advice ?
Do you have a video?! It would be so helpful as so many of us want to learn to make a simple beanie but these directions are quite hard to follow for a beginner. It would be SO helpful!!
I made my first hat from this pattern over a year ago (in a lovely maroon colour) and I get so many great comments about it and it’s so snuggly warm that I’m now making another one (in navy & white – my sports club colours so I have a warm hat to wear in the winter when I’m coaching). For both I’ve used two strands of DK rather than bulky weight wool. Great pattern, easy to follow and really effective. Thanks!
I love to hear that! Thanks so much, Amii!
This slouch hat is just so simple and cute, it’s the second pattern made by you that I’m trying. I already made a few black cat hats as gifts for my friends and they all love it!
I wanted to say that I admire your work and I thank you for sharing your patterns and your talent with us. Your website looks really pretty and is full of awesome ideas. Keep up with good work, you are truly an inspiration! Greetings from Croatia! 🙂 <3
Hello….thanks so much for your pattern…what is the yardage of the yarn skein you used? I’m using Lion Brand Hometown USA and it took 2 skeins (81 yards each)
Thanks for your assistance.
I’m currently making this, hat for myself and believe I will make several more by week’s end. It’s 2018 and it’s still fashionable, especially in NYC winters. Thanks!! ❄❄❄