Slouch Hats

Dyana wanted a slouch hat, so who am I to disagree. I used a basic pattern for a slouch hat / beanie -  12 dc's in a mc, increase and then double crochet in each stitch around etc. I did 20 rows so that it wouldn't be a long hat. I changed to a smaller hook size for her band, and also on the ones I made for myself. For myself I changed up the sc band for hdc too - as seen below.

• Medium/Worsted Weight yarn  (Vanna's Choice Oatmeal/Barley/Grey Marble..and another worsted)
• Boyes H/8 - 5.00mm hook
• Aero 4.50mm hook

HAT: With 5.00mm hook
Row 1: Magic Loop or Ch3 and then 11 DC into the circle (12 DC's total). 

Slip stitch to join each round to top of first dc.

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *2 DCs in next st* around; join (24 sts)
Row 3: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 2 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (32 sts) 
Row 4: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 3 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (40 sts)
Row 5: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 4 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (48 sts)
Row 6: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 5 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (56 sts)
Row 7: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 6 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (64 sts)
Row 8: Ch 2 (counts as first DC), DC in same st, *DC in next 7 sts, 2 DCs in next st* around; join (72 sts)
Row 9: Ch 2, *DC in each st around*, join;
Rows 10-19: Repeat Row 9 (Add more rows until you reach your preferred slouch length)

BAND: With 4.50mm hook (gives ridged look – not shown in pictures) 
Row 20: ch 1, *in back loop only, sc in each st around*; join
Rows 21-25: Repeat Row 20

Alternatively (as shown in pictures): Ch1, hdc in each st around*; join, repeat.
Fasten off.

NOTES:

Every circle above will ‘add up’. Row 7 for example: the count starts with 2 dc's (that’s your first ch2 and 1st dc in the same stitch). Then there are 7 dc’s in between each set of 2dc’s.

• 2dc in stitch, 7 dc, 2dc in stitch, 7 dc etc, until the end, where you would end with 7 dc’s before hitting your first ch2 of the row. 
• The same goes for all other rows, the last dc’s will be the correct number before hitting the 2 dc's in a stitch.
• The V's (the 2 dc's in the same stitch) will all line up above each other for each row.
• The last stitch will snug up against start of the row/ch2.
• When you get to the rows where you no longer increase, count your stitches to ensure you are not adding an extra stitch each row. I found when doing this, that I no longer had to put the last stitch in snug against the first dc of the row.

Make sure you are joining directly into the top of the ch-2 at the end of each round, not into the gap between the ch-2 and the next DC. Joining into the gap will create a hole.

HOOK SIZE:
For Dy's Oatmeal hat band: I used 4.50 mm hook and single crochet in back loop. 

A 4.0mm hook would be good for a child hat possibly.

The Oatmeal/Barley hat band used 4.50 mm hook – hdc (both loops – ch1 to start row). This was a bit looser, close to what the hat is without a band. Remember to start in ‘next stitch’ and not the ‘same stitch’

The Grey/Grey Marble hat band used 4.25 mm hook – hdc (both loops - ch1 to start row) and is just a smidge tighter than the 4.50mm used in the Oatmeal hat. I prefer this hook with the hdc stitch used. You can see in the picture below - with this hook size the band tightens in slightly compared to the Barley band which runs straighter in-line with the hat portion.

**I prefer the hdc stitch (both loops or backloop) instead of the sc. The hdc doesn’t look stretched and pulled tight like a sc does when wearing. Using a 5.00mm hook when doing sc would most likely be the fix to that – because it would be a larger hook/gauge.