Undulating Hat

Undulating Hat by Dora Ohrenstein

What Is Being Made

The Undulating Hat is a crochet hat designed for a snug fit with a finished circumference of 19 inches and a depth of 10 inches. This intermediate-level project creates a stylish hat that features undulating stitch patterns and can be folded in many interesting ways for versatile styling options.

Construction Method

The hat is constructed from the bottom up using a foundation chain technique. The top of the hat is closed with two short decrease seams. The design allows for creative color carrying on the inside of the hat to avoid cutting and weaving in ends, making the finishing process more efficient.

Stitches Used

The Undulating Hat incorporates a variety of crochet stitches to create its distinctive textured pattern:

• Single crochet (sc) – used for foundation and pattern structure
• Half double crochet (hdc) – creates mid-height texture
• Double crochet (dc) – adds dimension to the undulating pattern
• Treble crochet (tr) – provides taller stitches for the wave effect
• Slip stitch – used for joining rounds

The stitch pattern repeats in a coordinated sequence that builds the undulating texture characteristic of this design. The pattern notes indicate that yarn overs can be eliminated when working the second stitch of certain sections to refine the construction.

Materials and Gauge

This project requires 2 balls of sport weight yarn in two complementary colors, with 50 grams and 100 yards per ball. The original design uses Color A (Off white) and Color B (Light brown), though any sport weight yarn in two colors can be substituted. A size D crochet hook (3.25 mm) is used throughout the project.

The gauge for this pattern is 2 pattern repeats (28 stitches) and 4 rows measuring 6 1/4 inches by 1 3/4 inches. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished hat achieves the intended snug fit and proper dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Undulating Hat requires familiarity with multiple crochet stitch types and the ability to work in the round. The pattern involves managing two colors and understanding how to carry yarn colors on the inside of the hat to minimize finishing work, making it suitable for crocheters with some experience beyond basic techniques.