Hat with Various Trimmings and Brim

This Hat with Various Trimmings and Brim pattern offers a delightful way to create a versatile, vintage accessory with endless customization options. Whether you opt for a simple cotton crown or an embellished brimmed hat, this design accommodates multiple styles to suit your taste and skill level. The shell stitch detailing adds a touch of elegance, while the option to use crochet thread or worsted weight yarn allows you to experiment with textures and finishes.

Perfect for crafting a unique hat for special occasions or everyday wear, this pattern provides clear instructions for both hats with and without brims. The inclusion of a tassel cap adds an extra layer of charm, making your creation even more personalized. With its flexible design, you can adapt this project to various seasons and preferences by choosing the right materials and decorative trimmings.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, this timeless pattern provides a fun and rewarding challenge. The instructions ensure that every element, from the crown to the brim and decorative tassels, comes together beautifully, resulting in a sophisticated and wearable piece that highlights your crochet skills.

About the Images

To help bring this design to life, we’ve included an AI-generated image of the finished pattern alongside the original vintage illustration. The original image highlights the charm and craftsmanship of the vintage design, while the AI rendering provides a detailed and colorized view of how the completed sweater will look. This combination ensures you have both a historical reference and a modern interpretation to guide you in your crafting journey.

This pattern is transformed, adapted, and expanded from a public domain design originally published in Easy to Make Hats, Scarves and Accessories by The Spool Cotton Company Book No. 192 (1943). While the original design is in the public domain, the rewritten instructions and supplementary content on this site are © Tiffany Bliss Mullins, 2025. All rights reserved. Have questions about this pattern, public domain, or copyright? Visit the FAQ page for answers and resources.

MATERIALS:

For hats without a brim: Size 10 crochet thread, 3 balls (the pattern originally used J & P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen).
For hat with brim: 5 balls of size 10 crochet thread (the pattern originally used J & P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen).
For spangled hat: 3 balls (1 oz. balls) of worsted weight #4 yarn (the pattern originally used Chadwick’s Red Heart Knitting Worsted).
Steel crochet hook No. 1 for cotton hats or steel crochet hook No. 2/0 for wool hats.

GAUGE:

For size 10 crochet thread: 2 shells and 1 sc = 1½ inches.
For worsted weight yarn: 1 shell and 1 sc = 1 inch.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Crown (Top of Hat):

With triple thread of size 10 crochet thread or one strand of worsted weight yarn, ch 4.
Round 1: Make 11 dc in the 4th ch from the hook. Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st as the sl st, 2 dc in each dc around. Join (24 dc).
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in the next dc, dc in the next dc. Repeat from * around. Join (36 dc).
Round 4: Ch 3, dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the next dc, dc in the next 2 dc. Repeat from * around. Join (48 dc).

Shell Pattern:

Round 5 (start of shell pattern): Ch 1, sc in the same st as the sl st, skip 1 dc, in the next dc make 3 dc (shell), skip 1 dc, sc in the next dc. Repeat from * around. Join the last shell with a sl st in the first sc.
Round 6: Ch 3, make 2 dc in the same st as the sl st, sc in the center dc of the next shell, shell in the next sc. Repeat from * around. Join the last sc with a sl st in the top of the starting ch-3.
Round 7: Sl st in the next dc, ch 1, sc in the same st, shell in the next sc, sc in the center dc of the next shell. Repeat from * around. Join.

For Worsted Weight Hats:

Repeat Rounds 6 and 7 alternately for 3 more rounds (Rounds 8–13), then stop and continue to the increase section below.

For Size 10 Crochet Thread Hats:

Repeat Rounds 6 and 7 alternately 5 more times (Rounds 8–17). Continue to the increase section below.

Increase Section:

Round 18: Sl st in the next dc, ch 1, sc in the same st, (shell in the next sc, sc in the next shell) 3 times, shell in the next sc, increase as follows: sc in the next dc, shell in the next dc, sc in the next dc. Repeat from * around. Join.
Rounds 19–22: Repeat Rounds 6 and 7 alternately, ending with a shell round (Round 22).

For Hats Without a Brim:

Fasten off after Round 22 (for worsted weight yarn) or continue for 5 more rounds for size 10 crochet thread hats (Rounds 23–27). Drape as desired.

For Hats with a Brim:

Rounds 23–29: Continue in the pattern, increasing 4 shells evenly on each round. Ensure that the increases are staggered and do not stack on top of each other.
Round 30: Work without increasing. Fasten off.

Tassel Cap:

With triple thread of size 10 crochet thread, ch 2.
Round 1: Make 8 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. Do not join rounds.
Rounds 2–5: Work sc in each sc around.
Round 6: Work sl st in each sc around. Join and fasten off.

Tassel Strands:

With triple thread, ch 1.
Pull the loop on the hook to measure 1 inch, (thread over, insert hook in ch-1 and pull loop to measure 1 inch) 3 times, thread over and pull through all loops on the hook, ch 1 to fasten (puff st made). Repeat from * until 16 puff sts are made. Fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail.
Make 7 more tassel strands. Pull all 10-inch tails through the center of the tassel cap. Divide the ends into 3 parts and braid securely.

Your Hat is now complete. And if you like this style you can make it again and again with Various Trimmings.