Baby Bear Preemie Bucket Hat

A twist on the classic bucket hat - for preemies!

I'd never crocheted bucket hats before, but have been seeing them all over Instagram, and thought that a preemie-sized bucket hat would be adorable! The shape was a little difficult to design at first, but it's generally an circle, brought down with several rows of half-double crochets, and then we increase again at the bottom of the hat to create the slight rim.

And then add ears of course! :) I'd initially just designed a plain bucket hat, but then decided that it looked toooo plain. So I plopped on a pair of ears, and there we have it! You can also embellish the basic bucket hat with other embellishments - flowers, bows, you name it!

Hope you enjoy this pattern, and I hope it inspires you to crochet some Preemie Baby Bear Bucket Hats for a NICU near you!

Materials:

1 skein baby or worsted weight yarn (I've used Bernat Baby Sport and Red Heart Super Saver)

Size G Crochet Hook

Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain

Sl St = slip stitch

Hdc = half double crochet

Dc = double crochet

St = stitch

Round 1: Ch 3, 10 Hdc in the third Ch from hook, Sl St to the top of the 1st Hdc in round.

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 Hdc in each St around. Sl St to the top of the 1st Hdc in round.

Round 3. Ch 1,*2 Hdc in next St, 1 Hdc in next St*, Repeat from * to * around.

Round 4: Ch 1, * 2 Hdc in next St, 1 Hdc in next 5 St*, Repeat from * to * around.

Rounds 5-7: Ch 1, 1 Hdc in each St around.

Round 8-9: Ch 1, *2 Hdc in next St, 1 Hdc in next 5 St*, Repeat form * to * around.

Round 10: Sl St in each St around. Tie off and weave in ends.

Ears: (make 2)

Ch 3, 10 Dc in 3rd Ch from hook. Sl Sl to top of 1st Dc in round. Sl St in each of the 10 Dc around. Tie off, leaving a 8'' tail for attaching to hat.