UPDATE 4/25/14: The pattern for #4 cotton yarn is now available and is at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

UPDATE 4/23/14: Two additional sizes are available using the Sinfonia yarn. See the patterns below! Additional pattern is coming soon using a #4 cotton yarn.

It was such an honor when Tracy from Crochet for Cancer asked me to design a hat for chemo patients. I wanted this hat lightweight, cool and most importantly…..elegant. I love making my summer hats and since this one is the first for the year, I decided it would be proper to call it Southern Comfort to follow suit for my other Southern hats with the difference being this hat is free! I’ve also designed the brim with a special stitching so that it is stronger and won’t flop down in your face.

Tracy gave me some guidelines when you start making these hats for chemo patients that are important because we want our recipients to know they’ve received a hat in a safe and healthy environment. You can also find other great information from the site including other free patterns and local chapters (you can even find out how to start your own chapter).

Cancer is awful…..There really isn’t much more that needs said. So many people suffer from this awful disease in different ways. When a patient undergoes chemotherapy she/he could lose their hair and these hats will bring comfort to those in need. It not only will protect their head from the summer sun but hopefully make them feel as beautiful as they are right?

My prayer would be that if you want to make yourself one…go for it, but will you also consider making another one in honor of someone fighting for their life? You can give directly to Crochet for Cancer, or I have ELK Studio – From the Heart and we give monthly to various organizations. In May we will be donating hats to a children’s oncology department. You can find more information about the event in my ELK Studio Crocheters Facebook group. We would LOVE for you to make some children smile this summer with bright and cheery Southern Comfort hats! Please favorite or queue in Ravelry too!!

Southern Comfort Pattern

Supplies:
1. Yarn – Sinfonia that you can purchase at Hobby Lobby or Creative Yarn source. You will need approximately 250-275 yds.
2. Hook – G/4.0
3. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends

Gauge: 10 stitches and 7 Rows = approximately 2 inches. (Measurements taken from the rounds using the hdc st.

Note: No one has ever told me the hat was too small when they followed my patterns using the Sinfonia, but a few people have said it was too large. Gauge is one of the hardest things to measure because each person has different tension. If you find your hat becoming too large, you can drop a hook size and hopefully that will solve the problem.

Also I realize that not everyone will want to use the Sinfonia yarn which is equivalent to a #3 thread, so I will be making another version of this hat in a thicker cotton yarn like Sugar and Cream, Lion Brand or Red Heart brand. Be on the look out for this version within the next week.

Abbreviations:
asc – aligned single crochet (see special stitch)
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip st
YO – yarn over

Special Stitch – Aligned Single Crochet – insert hook in st, YO and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), YO, pull through one loop, insert hook in same space, YO and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through all 3 loops. The stitch will allow for a thicker brim which also will help it to be stronger.

Size Adult Measuring Approximately 21-22”

ch 4, sl st into first ch to make a ring using Main Color.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 hdc in ring, sl st in first hdc (10 st)

Round 2: ch 1, 2 hdc in each hdc, sl st in first hdc (20 st)

Round 3: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to *join by sl st in first hdc (30 st)

Round 4: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (40 st)

Round 5: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (50 st)

Round 6: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (60 st)

Round 7: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (70 st)

Round 8: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 6 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (80 st)

Round 9: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 6 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 7 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (90 st)

Round 10: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 7 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 8 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (100 st) Measurement is 6.75” to 7.0”

Round 11: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc (100 st)

Change to Alternate color:

Round 12 ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (100 st)

Round 13: ch 3, dc in next 2 hdc, in previous st before ch 3, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops, *skip next hdc, dc in next 3 dc, in skipped hdc, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops*, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in top of ch 3.(100 st)

Round 14: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next dc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (100 st)

Change to Main color:

Round 15: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (100 st)

*Note Color Changes Accordingly on Rounds 16-23*

Rounds 16 – 23: Repeat Rounds 12-15 twice more.

Change to Alternate color:

Round 24: ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first sc (100 st)

Round 25: ch 1 and sc in back loop only in same sp, sc in back loop only of next sc and around, join by sl st in first sc. (100 st).

Round 26: ch 1 and asc (see special stitch) in same sp, asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (100 st)

Round 27: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 8 more times, 2 asc in next st, *asc in next 9 st, 2 asc in next st*,
repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (110 st)

Round 28: ch 1 and asc in same sp, asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (110 st)

Change to Main Color:

Round 29: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 9 more times, 2 asc in next st, *asc in next 10 st, 2 asc in next st*, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (120 st)

Round 30: ch 1 and asc in same sp, asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (120 st)

Round 31: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 10 more times, 2 asc in next st, *asc in next 11 st, 2 asc in next st*, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (130 st)

Round 32: ch 1 and asc in same sp, asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (130 st)

Size Medium – 18″ to 20″

Note: I changed up the color sequence on the hat in the photo above just to have some fun.

Begin using Main Color:

ch 4, sl st into first ch to make a ring.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 hdc in ring, sl st in first hdc (10 st)

Round 2: ch 1, 2 hdc in each hdc, sl st in first hdc (20 st)

Round 3: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to *join by sl st in first hdc (30 st)

Round 4: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (40 st)

Round 5: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (50 st)

Round 6: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (60 st)

Round 7: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (70 st)

Round 8: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 6 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (80 st)

Prior to starting round 9, please note only 88 stitches are needed for this round. You will need to decrease 2 stitches evenly for the round. I did not reflect that in the directions below. The part of the pattern that states, “work 2 hdc in next hdc” will only be done a total of 8 times. The other 2 remaining will only have one stitch in the space.

Round 9: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 6 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 7 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (88 st) 6″

Round 10: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc (88 st)

Change to Alternate color:

Round 11 ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (88 st)

Round 12: ch 3, dc in next 2 hdc, in previous st before ch 3, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops, *skip next hdc, dc in next 3 dc, in skipped hdc, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops*, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in top of ch 3.(88 st)

Round 13: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next dc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (88 st)

Change to Main color:

Round 14: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (88 st)

Round 15 – 22: Repeat Rounds 11-14 twice more.

Change to Alternate color:

Round 23: ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first sc (88 st)

Round 24: ch 1 and sc in back loop only in same sp, sc in back loop only of next sc and around, join by sl st in first sc. (88 st).

Round 26: ch 1 and asc (see special stitch) in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (88 st)

Round 27: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 6 more times, 2 asc in next st, asc in next 7 st, 2 asc in next st, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (99 st)

Round 28: ch 1 and asc in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (99 st)

Change to Main Color:

Round 29: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 7 more times, 2 asc in next st, asc in next 8 st, 2 asc in next st, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (110 st)

Round 30: ch 1 and asc in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (110 st)

Round 31: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 8 more times, 2 asc in next st, asc in next 9 st, 2 asc in next st, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (121 st)

Round 32: ch 1 and asc in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (121 st)

Size Small – 16″ to 18″

Note: I changed up the color sequence in the hat on this picture to have some fun.

Begin with Main Color

ch 4, sl st into first ch to make a ring.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 hdc in ring, sl st in first hdc (10 st)

Round 2: ch 1, 2 hdc in each hdc, sl st in first hdc (20 st)

Round 3: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to *join by sl st in first hdc (30 st)

Round 4: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (40 st)

Round 5: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 2 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (50 st)

Round 6: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 3 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (60 st)

Round 7: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 4 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (70 st)

Round 8: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next 5 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc, *hdc in next 6 hdc, work 2 hdc in next hdc*, repeat from * to * join by sl st in first hdc (80 st) Measurement 5.25” – 5.5”

Round 9: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc (80 st)

Change to Alternate color:

Round 10 ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (80 st)

Round 11: ch 3, dc in next 2 hdc, in previous st before ch 3, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops, *skip next hdc, dc in next 3 dc, in skipped hdc, YO, insert hook and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops*, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in top of ch 3.(80 st)

Round 12: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next dc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (80 st)

Change to Main color:

Round 13: ch 1 and hdc in same sp, hdc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first hdc. (80 st)

Round 14 – 21: Repeat Rounds 10-13 twice more.

Change to Alternate color:

Round 22: ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next hdc and around, join by sl st in first sc (80 st)

Round 23: ch 1 and sc in back loop only in same sp, sc in back loop only of next sc and around, join by sl st in first sc. (80 st).

Round 24: ch 1 and asc (see special stitch) in same sp, asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (80 st)

Round 25: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 6 more times, 2 asc in next st, asc in next 7 st, 2 asc in next st, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (90 st)

Round 26: ch 1 and asc in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (90 st)

Change to Main Color:

Round 27: ch 1 and asc in same st, repeat asc 7 more times, 2 asc in next st, asc in next 8 st, 2 asc in next st, repeat from *to*, join by sl st in first st. (100 st)

Round 28: ch 1 and asc in same sp, *asc in next st and around, join by sl st in first st. (100 st)

Adult Size Approximately 22″ Using #4 Cotton Yarn

I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease #4 weight which is actually 50% cotton and 50% acrylic but will give the same measurements for other similar yarns.

Gauge: 8 stitches and 5 rounds = 2″ (taken from the hdc rounds)

NOTE: I changed the color sequence on this hat just for fun but the pattern is for the hat in the image located at the top of the page.