Houndstooth Slouch – Free Crochet Hat Pattern
I can’t believe it’s December already and Christmas will be here in only 13 days! Have you started to feel the crunch of getting all of your crochet gifts made in time for Christmas? I know I sure feel it already. If you’re still looking for a few great quick crochet makes for gifts, look no further. The Houndstooth Slouch paired with the Houndstooth Mittens will be perfect!
The free crochet pattern for the Houndstooth Slouch can be found below, or you can find an ad-free print friendly version on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or on Etsy here. P.S. The matching cowl is coming real soon! 😉
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YARN
For my Houndstooth Slouch I chose a couple different yarn such as Patons Classic Wool Worsted Yarn and Red Stag Fibre’s Estate Yarn. Patons Classic Wool Worsted is a 100% wool yarn and it really is a classic. It is available in a wide shade range that covers everything from neutrals to neons. Red Stag Fibre’s Estate Yarn is a superwash merino wool that is heavenly to work with.
HOUNDSTOOTH SLOUCH – FREE CROCHET HAT PATTERN
The free pattern is below, but if you love to work offline, or need to order your yarn, I’ve got a couple other great options for you.
Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF that includes all photo tutorials and charts, on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or Etsy here.
Save this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.
Pin it for later here.
This post contains affiliate links.
Materials
- Yarn: Worsted Weight / 4; Patons Classic Wool Worsted in Aran & Aquarium were used for the sample shown on this page.
- Yardage: see notes below
- Crochet Hooks: G/6/4.00mm; H/8/5.00mm; or size needed to obtain gauge (My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Crochet Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching).
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Scrap of yarn
Many of these materials are available for purchase through our affiliates below:
Patons Classic Wool Yarn Co...Shop on Amazon 
Clover Amour Crochet Hook: ...Shop on Amazon 
FISKARS All Purpose Scissor...Shop on Amazon 
Large-Eye Blunt Needles Ste...Shop on Amazon
Experience Level
- Easy
Gauge
- Hat Band as written in pattern: 9 sts = 2″; 10 rows = 2″
- Body of Hat in BLO sc with 5mm hook: 12 sts = 3″; 11 rows = 3″
Sizing
- Toddler: 16″ – 17-1/2″ circumference
- Child: 18″ – 20″ circumference
- Teen / Adult Small: 20-1/2” – 22-1/2” circumference
- Adult Medium / Large: 23″ – 24-1/2″ circumference
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch(s): chain(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- yo: yarn over
- rep: repeat
- Rnd: round
- BLO: back loop only
- FLO: front loop only
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- SM: stitch marker
- MC: Main Color
- CC: Contrasting Color
- See Special Stitches below
- inv sc2tog: invisible single crochet decrease
- Join yarn with a standing single crochet: click HERE for tutorial
Special Stitches
- Invisible Single Crochet 2 Together (inv sc2tog): Insert hook into the BLO of stitch indicated, insert hook into BLO of next stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru all loops on hook.
Notes
- I tend to crochet on the tighter side. You may need to go down a hook size (or two) to meet gauge if you crochet on the looser side.
- Beginning chain(s) are not included in stitch count, unless stated otherwise.
- First stitch of each row is worked into the same stitch as beginning chain, unless stated otherwise.
- Another comparable light worsted weight / 4 yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
- Paton’s Classic Wool Worsted in Aran & Aquarium, was used for the sample shown in the photos. 100% Pure New Wool, (3.5 oz / 100g / 210 yd / 192 m )
- Sample #2 was crocheted using Red Stag Fibre’s Estate Aran.
- Yardage
- MC: Cream 150 (160, 170, 180) yards
- CC : Aqua or Dark Grey 80 (85, 90, 100) yards
- Changes for sizes are written as follows: Toddler (Child, Teen/Adult Small, Adult Medium/Large)
- The hat band is worked flat and then seamed. The slouch is then worked from hat band to crown.
- Color Changes: Click HERE for a color change photo tutorial.
- Personalized Tags for your crochet: read this blog post to find out where I purchase mine & how to add them!
Gauge: In pattern stitch written below: 9 sts = 2″; 10 rows = 2″ (unstretched)
Row 1 (RS): With MC yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 7 (8, 10, 10), working into the back hump of the foundation ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6, 7, 9, 9 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st in each st across. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, BLO sc in each st across. Turn.
Rows 4 – 71 (79, 87, 95): Rep Rows 2 – 3.
Row 72 (80, 88, 96) – Seam Row: With RS facing out, bring the first row up to meet the last row (the first row should be in front if you kept the RS facing out). Position your working yarn so that it’s on the inside of the hat band (See photo & video tutorial here for seam). Ch 1, slip stitch the rows together using the following method: insert your hook (from front to back) into the FLO of the 1st stitch of Row 1, insert your hook (from back to front) into the BLO of the 1st stitch of the last row, yo, pull thru all loops on your hook. Continue in this way across the hat band to complete the seam. (6, 7, 9, 9 sts)
Do not fasten off. Continue on to Body of Hat.
Body of Hat
Rnd 1 (RS):
With MC yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, work into the sides of the rows of the hat band, ch 1, work 1 sc in each row around. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (72, 80, 88, 96 sts)
For the remainder of the Body of Hat you will work BLO sc in each stitch around, but changing colors to achieve the houndstooth design. To keep the pattern shorter, I’ve used a number and letter to tell you how many of each color sc you’ll work for the pattern. W = White (MC) & B = Black (CC). For example, 3 W sc = 3 BLO single crochet using white yarn.
Continue using the written instructions below, or if you prefer charts, use the houndstooth chart below.
Color Changes: Click HERE for a color change photo tutorial.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, BLO, (3 W sc, 1 B sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, BLO, (1 W sc, 3 B sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, BLO, (1 B sc, 1 W sc, 2 B sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, BLO, (2 W sc, 1 B sc, 1 W sc) rep around. Join.
Rnds 6 – 21 (6 – 21, 6 – 25, 6 – 25): Rep Rnds 2 – 5. Approximate hat height at this point 7″ (7.25″, 8.75″, 8.75″) from the bottom edge of the hat band. Approximate width of Body of Hat (when hat is laid flat) is 9″ (10″, 11″, 12″).
Do not fasten off. Continue on to Crown Shaping.
How to read the chart above:
- Read the chart from right to left, bottom to top.
- The White Squares indicate when you’ll work a single crochet in your Main Color.
- The Black Squares indicate when you’ll work a single crochet in your Contrasting Color.
- Carry your yarn with you and work over the color you’re not using. Refer to the color change tutorial HERE.
- Begin following the chart in Round 2 of Body of Hat.
- The horizontal numbers represent the stitch number. This stitch pattern is worked in a multiple of 4 stitches.
- The vertical numbers represent the number of the round. This stitch pattern is working in a multiple of 4 rounds.
Crown Shaping
Rnd 1: Ch 1, ( MC BLO inv sc2tog, MC BLO sc, CC BLO sc, MC BLO sc in each of the next 3 sts, CC BLO sc ) rep around. Join. (63, 70, 77, 84 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, (MC BLO sc, CC BLO invsc2tog, CC BLO sc, MC BLO sc, CC BLO sc in each of the next 2 sts) rep around. Join. (54, 60, 66, 72 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, ( MC BLO sc, CC BLO sc, MC BLO invsc2tog, CC BLO sc, MC BLO sc ) rep around. Join. (45, 50, 55, 60 sts)
Rnd 4: BLO sl st in the 1st st (sl st does not count as a st and this moves the seam to the left 1 st), Ch 1, ( MC BLO sc, CC BLO sc, MC BLO sc, CC BLO invsc2tog ) rep around. Join. (36, 40, 44, 48 sts) *The last stitch of the round is worked into the same st as the beginning slip stitch.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, ( MC BLO sc, CC BLO sc, CC BLO invsc2tog ) rep around. Join. (27, 30, 33, 36 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, ( MC BLO sc, CC BLO invsc2tog ) rep around. Join. (18, 20, 22, 24 sts)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, (MC BLO invsc2tog) rep around. Join. (9, 10, 11, 12 sts)
Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail of yarn. Using a yarn needle, weave the tail of yarn in and out of the stitches from the last round, pull tail to cinch the crown of the hat closed, knot to secure and weave in ends.
Finished slouch hat height should be approximately 9″ (9.25″, 10.75″, 10.75″).
Personalized Tags for your crochet: read this blog post to find out where I purchase mine & how to add them!
MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS FROM A CROCHETED SIMPLICITY
If you enjoy this crochet hat pattern, you may enjoy these other projects as well. And if you just want to browse, you can find all of our free crochet patterns HERE.
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