440 Wheatleigh Hat and Gloves - Crochet Pattern for Men and Women in Valley Yarns Stockbridge

Pattern Summary: Valley Yarns #440 Wheatleigh Hat and Gloves – Crochet Pattern by Sara Delaney

The Wheatleigh Hat and Gloves is a coordinating crochet set designed by Sara Delaney for Valley Yarns, pattern number 440. Worked in Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a worsted weight yarn, this matching accessory set is suitable for both men and women and is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers two distinct pieces: a fitted hat and a pair of gloves, both crafted using crochet techniques.

About the Wheatleigh Hat

The hat is constructed seamlessly in the round, beginning at the crown and working outward. The construction begins with a foundation ring using a chain-2 start, with half double crochet stitches worked into the second chain from the hook to create the initial crown circle. Subsequent rounds build outward to shape the body of the hat. This top-down, seamless approach eliminates the need for seaming and produces a smooth, professional finish.

Techniques and Stitches Used in the Hat

• Worked in the round – seamless construction from the crown outward
• Half double crochet (hdc) – the primary stitch used throughout the hat body
• Back loop only half double crochet (blhdc) – a special stitch worked by inserting the hook under the back loop only, creating a subtle textural ridge effect
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join rounds
• Front post double crochet (fpdc) – a post stitch worked by inserting the hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch below, creating raised, dimensional ribbing or texture
• Back post double crochet (bpdc) – worked by inserting the hook from back to front to back around the post of the stitch, used in combination with fpdc to create classic ribbed fabric
• Chain (ch) – used for turning chains and foundation

The combination of front post and back post double crochet stitches is a hallmark technique for creating stretchy, elastic ribbing in crochet — ideal for a hat brim that needs to grip the head comfortably. The back loop half double crochet adds a knit-like visual texture to the main body of the hat, giving it a polished, structured appearance.

About the Wheatleigh Gloves

The gloves are also worked seamlessly in the round, making them a comfortable, gap-free accessory. Like the hat, they make use of the same core stitch vocabulary, ensuring that the two pieces of the set share a cohesive visual texture and style. The use of post stitches and back loop techniques throughout both pieces ties the set together aesthetically.

Techniques and Stitches Used in the Gloves

• Worked in the round – seamless tubular construction for the cuff, hand, and fingers
• Half double crochet (hdc) – primary structural stitch
• Back loop only half double crochet (blhdc) – adds texture and a knitted appearance to the glove body
• Decrease stitch (dec) – a special two-stitch decrease worked through the back loops only, used to shape the fingers and tapered sections; worked by drawing up loops through the back loops of two consecutive stitches and pulling through all loops together
• Front post double crochet (fpdc) and back post double crochet (bpdc) – used to create ribbed cuffs that hug the wrist
• Slip stitch (sl st) – for joining rounds
• Chain (ch) – for construction and bridging sections such as finger gussets

The custom decrease stitch defined in this pattern is specifically designed to maintain the back-loop texture throughout shaping, keeping the visual consistency of the fabric intact even at the fingertips. This level of detail reflects the intermediate skill level of the pattern — while the stitches themselves are accessible to a confident beginner, managing