Best Friends Forever Hats
Two lovely variations on the same theme: these best friend forever hats celebrate the unity and diversity within friendship. You will love making, wearing, and giving these classic styles!
Want the PDF to download for safekeeping?
It’s only $1.99 and you help support The Firefly Hook!
Want the Ravelry Download for $2.00?
Find this pattern on Ravelry here and use the code TAKE3 at checkout for $3.00 off (Reg. price $5.00).
Need pattern support? Join our facebook community!
Leisure Arts books by Abbey Swanson of The Firefly Hook. Your purchase helps support this site!
Click here to shop.
Materials
Yarn: This yarn was purchased from an indie dyer in San Francisco California while my photographer was on a trip visiting a friend. The yarn is a 3-ply fingering weight. Each hat used approx. 50g of yarn. This would be a fun stash-diving project or a great opportunity to buy a delicious skein of yarn at a farmer’s market or craft fair. If you need a solid suggestion – I highly recommend Malarbigo Finito or Mechita.
Hook: 4.0 mm
My favorite hooks:
Shop here.
Before we get to the pattern, let’s take a moment to drool over all these Finito and Mechita color choices by Malabrigo.
Click on any photo to shop!
Your purchase helps support The Firefly Hook. Thank you!
Finito
Mechita
Pattern Info
Gauge: 16 rows and 25 sts = 4 inches in pattern
Sizes: Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult
Dimensions:
Baby – 16” circ., 6” height
Toddler – 17” circ., 7” height
Child – 18” circ., 8” height
Adult – 19” circ., 9” height
Notes
- This hat is worked sideways, the edges of the rows form the top and bottom of the hat. First and last rows are sewn together then the top is closed by decrease rnds.
- This hat has a lot of negative ease. Be sure your gauge and yarn/hook combo allow for 3” negative ease for the adult size hat (the smaller sizes will have slightly less negative ease).
- Turn chains do not count as a stitch.
Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial
Abbreviations
BL back loop
ch chain
dc double crochet
hdc half double crochet
rep repeat
sc single crochet
st stitch
RS right side
Pattern
Mauve hat
Create a chain based on which hat size you’re making: Adult 9”; Child 8”; Toddler 7”; Baby 6”.
Row 1: (RS) Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (Stitch count based on ch.)
Row 2: Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across.
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in BL only of each st across.
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in BL only of each st across.
Rep rows 2 – 5 until hat measures: Adult 19”; Child 18”; Toddler 17”; Baby 16”.
Finishing
Fold hat in half with first and last row even and right side facing, sew together by working a sc through both layers, do not finish off.
Closing the top:
Note: Work this section in a spiral with no visible transitions between rnds; do not connect rnds.
Rnd 1: Begin where last sc from seam ended, work 1 sc in the end of each row around. (st count = number of rows worked).
Rnd 2: Dc2tog around (work 1 dc at the end if there’s an uneven st count).
Rnd 3: Sc2tog around (work 1 sc at the end if there’s an uneven st count), finish off leaving a 6” tail for sewing.
Whip stitch around row 3 to close hole.
Peach Hat
Create a chain based on which hat size you’re making: Adult 9”; Child 8”; Toddler 7”; Baby 6”. Be sure the chain count is a multiple of 4 + 11. (4 + 1 is for the stitch pattern, 10 is for the brim)
Row 1: Hdc in third ch from hook and in next 7 chs, dc in each rem ch. (Stitch count based on ch.)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts] rep across to last 9 sts, sc in next st, hdc in BL of each rem st.
Row 3: Ch 2, turn, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, sc in next st, [ch 3, sc in next sc] rep across row.
Row 4: Rep row 2.
Row 5: Ch 2, turn, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, [sc in next st, ch 1, sc around all ch-3-sps below, ch 1] rep across, sc in last st.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts/chs] rep across to last 9 sts, sc in next st, hdc in BL of each rem st.
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, dc in each st/ch across.
Row 8: Rep row 2.
Row 9: Rep row 7.
Rep rows 2 – 9 until hat measures: Adult 19”; Child 18”; Toddler 17”; Baby 16”.
Follow finishing instructions for mauve hat.
Need a place to sell PDFs? Try SendOwl! More info here.
Hope you liked the pattern! Comment below with any questions. I added some YouTube videos from my channel below. Enjoy!
Crochet often. Create always!
Xoxo,
Abbey
Need pattern support? Join our facebook community!
I made the peach hat and used DK Colors to make it.
LikeLike
I love the texture these simple repeats created. I plan to make many more of these.
LikeLike
Thanks for testing this Megan! I love how this turned out!
LikeLike
I made the hat with Yarn Bee, Comfy Cozy. It is a lightweight soft hat. I am going to donate it for a chemo hat.
LikeLike
It turned out so cute! I love that you donate so many to those in need!
LikeLike
I tested the pattern. The hat pattern repeats and is easy to follow.
LikeLike
I’m curious…for the Peach Hat why not just put the Finishing instructions instead of referring back to the Mauve Hat?
LikeLike
I could – but I thought they were the same. I haven’t been able to look over any patterns this week ha! I need to change the finish on the peach hat so it might be a separate instruction anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At 19 inches I am at the brim. I don’t know if you would want to put in the instructions to finish on the brim edge.
LikeLike
Yes – I need to fix that. Thanks Carla!
LikeLike
I don’t think you can really finish this hat on the brim edge because of the pattern.
LikeLike
Abbey, just going over the finishing instructions for the Peach hat & I found an error. We finish with a Row 9 (Row 7) repeat. The sc seam takes us from the top of the hat to the brim. We must then finish off & rejoin at the crown in order to complete the decrease rounds. Please correct me if I’m mistaken but that’s what happened to me.
LikeLike
Yes! Thanks for catching that! I’ll make the change. Thanks so much for testing!
LikeLike
I’ll post my photos & Ravelry link in the group shortly.
LikeLike
Thanks for testing Kim! I really appreciate it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the finishing instructions it says right side facing, does that mean right sides together?
LikeLike
It’s the same as the Tidepool finishing. So it depends if you want the seam to show or not – But as it’s written it’s the WS together with the RS facing out as you sew.
LikeLike
In order to finish the peach hat on row 9 it measures 20 1/2, if I end at the last section before this one it measures a little more than 18”. At the 20 1/2” the hat is big. I am not going to finish the top until I hear what I should do. Do you need to always stop on row 9?
LikeLike
I don’t think you need to stop at row 9 if you feel it’s big enough.
LikeLike
On the peach hat it might be helpful to add: after you finish the body of the hat, cut the yarn then follow the finishing instructions for the mauve hat. (I had to think about it a little bit, since row 9 finishes at the top of the hat.)
LikeLike
Yes! Thank you!
LikeLike
On rows 3, 5, and 7 I am doing the half double crochets in the first stitch, where you usually start the single crochet stitches. On row 7, I am crocheting around the chains instead of into the stitches.
LikeLike
Hi Carla – Thanks so much for testing! Does this need to be rewritten?
LikeLike
I think it would be helpful to add that you can go crochet a round the chains. It doesn’t change the overall look of the hat and is so much faster. I am almost finished with the body of the hat. I will take a picture before I start the top.
LikeLike
It might need to be rewritten to start in the bottom of the stitch instead of the first stitch. I’m not sure how to word it.
LikeLike
Disregard the comment about working around the chains. I saw your other reply.
LikeLike
On row 7, could I double crochet around the chains instead of into the chains?
LikeLike
I worked into the chains because I liked how it looked – but it’s a preference thing too… It’s easier to work in the ch-sp but it doesnt pull the space open as well. For testing I’m really okay with you doing it how you want but it’s written to work into each chain 🙂
LikeLike
When I make another hat I will work into the chains.
LikeLike
Row 5 “sc around all ch-3-sps below.” Does this mean like a spike stitch over 3 rows?
LikeLike
That comment was for the Peach Hat.
LikeLike
Yes – you work around all those sps. I saw your picture in the group and it looks correct. Thanks for testing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m on my 2nd repeat. My starting chain measured 9″ unstretched. The work in progress now measures 9″ stretched. Is this okay or should I frog & start over with more chains? it fits from the ear to the crown as shown on the model. What are your thoughts?
LikeLike
I suppose the finishing will add some more depth to the hat?
LikeLike
The finishing does add a few inches. I think you could block it and get some more length out of it without having to rip out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Row 7 is incorrect. It should start working in the HDC BLO. I’m pausing until I hear from you 🙂
LikeLike
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, dc in each st/ch across.
Is this better? I’m guessing the problem was the hdc ribbing was at the end instead of the beginning?
LikeLike
Yes ma’am
LikeLiked by 1 person
Row 6 should be amended to reflect that we are chaining 3, skipping the ch1 sc ch1 from row 5, then sc in the 2nd sc. I’m not quite sure how to word that so as not to be confusing 🙂
LikeLike
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, ch 3, sk 3 sts/chs] rep across to last 9 sts, sc in next st, hdc in BL of each rem st.
Would this work?
Thanks for catching that!
LikeLike
Looks good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Abbey, row 4 says repeat row 1. Should it say repeat row 2? Row 1 works into the starting chain.
LikeLike
Thank you for catching that. I revised it. Let me know if it is correct.
LikeLike
Yep!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry; my brain lol. I don’t quite understand this: “Be sure your gauge and yarn/hook combo allows for 3” negative ease for the adult size hat.”
LikeLike
haha you are good! Some people were thrown off by the Tidepool hat because it’s uncommon to have so much negative ease in a crochet hat. So I added that note. I can make that more clear – add why I put the note, if that will help!
LikeLike
Yes, perfect!
LikeLike
I’m confused about the starting chain.
LikeLike
Hi Kelle!
I’m assuming with the multiples? I’m trying to figure out how to write that simply. Should I just work out the math and give specific chain counts for each size instead?
LikeLike
So, if I’m making the baby size, just chain to 6″ making sure it’s a multiple of 4 then add 11 to that?
LikeLike
Exactly! Let me know if it makes sense as you do it.
LikeLike