From yarn to enchantment, crafting this perfect Crochet Elf Hat will infuse your Christmas with a touch of magic! This easy and free crochet pattern will create a hat that fits an average adult, perfect for embracing the festive spirit as Santa’s helper this holiday season.
It’s not a question that Christmas is the most magical time of the year. But I love how you can use accessories and clothing to make the holiday spirit shine.
The anticipation of designing a Christmas hat has been with me for a long time, and finally, the time has come to dive into my yarn stash, pick out those classic Christmas colors, and get to work. I was so pleased with how this elf hat turned out.
Start at the bottom to make your Elf Hat, creating a ring with chains to start the brim. Next, make the ribbed brim using rounds of front and back post half double crochet stitches. Then, keep working your way up, making rounds of plain half-double crochet stitches.
Then, you will decrease along with some plain rounds of half-double crochet stitches to create a cone shape and finish the body of the hat. Lastly, you’ll make a yarn pompom or use a store-bought one, and your hat is done. Quick and simple as it can be.
This website is reader-supported and contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Find my affiliate disclosure here.
Explore More Patterns
Crochet Elf Hat Pattern
Materials
- 4.00 mm (US G) hook or other hook size to meet gauge.
- Worsted weight (#4) / Aran. I used Red Heart Super Saver cherry red and paddy green and Loops & Threads white.
- Stitch marker (optional)
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends and finish off the hat on top.
- A flexible measuring tape.
- Faux fur Pompom, or a pompom maker if you’re making it with yarn (optional)
- Scissors
Amount of yarn needed for this crochet elf hat: This adult-size hat will need approximately 244 yds (223 m). For reference, I used 144 yds (plus 58 yds for the pompom) of green yarn and 100 yds of white.
Pattern Highlights
This crochet elf hat pattern uses crochet US terms.
Level of difficulty: Easy.
- The pattern is worked bottom up.
- Slip stitch to the initial chain to form a ring, but make sure it’s not twisted.
- The foundation chains should not be too tight or loose, so they don’t interfere with the fit of the finished hat.
- You will chain 2 to start every round for the brim (this will count as a stitch), and you will not do a front and back post stitch around chain 2.
- You will chain 1 to start every round for the body of the hat (this will not count as a stitch).
- Would you like written instructions for the special stitches and the abbreviations? Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the details.
Hat Size
This crochet elf hat will measure approximately 21″ (53 cm) around the bottom and will be about 21″ (53 cm) tall, not including the pompom.
A note on gauge: Before making your Christmas hat, crochet a gauge swatch using the instructions below and measure it to ensure it is appropriately sized. Before washing and blocking, you should get approximately 4” (10 cm) for 9 rows x 13.5 hdc sts.
- Ch 28 – turning ch 2 below won’t count as a stitch.
- Row1: hdc in the third ch from the hook and in each ch across, ch 2, turn. [26]
Row2-14: hdc across, ch 2, turn. [26]
Tip: If your gauge measurement is off, change your hook size to adjust your tension until you get the correct size.
Did you know you can purchase an inexpensive PDF download, including instructions for four sizes? You can click (or tap) the image below to go to my Etsy shop or purchase the download on Ravelry.
Instructions
Start this crochet elf hat with the brim using yarn C1, then alternate between C2 and C1 every two rounds. Please read the pattern notes above for important information before you start the hat.
Tip: When pulling your front and back post loops for the brim, make them as tall as a regular hdc stitch.
Total Time: 3 hours
-
Foundation and Brim
Ch 72 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring and ch 2.
Rnd1: hdc in back bump of every ch around, ch 2. [72]
Rnd2-6: (fphdc, bphdc) around, the last st will be a fphdc, join, ch 2. [72]
Tip: When pulling your front and back post loops, make them as tall as a regular hdc stitch.At the last round of the brim, ch 1 after you join it to start the next round and every following round.
-
Body of the hat
This is where you crochet plain rounds of hdc stitches to start the body of the hat. Please remember that I designed this crochet elf hat to “hug” your head and cover your ears completely.
However, if you want this section to be taller, add some extra plain rounds here before you proceed to the decreasing section.
Rnd7-14: hdc across. [72]
-
Decrease and add height
Rnd15: (hdc 10, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [66]
Rnd16-17: hdc around. [66]
Rnd18: (hdc 9, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [60]
Rnd19-20: hdc around. [60]
Rnd21: (hdc 8, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [54]
Rnd22-23: hdc around. [54]
Rnd24: (hdc 7, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [48]
Rnd25-26: hdc around. [48]
Rnd27: (hdc 6, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [42]
Rnd28-29: hdc around. [42]
Rnd30: (hdc 5, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [36]
Rnd31-32: hdc around. [36]
Rnd33: (hdc 4, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [30]
Rnd34-35: hdc around. [30]
Rnd36: (hdc 3, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [24]
Rnd37-38: hdc around. [24]
Rnd39: (hdc 2, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [18]
Rnd40-41: hdc around. [18]
Rnd42: (hdc, hdc inv dec) 6 times. [12]
Rnd43-44: hdc around. [12]
Rnd45: (hdc inv dec) 6 times. [6]
Rnd46-47: hdc around. [6] -
Finish Off
FO. Weave in all the ends and secure a faux fur pompom to the end of your crochet elf hat. Or make your pompom with yarn and a pompom maker. I used a 3” (7.5 cm) Clover pompom maker.
Tip: To make a thick pompom, wrap the yarn in the first half of the pompom maker to approximately a 2.5” (6 cm) thickness. Then, do the same on the other half and assemble the pompom. Trim it to make it even.
Estimated Cost: 6.00 USD
Supply:
- Worsted Weight (#4) yarn,
- Pompom Maker or Faux Fur Pompom
Tools:
- 4 mm (US G) hook
Materials: Stitch Marker (optional), Tapestry Needle, Scissors, Flexible measuring tape
And with that, you have your super crafty crochet elf hat. Whether you’re making it for yourself or as a gift, I hope you had fun with your project.
More Holiday Patterns
- Crochet Christmas Tree
- Crochet Gnome Ornament
- Crochet Christmas Stocking
- Crochet Christmas Lights Garland
- Amigurumi Gingerbread Man
- Adorable Crochet Gnomes
Would you rather Pin this post and make your crochet elf hat later? I got you! You can use this image to pin it to your Pinterest boards.
Pattern Abbreviations
- bphdc: back post half double crochet stitch, used for the brim.
- fphdc: front post half double crochet stitch, used for the brim.
- C1: yarn color 1, this will be the main color, for the brim and the pompom
- C2: yarn color 2
- ch(s): chain(s)
- dec: decrease
- FO: Fasten Off / Finish Off
- hdc: half double crochet stitch
- inv dec: half double crochet stitch invisible decrease (see video below)
- Rnd: Round
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- ( ): repeat instructions within parenthesis as many times as directed
- [ ]: stitch count in a round
Special Stitches Explanation
- Front post half double crochet (fphdc)
- Yarn over after you ch 2 to start the round.
- Insert the hook (front to back) in the space between chain 2 and the 2nd stitch in the round below, and bring the hook back to the front around the post of the next stitch.
- Yarn over again, pull up a loop, and yarn over one more time. Lastly, pull through all three loops to complete the stitch.
- Back post half double crochet (bphdc):
- Yarn over, then insert the hook (back to front) in the space below.
- Next, bring the hook back to the wrong side around the post of the next stitch.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop, and yarn over again.
- Pull through all three loops to complete the stitch.
Repeat the above steps per the crochet elf hat pattern instructions to complete the round.
- Half Double Crochet invisible decrease (hdc inv dec)
hdc Invisible Decrease Video Tutorial:
What to do next?
- Comment on this post: I always read comments and reply to all questions posted on the blog, and I love it when you stop by to say hello.
- Share your project: if you make this or any of my other patterns, tag me on Instagram or Facebook, or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I love seeing what you make.
- Pin it now: Are you not ready to make it yet? You can pin the image above to your crochet boards or follow me on Pinterest for more.
- Join The Makers community: Join my community group on Facebook and be the first to know about pattern releases and other crochet-related content.
Would you rather bookmark this blog post for later? You can create a free Grow.me account and use the “heart” on the left-hand side of your screen to save it. It’s easy to have your internet favorites bookmarked in one place.
