Dressed up or dressed down, this dapper hat is sure to make your young man ready for any occasion. If you’ve never tried a cluster stitch before, I encourage you to try it now. The stitch is relatively easy, and the finished product is well worth the extra effort.
Cascade Yarns Greenland (100% merino wool superwash; 137 yds/125m per 3.5 oz/100g ball) or similar medium weight yarn in colors:
no. 3546 Indigo Heather (MC), 2 skeins
no. 3501 Natural (CC), 1 skein
Bernat Satin (100% acrylic: 200 yds/182m per 3.5 oz/ 100g ball) in color no. 04307 Sultana (CC), 1 skein
Size US J/10 (6mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Size US G/7 (4.5mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn needle
Boys’ S (Boys’ M, Boys’ L)
19" (48.3cm) (20" [50.8cm], 21" [53.3cm])
First 8 rnds in pattern = 4" (10.2cm)
Cluster (CL): See Stitch Glossary for details.
Magic Loop technique: See Stitch Glossary for details.
Rnd 1 (RS): Starting with MC, larger hook and magic loop technique, ch 3 (counts as first dc); 11 dc in ring. Join with a sl st to first dc. (12 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st as joining and 2 dc in each st around. Join with a sl st to first dc. (24 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *sk next st, CL in next st. Working in front of CL just made, CL in skipped st (crossed CL made). Dc in same st as first CL. Rep from * around. Join with a sl st to first crossed CL. (12 crossed CL and 12 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1; 2 sc in same st as joining, sc in next 4 sts. *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts. Rep from * around. Join with a sl st to first sc. (42 sc)
Rnd 5: Rep Rnd 3. (21 crossed CL and 21 dc)
Rnd 6: Ch 1; sc in same st as joining and each st around. Join with a sl st to first sc. (63 sc)
Rnd 7: Ch 2, *sk next st, CL in next st. Working in front of CL just made, CL in skipped st (crossed CL made). Dc in next st. Rep from * around. Join with a sl st to first crossed CL. (21 crossed CL and 21 dc)
Rnds 8–13: Rep Rnds 6 and 7.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 6.
SIZE S
Rnd 15: Ch 1; sc in same st as joining and next 3 sts, [sc dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts] 9 times. Sc dec over next 2 sts, sc in last 3 sts. Join CC1 with a sl st to first sc. (53 sc)
Rnd 16: Loosely ch 1; hdc in same st as joining and each st around. Join MC with a sl st to first hdc.
Rnd 17: Rep Rnd 16. Fasten off.
SIZE M
Rnd 15: Ch 1; sc in same st as joining and next 9 sts, [sc dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 10 sts] 4 times. Sc dec over next 2 sts, sc in last 3 sts. Join CC1 with a sl st to first sc. (58 sc)
Rnd 16: Loosely ch 1; hdc in same st as joining and each st around. Join MC with a sl st to first hdc.
Rnd 17: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 17. Fasten off.
SIZE L
Rnds 15–16: Rep Rnd 6. Join CC1 with a sl st to first sc. (63 sc)
Rnd 17: Loosely ch 1; hdc in same st as joining and each st around. Join MC with a sl st to first hdc.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 19: Rep Rnd 17. Fasten off.
ALL SIZES
Row 1: With smaller hook and MC, sk next 23 sts on Rnd 17 (18, 19), attach yarn with a sl st to the 24th st. Ch 1; Fphdc around same st as joining and next 15 (16, 17) sts. Sl st in next 2 sts of hat Rnd 17 (18, 19). Turn. (16 [17, 18] fphdc)
Row 2: 2 hdc in first st of brim, hdc in next 14 (15, 16) sts, 2 hdc in last st of brim. Sl st in next 2 sts of hat band Rnd 17 (18, 19). Turn. (18 [19, 20] hdc)
Row 3: 3 hdc in first st of brim, hdc in next 16 (17, 18) sts, 3 hdc in last st of brim. Sl st in next 2 sts of hat band Rnd 17 (18, 19). Turn. (22 [23, 24] hdc)
Row 4: 3 hdc in first st of brim, hdc in next 20 (21, 22) sts, 3 hdc in next st. Sl st in next 2 sts of hat band Rnd 17 (18, 19). Turn. (26 [27, 28] hdc)
Row 5: 3 hdc in first st of brim, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 22 (23, 24) sts, 2 hdc in next st, 3 hdc in last st. Join with a sl st to next st of hat band Rnd 17 (18, 19). Finish off. (32 [33, 34] hdc)
With larger hook, attach MC with a sl st to any st on hat Rnd 17 (18, 19). Ch 1; sc in each st around hat and brim. Finish off.
Weave in ends. If needed, block the brim to desired shape.
