Lacy Shell Hat - Free Crochet Pattern with Tutorial and Chart

This is a crochet hat with a nice lacy shell pattern and no visible seams! Perfect for spring and fall!

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 Lacy Shell Hat 

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The pattern is written for toddler size, but you can adapt for a smaller/ bigger size, making less/more rounds with increases for the crown of the hat.

Each round you'll increase 12 stitches.

Other sizes can be obtained also using other yarn weight and hook size.
Materials:
- 1 skein of Caron Simply Soft, colors of your choice (2, 3 or how many colors you want)
- 4.5 mm crochet hook

- 5 mm crochet hook

- tapestry needle



Hat Size:
Hat circumference: 48cm - 52 cm 

Hat height: 17cm
For smaller/ larger sizes make less/more increase rounds.

Hat height 17 cm, Hat circumference 48-52 cm

Stitches, terms and abbreviations used:
ch:chain
sc:single crochet
dc:double crochet
slst: slip stitch
shell = (1dc, 1ch, 1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in same stitch
top of the shell: the second dc of the shell stitch

Special stitch:
tw sc: twisted sc See the stitch instructions in my Twisted Single Crochet Tutorial .

Notes: (Update 22.02.2014 - I modified the crown of the hat for better results)

For the crown of the hat, starting with the second round, replace the first dc of the round with ch2 (NOT ch3) and finish each round with 1slst into the top of the first dc from beg of round (NOT slst in the top of the chain)!!! This way you will have an almost invisible seam.

The Ch2 does not counts as a stitch!

At the end of each round of the crown, count your stitches! Be sure to have the exact number of stitches given in the pattern!

You will work the last dc of each round of the crown in the stitch looking as a knot, practically in the joining of the previous round!!!! Mark the joining stitch, so you'll know that you will work in it your last stitch of the next round .

Be sure not to miss that stitch!

If you find it difficult to work the crown this way, you can work with the usual method of joining, replacing the first dc with ch3 and finishing with a slst in the top of the ch3. The ch3 will be counted as the first dc. The pattern will remain the same, just the joining a little different.

For the shell pattern it will be used the usual method of joining, replacing the first dc with ch3 and finishing with a slst in the top of the ch3.

For the shell pattern the ch3 counts as the first dc.


Written Instructions (See also the CHARTED PATTERN)

With hook size 5 mm begin with a magic circle.

Round 1: 12dc into ring, slst in top of the first dc of the round. Pull end of yarn to close the ring. (12 stitches)

First round

Round 2: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, 2dc in each of the next 11sts, end with 1dc into the st marked as the joining. Join with slst in the top of the first dc. (24 stitches)

Second round

Round 3: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, 1dc in next st, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st)x11 times, end with 1dc in the last st= the stitch marked as the joining, slst in the top of the first dc. (36 stitches)

3rd. round

Round 4: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, 1dc in each of the next 2dc, (2dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts) x11 times, end with 1dc in the last st= the stitch marked as the joining, slst in the top of first dc. (48 stitches)

4th. round

Round 5: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, 1dc in each of the next 3dc, (2dc in next dc, 1dc in each of the next 3sts) x11 times, end with 1dc into the marked st. slst in the top of the first dc of the round. (60 stitches)
The crown of the hat it is now finished.

In my case the diameter of the crown it measures 13cm.

5th. round

Begin with the shell pattern!

The shell pattern has 2 rows repeat, multiple of 6. In each round you'll have 10 shells.

shell = (1dc, 1ch, 1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in same stitch

Round 6: ch1, 1sc in same stitch, 1ch, skip 2dc, 1 shell in next dc, ch1, skip 2dc, (1sc in next dc, 1ch,skip 2dc, 1 shell in next dc, 1ch, skip 2dc)*9 times, slst to the first sc.

Round 6

Round 7: ch4 (count as the first dc and 1ch), (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in same stitch as the ch4, 1ch, 1sc in top of the next shell, 1 ch, (1 shell in next sc, 1 ch, 1 sc in top of next shell, 1 ch)*9 times, slst in the 3rd. ch of the beginning ch4.



Round 8: slst to the top of the first shell, ch1, 1sc in same stitch, ch1, 1 shell in the next sc, 1ch, (1sc in top of next shell, 1ch, 1 shell in next sc, 1ch)*9 times, slst in the first sc of the round.

Rounds 9 - 15: repeat round 7 and round 8. ( Make your color changes however you like, or leave it in just one main color and one for the edging).

Round 16: Change to hook size 4.5mm.
ch1, make 1 sc around, omitting the ch spaces in the shells, but considering the ch spaces before and after sc stitches of the previous round. Slip stitch to the first sc. (60 sc total)

Round 17: ch1, 1 sc in same stitch and in each sc around, slst in the first sc with other color yarn for the edging.

The Edging:
Round 18: ch1, 1 tw sc in same stitch and in each stitch around. Fasten off invisibly.   

Twisted sc in the round

For the flower pattern please visit my post SIMPLE DAINTY FLOWERS.

I hope you enjoy this pattern!

For more free crochet patterns and tutorials, please visit my FREE Crochet Pattern Page!

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Lacy Shells Hat - Written Instructions and Pictures Copyright © 2013 Kinga Erdem 

This pattern is free for your personal use, you can sell the products of your work, a link back to my blog would be appreciated. Do not use my photos for selling purposes or modify them in any way.
Please don't repost the pattern itself to any other sites, but please share the link to the pattern if you want to share the pattern with your friends. You may not give away copies of this pattern.
Do not make video tutorials or translate my pattern in other languages without my written consent!
Thank you.

Kinga