Stripes on The Side Hat in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Heathers - Downloadable PDF

Stripes on The Side Hat in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Heathers – Crochet Pattern Summary

This free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern from Caron delivers a bold, contemporary take on a classic crocheted hat. Titled Stripes on The Side, the design is worked at an intermediate difficulty level and produces a single, one-size hat sized to fit the average man. What makes this project genuinely distinctive is its construction method: rather than being worked in the round from the crown down or brim up, the hat is crocheted sideways, meaning the fabric grows horizontally and the stripe pattern runs vertically along the side of the finished hat. This lateral construction creates a striking visual effect that sets it apart from standard striped hat patterns.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a crocheted hat for men, designed with a modern color-blocked stripe aesthetic. The sideways construction means the stripes run from brim to crown rather than around the circumference, giving the hat a bold, graphic look. It is sized as a one-size design intended to fit an average adult male head.

Construction Technique

The defining technique of this pattern is its sideways, or lateral, construction. The crocheter begins with a foundation chain and works back and forth in rows, building the hat panel horizontally. Once the panel is complete, it is seamed to form the hat shape. This approach is excellent for intermediate crocheters looking to expand beyond conventional top-down or bottom-up hat construction, as it requires comfort with turning rows, short rows, and careful stitch counting.

The pattern also incorporates short rows to shape the hat. Rows intentionally leave stitches unworked at the end, gradually reducing the number of active stitches to create the curved shaping needed for the crown. This technique is a hallmark of more advanced flat construction and is what earns the pattern its intermediate rating.

Color changes are handled mid-row using a standard technique: the current color is worked until two loops remain on the hook, at which point the new yarn color is drawn through those remaining loops to complete the stitch. This method produces clean, tidy color transitions and is used to create the signature stripe effect across the three contrast colors.

Stitches Used

• Half double crochet (hdc) – the primary stitch used throughout the entire hat, worked into the horizontal bar below the stitch rather than the standard top loops. This technique, sometimes called the third loop or horizontal bar method, creates a fabric with a distinctive ribbed, textured appearance that is both stretchy and structured.
• Chain (ch) – used at the beginning of each row as a turning chain. Notably, the pattern specifies that the chain 2 at the beginning of rows does not count as a half double crochet, which is an important detail for accurate stitch counts.
• Side hdc2tog – a specialized decrease stitch unique to this pattern's sideways construction. It is worked by drawing up loops in the side of stitches and in the horizontal bar of unworked stitches two rows below, then drawing through all loops on the hook. This stitch is central to the crown shaping and requires careful attention to placement.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Heathers, both widely available worsted-to-aran weight acrylic yarns. Three contrast colors are used:

• Contrast A: Charcoal Heather (H9508) – one ball of Caron Simply Soft Heathers (5 oz / 141.7 g; 250 yds / 228 m)
• Contrast B: Cool Green (39770) – one ball of Caron Simply Soft (6 oz / 170.1 g; 315 yds / 288 m)
• Contrast C: Chartreuse (39771) – one ball of Caron Simply Soft (6 oz / 170.1 g; 315 yds / 288 m)

The combination of a heathered neutral with two vivid, contrasting greens gives the finished hat a modern, energetic color palette. Caron Simply Soft yarns are known for their soft hand feel and easy care properties, making them practical for everyday accessories.