Slouchy Berry Pom Pom Hat (crochet)

Autumn is officially here! Molasses cookies straight out of the oven. Golden maple leaves swirling outside the window. A slight chill in the air. The fireplace warming up the atmosphere. Autumn also means it's time to break out the crochet hooks and knitting needles! Now I'm sure those who plan really far ahead start their yarn projects in the summer to have them ready by the first chill but...I just can't get myself to crochet and knit cold weather items when it's 80 degrees out.

I bought a pom pom maker (actually two because they came in a double pack of two sizes) and it's glorious. Last year I made a pom pom maker using cardboard for another couple of hats but they didn't always come out very even or plump. I bought the Clover® Pom Pom Maker at Michaels and used a 40% off coupon - $5 (post coupon use), it's definitely worth every penny. For reference, I used the 2.5 inch one for this hat. Look forward to pom-pom-ing everything!

This hat is inspired by Red Heart's Ridged Crochet Hat Pattern. I modified the pattern and incorporated my modifications into the pattern below.

Materials

• 6.5mm crochet hook (if you want it to fit a little more snug, use a 6.0mm crochet hook but mine is missing)
• 5.0 mm crochet hook
• 1 skein Red Heart Soft in Berry (100% acrylic); won't use up the whole skein
• pom pom maker 2.5 inch size (if pom pom adornment desired)
• yarn needle (to weave in ends)

Hat

• Round 1 (Right side): Using 6.5 mm crochet hook, make magic ring. Ch 2, work 12 dc in ring; slip st in first dc to join—12 dc. 
• Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around; slip st in first dc to join—24 dc. 
• Round 3: Ch 2, Fpdc around first 2 dc, *2 dc in each of next 2 dc, Fpdc around next 2 dc; repeat from * around, end with 2 dc in each of last 2 dc, slip st in first Fpdc to join—12 Fpdc, 24 dc. 
• Round 4: Ch 2, *Fpdc around next 2 Fpdc, dc in next 4 dc; repeat from * around, slip st in first Fpdc to join—12 Fpdc, 24 dc. 
• Round 5: Ch 2, *Fpdc around next 2 Fpdc, 2 dc in each of next 4 dc; repeat from * around, slip st in first Fpdc to join—12 Fpdc, 48 dc. 
• Round 6: Ch 2, *Fpdc around next 2 Fpdc, dc in next 3 dc, Fpdc around next 2 dc, dc in next 3 dc; repeat from * around, slip st in first Fpdc to join—24 Fpdc, 36 dc. 
• Rounds 7-15: Ch 2, *Fpdc around next 2 Fpdc, dc in next 3 dc; repeat from * around, slip st in first Fpdc to join—24 Fpdc, 36 dc.
• Round 16: Switch to 5.0mm crochet hook. Sc around. 

Ribbing

• Row 1: Ch 9 (working away from hat body). Can chain longer or shorter depending on preference for width of ribbing. Chaining 9 results in approximately 2 inches of ribbing width.
• Row 2: Hdc in second stitch from hook (working toward hat body). Hdc in each ch.— 8 hdc.
• Row 3: Sl st dec into next two sc in hat base. Ch 1. Turn. Sc into back loop of each hdc. Ch 1. Turn.— 8 sc.
• Row 4: Hdc into back loop of each sc. — 8 hdc.
• Repeat rows 3 and 4 until reach beginning chain.
• From the wrong side, sl st ends of ribbing together. Fasten off. Weave in end.

Make pom pom and attach to top of hat if desired.

Finished measurements

• From bottom of ribbing to top of hat not including pom pom is approximately 10.5 inches.
• Not stretching the ribbing, hat circumference is approximately 17 inches (can stretch to 22 inches easily!).