Crochet Hats: Explore Two Top Techniques

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A crocheted hat is a thing of beauty. Of all the things you can crochet, hats are probably one of the most versatile. Work them in rows or rounds, and modify the size for any wearer’s head.

Crochet Hats Worked in Rows

If you’re working a hat in rows, you’re most likely going to end up with a hat that has a ribbed look. This is because you’ll want the hat to be stretchy. Just like hats worked in rounds, hats worked in rows will have to fit around your head, and the “ribs” will create the stretch that makes the fit easier.

crochet hats in rows — Hats Worked in Rows (clockwise from top left) Plains Hat, Oakdale Hat, Flame Hat, Ski Slope Hat. Photos: Harper Point Photography.

Crochet Hats Worked in Rounds

If you’re working in rounds, you have additional possibilities available to you:

Top down
Bottom up
Continuous rounds
Joined rounds
Joined, turned rounds

These terms are relatively self-explanatory, but let’s review them just so we’re all on the same page. Crochet hats worked in rounds are worked in a circle. A hat worked from the top down will start at the crown and increase evenly on each round or every other round to a certain point on the hat. Then, you work the hat even, or without increases or decreases, until it reaches the desired length.

Crochet hats worked from the bottom up are basically the opposite of the top-down style. You work even to a certain point and then decrease to the crown. Once fastened off, weave the tail through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the hole at the crown.

The remaining distinction for hats worked in the round is whether or not the rounds are worked continuously, joined, and/or joined and turned. Crochet hats worked in continuous rounds won’t have an obvious starting and stopping point for each round. In contrast, hats worked in joined rounds will usually combine the beginning and end of each round with a slip stitch before continuing with the next round. On rare occasions, you’ll find a pattern for a hat that will have you not only joining but also turning at the end of the rounds. This is usually done to create a specific stitch detail on the following round.