Crafting Comfort: Crochet Preemie Baby Hats

Crocheting a baby hat for a preemie is a great way to give back to your community. It's a quick and easy project that can be made with very little yarn, making it perfect for using up scraps of leftover yarn from other projects. Most patterns are suitable for beginners, requiring basic crochet stitches and straightforward pattern instructions. There are also more complex patterns available for those looking to improve their crochet skills.

Free crochet patterns for beginners

The loss of a friend can be devastating, but channelling your grief into something positive can be therapeutic. In this case, crocheting baby hats for preemies is a beautiful way to honour your friend's memory and continue her legacy. Preemie babies have extremely sensitive skin, so it's important to use soft yarn and avoid any embellishments that may cause irritation.

Basic Beanie Pattern

This basic beanie pattern is a great starting point for beginners. It uses simple stitches and can be customised with different colours and yarn weights.

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn (e.g. Caron Simply Soft or Red Heart Soft)
• H or I hook
• Buttons (optional)

Instructions:

Row 1: Ch4, sl st to form loop. Ch2, 12 dc into loop. Sl st to top of first ch2 (12 st).

Row 2: Ch2, dc in the same st, 2 dc in each ch around, sl st to last st (24 st).

Row 3: Ch2, dc in the same st, *1 dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st* repeat from * around. Sl st to last st (36 st).

Rows 4-7: Ch2, 1 dc in each st around. Sl st to last st (36 st).

Rows 8-9: Ch1, sc in each st around. Fasten off yarn and weave in ends. (Optional: reverse sc in row 9)

Teresa's 10-Minute Crochet Preemie Hat

This quick and easy pattern is perfect for beginners who want to create something beautiful and useful for preemie babies. It uses very little yarn and is worked in the round, making it a fast and simple project.

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn
• Crochet hook (size depending on desired size)

Instructions:

Round 1: 8 hdc into ring (8 sts). Work in rounds through row 9. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the rows.

Round 2: 2 hdc in each st around (16 st)

Round 3: *hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, repeat from * around (24 st)

Round 4: *hdc in the next 2 st, 2 hdc in the next st, repeat from * around (32 st)

Rounds 5-9: hdc in each st around (32 st)

Note: Starting with row 10, rows are no longer worked in a continuous round. Instead, begin each row with chain(s) and end by slip stitching to the first st.

Round 10: ch 2, hdc in each st around, and join with the top of ch 2.

Round 11: ch 2, *front post hdc in the next st, back post hdc in the next st* repeat around. Join with the top of ch 2. (32 st)

Round 12: ch 1 and sc in the same st as joining (counts as the first post stitch), *front post sc in the next st, back post sc in the next st* repeat around. Join to the top of the first st. (32 st).

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Simple Preemie Cap

This simple preemie cap pattern is a great option for beginners, as it uses basic stitches and works up quickly. It is designed to have a circumference of approximately 10", but you can adjust the size by using different yarns and hooks.

Materials:

• Less than 1 skein of light (3) weight baby yarn
• Size 7 (4.5mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Stitches used:

• St(s) = stitch(es)
• Ss = slip stitch
• Ch = chain
• Sc = single crochet
• Dc = double crochet
• Dc inc = double crochet increase (work 2 dc in the same st)
• Fpdc = front post double crochet

Gauge:

• 8 dc = 2" wide
• 5 rows = 2" tall

Instructions:

Round 1: Make a magic circle and ch 2; work 12 dc into the circle and pull taut to close, ss to first dc to join (12)

Round 2: ch 2, dc inc around, ss to join (24)

Round 3: ch 2, [dc inc, dc in the next st] around, ss to join (36)

Round 4: ch 2, dc around, ss to join (36)

Round 5: ch 2, [dc inc, dc in the next 17 sts] twice, ss to join (38)

Rounds 6-8: ch 2, dc around, ss to join (38)

Round 9: ch 1, [sc in the first st, fpdc in the next st] around, ss to join (38)

Round 10: ch 1, sc around, ss to join (38)

Round 11: ch 1, [sc in the first st, fpdc in the next st] around, ss to join (38)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Preemie Baby Beanie

This preemie baby beanie pattern is perfect for beginners who want to create donations for their local NICU. It is quick and easy to work up and can be customised by using different hook sizes to create varying sizes.

Materials:

• Soft yarn suitable for sensitive skin (e.g. Shine Sport or Comfy Worsted)
• Crochet hook in various sizes (e.g. 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm)

Instructions:

Round 1: Magic circle (or ch-3, join to form a circle), ch-1, 10hdc in the ring. Do not join, work in a spiral marking the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker. (10)

Round 2: 2hdc in each st around. (20)

Round 3: *hdc in the next st, 2hdc in the next st* repeat around. (30)

Rounds 4-13: hdc in each st around. (30)

Sc in the next st, sl st in the next st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Using yarn scraps for preemie hats

Preemie hats are a great way to use up your yarn scraps as they require very little yarn. They are small and quick to crochet, and their small size means they take very little yarn – perfect for using up scraps of yarn leftover from other projects!

The number one thing to look out for is softness. Premature babies have very sensitive skin. It is also recommended to use a yarn that can be machine washed as new mums won't have the time to hand wash.

It is recommended to avoid the colour yellow as many premature babies may be jaundiced, and the yellow hat won't look great next to their yellow skin.

Preemie hats can be made with very little yarn – as little as 3/8 of an ounce. Some patterns require only 30 yards of yarn.

Where can you donate preemie hats?

There are a number of organisations that accept donations of preemie hats, including:

• Hospitals
• Project NICU
• Preemies of the Carolinas
• Bundles of Love
• Warm Hearts Warm Babies
• Afghans for Angels

Preemie hat patterns that use yarn scraps

• Lightweight Veronica Preemie Beanie – a lightweight preemie beanie pattern that uses a variety of stitches to add flair.
• Chunky-Like Preemie Granny Square Beanies – this pattern uses worsted weight yarn and creates an impressive 8-10 hats from just one skein.
• Basic Double Crochet Beanie – this pattern uses just 8 rounds of double crochet stitches and a worsted weight yarn.
• Sweet Stripes Preemie Hat – this pattern alternates between two colours, enabling you to use up even the smallest balls of leftover yarn.

Where to donate crochet preemie hats

Local Hospitals

If you're looking to donate crochet preemie hats, a good place to start is your local hospital. Contact the Director of Giving or a Community Relations person at the hospital. They are usually the right person to talk to or will know who is. You can also ask on social media if anyone knows if their local hospital needs some crochet preemie hats, or pick a hospital that you have a personal connection to. It's worth noting that different hospitals will have different requirements for donations, so it's always good to check with them first. Some hospitals require only natural fibers such as cotton, some don't allow pompoms or buttons, and some don't have any restrictions and are happy to accept any donations.

National Organisations

In addition to local hospitals, there are also national organisations that accept donations of crochet preemie hats. These include:

• Warm Hearts Warm Babies (based in Colorado)
• Bundles of Love (based in Minnesota)
• Afghans for Angels (donates crochet and knit blankets to hospitals for babies who have died)
• Relief Crafters of America (coordinate charitable craft donations across the country, including for humans and animals)
• Project Linus (accept homemade blankets of all kinds for children in need)
• Knots of Love (provide hats for kids and adults experiencing traumatic hair loss)
• Warm Fuzzies of Love
• Cozy Cuddles for Kids
• Loving Stitches for Preemies & Newborns
• People That Care Center
• Teeny Tiny Treasures
• Touching Little Lives

Other Options

If you're unable to find a local hospital or national organisation to donate to, there are a few other options to consider:

• Donate to a local chapter of a national organisation. This can save you time, money, and energy while still allowing you to give back to your community.
• Reach out to local community organisers or ask around in neighbourhood groups to find people or organisations in need of crochet preemie hats.
• Offer your hats to friends and family who may know someone in need.

Quick and easy preemie hat patterns

Preemie hats are a great project for crocheters, as they are quick to work up and use very little yarn. They are also a great way to give back, as many hospitals and charities are seeking preemie hats for babies in the NICU. Here are some quick and easy preemie hat patterns to try:

Basic Beanie Pattern

This pattern uses worsted weight yarn and an H or I hook. It is worked in rows, with the first row creating a loop, and subsequent rows increasing the number of stitches to shape the hat. The pattern includes optional cluster stitches, such as the 5dc shell stitch, which can be added after row 3. The Basic Beanie Pattern is a great base to add your own embellishments, such as buttons, but be sure to check with your local hospital before donating, as some do not allow any embellishments.

Quick and Easy Preemie Hat by KT and the Squid

This pattern is, as the name suggests, quick and easy to work up. It is a simple beanie pattern, perfect for beginners, and can be made with any type of yarn and a matching hook. The pattern is available for free on the KT and the Squid blog.

Teresa's 10-Minute Crochet Preemie Hat

This pattern by Teresa Bowman is a very quick and easy pattern worked in the round. It is a great way to use up small balls of yarn and keep a baby warm. The size of the hat can be adjusted by using different yarns and hooks. The pattern is available for free on Ravelry.

Preemie Hat by Petals to Picots

This pattern is another simple and quick preemie hat pattern, perfect for beginners. It uses single crochet and half double crochet stitches to create a beanie-style hat. The pattern is available for free on the Petals to Picots blog.

Crochet Preemie Hat by Cre8tion Crochet

This pattern is a simple beanie pattern, perfect for beginners. It uses single crochet stitches and is worked in the round. The pattern includes a photo tutorial and is available for free on the Cre8tion Crochet blog.

Crochet preemie hat patterns with ears

Preemie Lamb Ears Hat

This adorable preemie lamb ears hat pattern by Cream of the Crop Crochet is perfect for Easter photoshoots and can be crocheted for both boys and girls. The pattern is available in several preemie sizes, and you will need an extra soft yarn and an F crochet hook to get started.

Preemie/Newborn Bear Ears Hat

This cute bear ears hat pattern is perfect for welcoming a new baby into the world. It is one of the many preemie crochet hat patterns offered by AllFreeCrochet.com, ranging from beginner to advanced skill levels.

Rosie's Cozies Preemie Tiger Hat

This tiger hat pattern combines simple stripes with animal ears to create an adorable look. It is another pattern offered by AllFreeCrochet.com, suitable for those looking for a fun and easy project.

Preemie/Newborn Kitty Hat

Add a whimsical kitty face to your preemie hat with this pattern. This is another creative design offered by AllFreeCrochet.com, perfect for elevating the cuteness of any preemie hat.

Preemie/Newborn Elf Hat

Welcome a new baby born during the holiday season with this festive elf hat. This pattern is also available on AllFreeCrochet.com, providing a variety of options for crafting unique and charming preemie hats.

Frequently asked questions