Hat for Hope

Natalie's Chemo Beanie by Kristine Mullen

What Is Being Made

Natalie's Chemo Beanie is a crocheted infant and children's hat designed in multiple sizes to accommodate newborns through preteen ages. The pattern includes finished hat sizes for 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–18 months, 2T–5T, 5T–preteen, and adult wear. This beginner-friendly crochet project creates a soft, close-fitting beanie suitable for sensitive scalps, with an accompanying decorative flower embellishment measuring approximately 3½ inches across.

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental crochet techniques appropriate for beginners learning to construct garments in the round. The hat is worked using the circular construction method, beginning from a center chain and expanding outward through strategic increases. The beanie features consistent stitch placement with slip stitch joins to close each round, creating a seamless cylindrical shape. The construction demonstrates proper gauge management and shaping techniques essential for achieving well-fitting headwear across multiple size variations.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch): Used to establish the foundation and create the initial loop for the hat's crown
• Double crochet (dc): The primary stitch throughout the hat, providing structure and drape while maintaining a relatively open fabric suitable for comfort
• Single crochet (sc): Utilized in pattern construction, offering tighter stitch definition where needed
• Slip stitch: Applied to join rounds and create seamless transitions between rows

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for Sugar 'n Cream yarn, a classic cotton blend ideal for baby garments due to its softness and breathability. The yardage requirements are minimal: 3 ounces in black and 1 ounce in pink, making this an economical project. Construction requires a size "H" crochet hook and a yarn needle for finishing. The pattern specifies a gauge of 3.5 double crochets per inch, ensuring proper sizing across all finished hat dimensions. Two ¾-inch buttons are included for decorative or functional embellishment on the completed beanie.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The 0–3 months size demonstrates the foundational pattern construction, beginning with a chain-3 base that expands to 12 double crochets in the opening round. Subsequent rounds employ strategic increase placement—alternating single and double stitches—to create a gradual expansion from 12 to 24, then 36, and finally 42 stitches. The final rounds work even without increases, establishing the hat's cylindrical body. This scalable approach allows designers to adapt the pattern for larger sizes by adjusting the number of increase rounds and final stitch counts, accommodating the full range from newborn through adult sizing.