Bridge and Beyond: Hats

Hats are needed for MEN, Women, Children and Teens (not babies). Hats are collected all year long and can be knitted, crocheted, or loomed. PLEASE tag your hats with the size s m l adult, s m l child etc.

AVOID:
White, ivory and lots of pastels (dirt factor)
Cotton (it's not warm, doesn't hold shape and has no stretch or give)
Suede (not a good warm sturdy fiber)
Open airy or lace stitches (if you can poke your fingers through, it's too open)
Non washable fibers (washable wool blends are fine, but 100% wool that needs special attention is not a good choice).

COLORS:
Choose colors that don't show the dirt, that are appropriate for the group you're donating too. Wild colors, bold stripes aren't a good choice for homeless people. Solids, dark solids are best for men. Brighter colors work for women, and minimal stripes work better for children then adults. Homeless don't like to call attention to themselves with wild colors. Dark colors work for everyone, kids, teens, women, and men. Light colors limit who can benefit from your warm hat.

SIZES:
Head sizes vary, hats that fit a variety of sizes are best. Hats with stretch are versatile. Hats should be 1.5 inches smaller then head circumference (according to Bev's Country Cottage website); and 2 inches smaller according to Knit Picks. Both sites are considered experts among knitters and crocheters.

This chart is from Bev's site:

Newborns
Head Circumference 13" - 14 " hat circ = 11.5" - 13" Hat height = 5.5 to 6"

Baby - 3 to 6 months
Head Circumference: 14" - 17 " Hat height= 6.5 - 7"

Baby - 6 to 12 months
Head Circumference: 16" - 19 " Hat height = 7.5"

Toddler - preschooler (12 months - 3 years)
Head Circumference: 18" to 20 " Hat height = 8"

Child (3 - 10 years)
Head Circumference: 19" - 20 1/2" Hat height =8.5"

Pre-teens and Teens Hat
Head Circumference: 20 1/2" - 22" height 9-10"

Adult Woman
Head Circumference: 21.5" - 22.5" Hat height = 11"

Adult Man
Head Circumference: 23" - 24" Hat height = 11"-11.5"

conversions for centimeters is also available on Bev's site should you need them.




This chart is from Knit Picks
AGE	Head Cirm.	Hat Hgt	Yardage
Newborn	14"	6"	100-150
Baby - 3 to 6 months	17"	7"	100-150
Baby 6 to 12 months	18"	7.5"	100-150
Toddler - preschooler (12 months - 3 years)	19"	8"	100-150
Child (3 - 10 years)	20"	8.5"	100-180
Pre-teens and Teens	21"	10"	100-180
Adult Woman	22.5"	11"	120-200
Adult Man	22.5"-24"	11.5"	200-255

There is a slight difference between the two, but not much.

LOOMED HAT CHART:

Round Loom Hat Chart
No. of Pegs	Knifty Knitter	Length Knitted	Age Group
24-26	KK Round Blue KK Long Pink	7-8 in	Infant
24-26	KK Round Blue KK Long Pink	7-8 in	Infant
30-32	KK Round Red	7.5-9.5 in	Youth
36-38	KK Round Green KK Long Yellow	8.5-10 in	Adult S-M
40-42	KK Round Yellow	9-10.5 in	Adult M-L

There are many brands and colors of looms, the trick is to count your pegs. I've looked at 5 webpages, 3 indicate the 4 sizes of the looms are appropriate for

preemie
baby
child-teen and smaller adult women
Adult's

One site indicated they used the 2nd largest size for adults, that the largest worked only for extra large. Given the numbers listed for circumfrences in both Knit Picks and Bev's seems the large loom should be used for most adults, certainly the men.

I checked with our good friend Frank the Lucscious loomer, and he prefers the 2nd to the largest loom (36 pegs) for the bulk of his hats, and doesn't use the large loom. He measured some hats he had on hand made from the 36 peg loom, and they measured 8.5 - 9 inches tall with a brim of 9"(so the circumfrences would be 18-19 inches). Obviously the yarn you use will have some variances on the finished size and whom the hats fit.

**Please indicate what size hat you made so that I don't need to measure them all to determine where or to whom they should be donated.** Please keep in mind the color you choose to make certain it's appropriate for the size you're going for.

Please contact me at sandycrochet@gmail.com with any questions not covered above. Please check back as some patterns will be added.
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CROCHET SEAFARER’S CAP
pattern by Beth Hall
Chain 45 loosely.
ROW 1: Slip st in second chain from hook and next 5 chs, sc
in next 6 chs, hdc in next 16 chains, slip st in last 16 chs. [44
st] Ch 1, turn.
Starting with row 2 and all following rows, work all stitches
in the back loop only.
ROW 2: Slip st in the first 16 slip st of the previous row, ch
1, turn. Slip st in the 16 slip st just completed (working back
towards lower edge; these will create the cap’s “ribbing”), ch
1, turn. Slip st in the 16 slip st just completed, hdc in the next
stitch from row 1 and next 15 stitches, sc in next 6 st, slip st
in the next 3 stitches, ch 1 turn leaving the last 3 slip stitches
unworked. [41 st]
ROW 3: Slip st in the next 3 st, sc in next 6 st, hdc in next
16 st, slip st in last 16 st.[41 st] Ch 1, turn.

ROW 4: Slip st in the first 16 slip st of the previous row, ch
1, turn. Slip st in the 16 slip st just completed (back towards
lower edge to create the cap’s “ribbing”), ch 1, turn. Slip st in
the 16 slip st just completed, hdc in the next stitch from row
3 and next 15 stitches, sc in next 6 st, slip st in the next 3
stitches, then slip st in last 3 unworked stitches from row 1.
[44 st] Ch 1, turn.
ROW 5: Slip st in the next 6 st, sc in next 6 st, hdc in next 16
st, slip st in last 16 st.[44 st] Ch 1, turn.
Repeat rows 2-5, 12 times, ending with row 5, for a total
of 53 rows, or to desired size. Break off yarn, leaving a long
enough tail to sew the side seam and close the top. Sew side
seam, catching the remaining side of the starting chain and
the back loop of the last row. At top of hat, secure seam,
then use a yarn needle to “catch” top of slip stitch for each
row; gather tightly and secure. Weave any yarn ends in to
finish.

This pattern is one I saved long ago, it doesn't seem to have a name, and or I neglected to note it. This is done with double strands, or bulky yarn. Might be worth also trying this pattern with regular knitted worsted to see how the sizing compares...obviously if using one strand you'd use smaller knitting needles. Sorry no picture with this. If someone makes this, please let me know you used this pattern so I can add a picture to this for others. Thanks.

Materials:
Size 10.5 needles
Double strand worsted weight (or you can use bulky/chunky yarn)
Note: size given for men; ladies, teens and schoolage children give in ( ).
Start at lower edge:
Cast on 70 (66 – 62 – 58) stitches.
Row 1: Work in ribbing of k2, p2 across.
Row 2: Work in ribbing of p2, k2 across.
Repeat these two rows for pattern, for 12 (11 – 10 – 9) inches, ending on wrong side (row 2).
To shape crown:
Row 1: K2 tog, *p2, k2 tog, repeat from * across.
Row 2: P1, *k2 tog, p1, repeat from * across.
Row 3: K1, p1 across.
Row 4: P1, k1 across.
Row 5: K2tog, p2 tog across. Cut yarn, leaving approximately 15-20”; with yarn needles, draw yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Sew seam along side and turn right side out; fold “cuff” back.

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This pattern is available for free on RAV and is the knitted "go to pattern" that Bunny (Lynda) uses is so many of her wonderful donated hats. She also suggest using variegated yarn instead of changing yarn makes the pattern even easier....eliminated the dreaded working in of lots of ends that happens when you strip it.
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Our good friend Sandie from Louisana has this crocheted hat pattern on her blog which always works up nicely.

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BASIC WINTER HAT (size H hook and 1 skein super saver Red Heart WW yarn)

The instructions are for an Adult male size
This is the first time I have written instructions for a pattern. It is based on a pattern listed on a BethinTx1 Youtube video. Beth has given me permission to write these instructions out since she did not have any written instructions.
I am sure you can shorten the chain length as well as the amount of rows you crochet so that hat will fit a baby, toddler, child, tween or woman. Should you have any questions about this pattern, do not hesitate to let me know. Me mail is Sherry.keever@yahoo.com
Chain 50 (55 if you want it a bit longer)
Row 1: Slip stitch in first 3 stitches. Single Crochet in next 5 stitches. Half Double Crochet in remaining stitches. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 2: Half Double Crochet in first stitch. In remaining stitches of the row work in Back Loops only. Half Double Crochet in next 41 stitches. Single Crochet in next 5 stitches. Slip stitch in final 3 stitches. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 3: Remembering to work in back loops only until you get to the last stitch of the row. slip stitch in first 3 stitches. Single crochet in next 5 stitches. Half Double Crochet in next 41 stitches. Half double crochet in complete stitch of row.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you reach 18 inches ending with row 2.
Leave a long length of yarn when finishing off so that you may use it to sew the sides together.
Sew the two long ends together using a tapestry needle. I overlap the two ends so that it looks like it is ribbed as the remaining rows are. I then sew through the outer most part of each loop going down the long part of the hat.
To close the top of the hat, turn it inside out. Take a long piece of yarn and weave through the chain 1’s at the top. Once you have come back around pull the thread so you have even lengths and start pulling the top snug. This will take some doing and be careful not to pull to hard at first otherwise you will break your yarn. Once you have the hole closed tie a square no and weave in your threads clipping off any excess.
Turn your hat right side out and you should be done!

Link to Sandie's patterns Here

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Here's a link to a beanie hat (crocheted)recommended by misslebird (Jen).

I might suggest adding a few additional rows so it covers the ears vs

being a true above the ear beanie style.

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This is a slight variation on the first pattern listed; but a bit easier

Adult's cast on 96, teens cast on 68.

K2, P2 across row
knit above rib pattern for 9 1/2 inches
begin decrease with K2tog across row
Purl next row
Repeat last 2 rows (the decrease rows) 3 x......Bind Off leaving enough yarn to stitch up your side seam.

Add topper if you wish, though it's not necessary; and probably preferred for most adult hats, certainly plain is best for the men folk.