Candy Stripes Hat

Candy Stripes Hat by Stefanie Bold

What is Being Made

The Candy Stripes Hat is a slouchy crochet hat designed by Stefanie Bold that can be worn in multiple styles. The hat features a distinctive striped appearance created through colorwork and can be worn as a traditional slouchy hat or folded at the brim to function as a beanie. The design is available in five sizes, with finished circumferences ranging from 42.5 cm to 52 cm (16¾ to 20½ inches), accommodating head circumferences from 50 cm to 61 cm (19⅝ to 24 inches).

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate crochet techniques to achieve its distinctive look and structure. The hat is worked sideways, meaning the piece is constructed horizontally rather than from the crown down or bottom up. This construction method creates the foundation for the striped pattern and allows for creative shaping.

Back loop crochet is the primary technique used throughout the project. By working into only the back loop of stitches rather than under both loops, the crocheter creates a pronounced ribbed fabric texture. This ribbed texture is both functional and aesthetic—it contributes to the hat's stretch and recovery while creating visual interest that complements the two-color striping.

The crown shaping is accomplished using short rows, a technique that may seem intimidating but is described in the pattern as more straightforward than many crocheters expect. Short rows allow the designer to add shaping and dimension without increasing or decreasing stitches in traditional ways.

The pattern features an invisible join technique where the first and last rows are crocheted together rather than sewn, eliminating the need for hand sewing and creating a seamless finish.

Stitches Used

While the PDF excerpt does not specify individual stitch abbreviations, the pattern is grounded in fundamental crochet stitches worked into back loops only. The ribbed texture created by this back loop technique is the defining characteristic of the stitch pattern. The short row shaping involves standard crochet stitches executed in a strategic sequence to create gradual increases in fabric length.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Candy Stripes Hat is designed for 4 ply fingering weight sock yarn. The yarn specifications are 100g = 400 meters (approximately 440 yards) per skein. The pattern requires two colors of yarn, with 50g (approximately 200 meters or 220 yards) of each color needed to complete the hat.

The use of fingering weight yarn combined with back loop crochet creates a fabric with significant stretch and recovery, allowing the hat to fit multiple head sizes comfortably with 15% negative ease. The stretchy ribbed texture means the finished hat can be worn in different ways—slouchy or as a fitted beanie—without requiring separate patterns for different styles.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it accessible to newer crocheters while still incorporating interesting techniques like back loop crochet and short row shaping. The pattern notes that short rows are easier to execute than many crocheters initially believe, encouraging beginners to expand their skill set.

Pattern Format

The Candy Stripes Hat pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing crocheters to access the full instructions and stitch diagrams on their devices or printed copies. The pattern was last revised on July 19, 2016, and is designed by Stefanie Bold (Ravelry username: stebo79).