Crochet Banded Shell Hat

Skill level: Easy/Intermediate (depending on yarn choice - see precautionary notes below)

Finished size: Teen/Adult – 22” circumference by 8” deep; hat will stretch up to 24” circumference when worn

Materials:

Two 300 yd. balls of soft, fuzzy, light-worsted wt. yarn (worked double-strand –use one strand from each ball held together as one)

Sample shown in Red Heart “Symphony”, 100% acrylic, 310 yards (283 meters) per 99 grams (3.49 ounces)

Precautionary notes about the yarn choice for this pattern: I chose Red Heart “Symphony” yarn (worked double-strand) because of the soft, muted fabric and good hand it produced in this design (plus there was an abundant supply of it!) However, due to the fuzzy fibers it can be a challenge to work with. If it proves too frustrating, substitute with two strands of a smoother, soft light worsted wt. or sport yarn that will achieve the same gauge.

Size K/10.5 (6.5 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to achieve gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 12 sts & 8 rows = 4” in half double crochet on size K/10.5 (6.5 mm) hook

Pattern notes:

Work with two strands of yarn held together as one throughout pattern.

Hat is worked in spiral half double crochet. Do not join and turn at end of each round, but continue in same direction throughout.

Use a thread marker to note beginning of rounds and move it up as you complete each round.

Hat is worked from center top of crown down to lower edge, where shell edging is applied in opposite directions.

Terms/Abbreviations: back loop only (BLO), beginning (beg), chain (ch), double crochet (dc), each (ea), half double crochet (hdc), hook (hk), loop (lp), repeat (rep), round (rnd), single crochet (sc), skip (sk), slip stitch (sl st), stitch (st), yarn over (yo)

Hat

Rnd 1: With double-strand of yarn, ch 4, join into ring (or use magic disappearing beginning loop method: wrap yarn around finger once, insert hook into this loop, yarn over and draw strand through); ch 2, work 11 hdc in ring, do not join or turn, but continue in same direction for spiral hdc (12 hdc)

Place thread marker to note beg of rnds and move it up as you work.

Rnd 2 (inc rnd): 2 hdc in ea hdc around, do not join or turn (24 hdc)

Rnd 3 (inc rnd): *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc, rep from * around, do not join or turn (36 hdc)

Rnd 4: Hdc in ea hdc around, do not join or turn.

Rnd 5 (inc rnd): *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in ea of next 2 hdc, rep from * around, do not join or turn (48 hdc)

Rnd 6: Hdc in ea hdc around, do not join or turn.

Rnd 7 (inc rnd): *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in ea of next 3 hdc, rep from * around, do not join or turn (60 hdc)

Rnd 8: Hdc in ea hdc around, do not join or turn.

Rnds 9-14: Rep Rnd 8.

Rnd 15: Hdc in ea hdc around. At end of Rnd 15, join with sl st and turn.

Edging preparation rounds:

Rnd 16: Ch 2, hdc in back loop only (BLO) of ea hdc around, join with sl st, do not turn (60 hdc)

Rnd 17: Ch 2, working through both loops as normal, hdc in ea hdc around, join with sl st, do not turn.

Begin shell-edge rounds:

Rnd 18: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 hdc, work 5 dc in next hdc, sk 2 hdc, sc in next hdc, rep from * around, join with sl st, do not turn (10 shells)

Rnd 19: Ch 1, sc in ea sc and ea dc around, join with sl st. Fasten off.

Begin opposite side shell-edge rounds:

Turn hat upside-down. Join yarn with sc in unused loop of st at joining point on Rnd 16.

Rnd 1: Working in unused loops of Rnd 16, ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 sts, work 5 dc in next st (i.e., this 5-dc shell should line up directly opposite from the 5-dc shell worked on Rnd 18), sk 2 sts, sc in next st (i.e., lining up directly opposite from the sc worked on Rnd 18), rep from * around, join with sl st, do not turn.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in ea sc and ea dc around, join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in all tails.