How to: Make Any Size Hat

If you just want to make a basic hat or are trying to make a pattern for one, here's how to do it.

Step 1: 12 dc (or sc or whatever size stitch you want...I'll use dc here) in a magic ring
            OR
           Ch 4, join with slip stitch to first ch, 12 dc around
Step 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same dc, [2 dc] in each around
Step 3: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc] around
Step 4: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 2 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc] around
Step 5: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 3 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc] around
Step 6: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 4 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc] around

Use this pattern of increasing until your circle reaches the following diameters (courtesy of Crochet in Color):

*Remember diameter is all the way across through the center of the circle.

Age                                    Diameter of circle

Newborn                                      4 inches

3-6 months                                   5.5 inches

9-12 months                                 6-6.5 inches

24 months                                    6.5-6.75 inches

Toddler and small child                  7 inches

Adult woman                                7.25-7.5 inches

Once you've reached the diameter for the size you want, dc in each around until you've reached the following length:

Age                                          Finished Length

Newborn                                       5 inches

3-6 months                                    6-6.5 inches

9-12 months                                  7 inches

24 months                                     7-7.5 inches

Toddler and small child               7.5- 8 inches

Adult woman                                8.5-9 inches

Large adult                                    10 inches

You can continue to dc (or sc or whatever stitch you decided to do) in each around until you've reached your length and stop there, or a nice finishing technique would be to fpdc or fpsc for the last inch or 2.

Free Pattern: Chunky Newborn Hat

I've recently become obsessed with chunky yarn.  I bought a bunch of it but then realized how expensive it is to actually make anything big with it, so I went in search of smaller projects to do with it.  Here's a pattern I found on another blog (here) that is really simple and really fast - like really, really fast.

I'd recommend making your stitches a little looser, at least at first, otherwise it'll end up really stiff.

I used Michael's Loops & Threads for the cream one and Lion Brand Hometown USA for the burgundy one.  Any super bulky yarn will work. 

Use a P or N crochet hook.

Ch 3, Sl st in 1st ch to join,

R1: ch 1, 5 sc around, sl st in 1st ch to join.

R2: ch 1, sc in same st *2 sc in each st* around, sl st to join
R3: ch 1 sc in same st * sc in next st, 2 sc in next* around, sl st to join
R4: ch 2, hdc in same st, *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in in next* around, sl st to join
R5-7: ch 2, *hdc in each st* around, sl st to join
R8: ch 3, *sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1* around, sl st in 2nd chain to join.
Weave in ends, run ribbon through spaces between dc's, and tie a bow.

My owl-hat experience (Pattern Link Below)

I first came across this pattern a year ago and made one owl.  Never did anything with the owl - I was going to give it to my nephew but it got buried at the bottom of my closet.  A year later I found it and brought it to work and everybody loved them!  I got a couple different orders for them from my coworkers...here's one of them:

It's a super easy pattern, great for beginners branching out, and I found it here:
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html