This slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern is a quick, charming winter hat that works up in just an evening or two — featuring a ribbed band and a beautiful two-color shell-stitch body that gives it that cozy, slightly slouchy fit toddlers love. The classic heather grey and cherry red colorway makes it perfect for boys or girls, but this pattern looks beautiful in any color combination. Sized for toddlers roughly 1–4 years old, with easy adjustments to scale up or down for older kids and babies.

The construction is more interesting than your average toddler hat — instead of working in plain rounds, you start with a horizontal ribbed band, then build the body upward with alternating shell stitch rounds in two colors. The result is a hat with real visual texture and a slouchy crown that sits beautifully on a toddler’s head. Perfect for handmade gifts, photo props, or your own little one’s winter wardrobe.

Why You’ll Love This Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern

• Beginner friendly — uses basic stitches (hdc, dc, sc, dc2tog) you probably already know
• Quick to make — finishes in an evening or two, perfect for last-minute gifts
• Two-color stranded design — visually interesting without complex colorwork techniques
• Slouchy fit — the relaxed crown sits beautifully on toddler heads, no tight bands
• Great handmade gift — works up beautifully in any two-color combination
• Versatile sizing — easy to scale up for older kids by adding a few rounds before the decreases

Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern Skill Level

Easy to advanced beginner. If you’re comfortable working in the round and changing colors, you can make this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern.

Materials for the Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern

• Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook
• Medium weight (#4) yarn — I used Red Heart Super Saver in Heather Grey and Cherry Red
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors

For this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern you’ll only need small amounts of each color, making it a great stash-buster project for using up odd skeins from larger makes.

Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern Gauge

7 stitches = 2 inches for this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern. Check your gauge before starting — toddler hats are sized tight, so getting gauge matters for proper fit.

Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern Abbreviations

• St — Stitch
• Ch — Chain
• Sc — Single crochet
• Hdc — Half double crochet
• Dc — Double crochet
• Dc2tog — Double crochet decrease
• BLO — Back loops only
• Sl st — Slip stitch
• Sk — Skip

Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern Instructions

Ribbed Band

Ch 6.

• Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook. Hdc 4. Turn (5 sts).
• Rows 2–35: Ch 2. Hdc in same st. Hdc 3 in BLO. Hdc in last st, going through both loops. Turn (5 sts).

Fold your piece in half and sl st up the short side, forming a ribbed band. Fold over so your seam is on the inside. Continue on to the body without tying off.

Body

Work Row 1 across the top of the band, spaced as evenly as possible.

• Round 1: Ch 1. Sc in same space. Sc 66 around the top of the band. Join with sl st.
• Round 2: Join 2nd color. Ch 1. Dc 4 in same st. Ch 1. Sk 5 sts. *Dc 4 in next st. Ch 1. Sk 5 sts.* Work 10 times. Join with a sl st with first dc (55 sts).
• Round 3: Bring up 1st color. *Ch 2 (counts as 2 sts). Sc in middle st of dc shell. Ch 2. Work a 3-dc cluster in 3rd skipped st from the previous round.* Work 11 times. Join with sl st with first ch (66 sts).
• Round 4: Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st (66 sts).
• Round 5: Sl st 5. Bring up 2nd color. Ch 1. Dc 4 in same st. Ch 1, sk 5 sts. *Dc 4 in next st. Ch 1, sk 5 sts.* Work 10 times. Join with a sl st with first dc (55 sts). Tie off.
• Round 6: Join 1st color in the 1st dc of the shell before the join. *Ch 2. Sc in middle sp of shell. Ch 2, work a 3-dc cluster in 3rd skipped st from the previous round.* Work 11 times. Join with sl st (66 sts).
• Round 7: Work Row 4.
• Round 8: Join 2nd color. Work Row 2.
• Round 9: Join 1st color. Work Row 3.
• Round 10: Work Row 4.
• Round 11: Work Row 5, joining 2nd color.
• Round 12: Join 1st color. Work Row 3.

Crown Decrease

• Round 13: Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in each st around. Join with sl st (66 sts).
• Round 14: Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc2tog. *Dc, dc2tog.* Work 21 times. Join with sl st (44 sts).
• Round 15: Ch 2. Dc2tog 22 times. Join with sl st (22 sts). Tie off.

To close the hat, sew a loose running stitch around the top of the hat with a tapestry needle and cinch closed. Weave in all ends.

Tips for the Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern

A few notes from making this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern: pay attention to where you bring your colors up — carrying yarn loosely up the inside of the hat keeps the back tidy and avoids ugly long floats. Don’t pull the joining slip stitches too tightly, or the seam will look pulled. When working the shell-stitch rounds, count your shells regularly to make sure you haven’t accidentally added or skipped one. And when you cinch the top closed, pull firmly enough that no hole shows but not so tight that it puckers — the running-stitch finish is more forgiving than a traditional decrease close.

Customizing Your Slouchy Toddler Hat

Once you’ve made the basic slouchy toddler hat, here are easy ways to make it your own:

• Solid color version — skip the color changes and work the entire hat in one color for a more subtle look
• Pom pom topper — finish with a fluffy pom pom for extra winter charm
• Different color combos — try cream and dusty pink, navy and mustard, or sage and oatmeal for different aesthetics
• Larger sizes — add 2–3 more body rounds (alternating colors) before starting the decrease section for a kid-sized hat (5–10 years)
• Smaller sizes — start with fewer ribbed rows (try 30 instead of 35) for a baby/12-month size
• Faux-fur trim — sew a strip of faux fur around the band for a cozier winter look

More Free Crochet Patterns You’ll Love

If you love this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern, here are more free baby and kids crochet projects to add to your queue:

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Make this slouchy hat for the toddler in your life and tag @seeloveshare on Instagram — I love seeing your makes! 🧶

Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern FAQ

What size head does this hat fit?

The pattern is sized for toddlers approximately 1–4 years old, fitting head circumferences around 18–20 inches. Easy adjustments are included in the customizing section above for going larger (older kids) or smaller (babies).

How long does this hat take to crochet?

An evening or two of relaxed crocheting. The ribbed band is the slowest part because of the back-loop-only rows, but once you start the shell-stitch body, the pattern flies. Most makers finish this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern in 3–5 hours total.

Can I make this hat in one color instead of two?

Yes — just skip the color changes and work the entire pattern in your main color. The shell-stitch texture still shows beautifully, just more subtly. A solid color version looks especially gorgeous in cream, oatmeal, or sage.

What yarn weight works best?

The pattern is written for worsted weight (#4 medium) yarn with a 6.0 mm (size J) hook. Red Heart Super Saver is recommended for crisp stitch definition and the perfect cozy weight, but any worsted weight acrylic, cotton, or blend will work — always check gauge before starting.

How do I make a larger size for an older child?

Add 2–3 more body rounds (alternating colors) before starting the crown decrease section. For a wider band, add a few rows to the initial ribbed band before joining. Check fit as you go — a slightly slouchy fit is the goal.

Can I sell finished hats from this pattern?

Yes — small-batch sales of finished items are welcome. Please credit SeeLoveShare as the pattern designer and don’t redistribute or resell the pattern itself.

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Save This Slouchy Toddler Hat Crochet Pattern for Later

Want to come back to this slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern later? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it next time you’re planning a handmade winter gift. I’d love to see your finished hats — tag @seeloveshare on Instagram! 🧶

This slouchy toddler hat crochet pattern, photos, and instructions are © SeeLoveShare LLC. For personal use only — please do not redistribute or resell the pattern. Small-batch sales of finished items are welcome with credit. Thank you for supporting an independent designer!