After struggling with a badly written crochet pattern published in Woman's Weekly for the recent Save the Children appeal I decided to come up with my own newborn baby hat pattern.

This pattern is based on the granny square and works from the top down so doesn't need any joining together at the end.

Hopefully my instructions make sense as this has not been pattern tested yet. Feel free to send me a message if you need any help making this item up

50g of dk yarn in the main colour (approx)
Short length of dk yarn in the contrast colour
Size 4.5mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle (for sewing in loose ends)

Newborn, 0-3 months

Still need to check this...

All rounds are joined with a sl st to the last stitch/top of chain from the beginning of that round.

Using the main colour work:

Row 1: Ch 3, join with sl st to form circle, work 6 sc into circle, join with sl st to first sc (6 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc into each sc, join with sl st to first sc (12 sc)

Row 3: Ch 3, miss 1 sc *2 dc into next sc, ch 1, miss 1 sc* repeat 5 times, 1 dc, join with sl st to 3rd ch

Into 1 ch gaps work:

Row 4: Ch 2, dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1 *next gap - 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1* repeat 4 times, join with sl st to 2nd ch

Row 5: Sl st into next gap, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1 *(3dc into next gap, ch 1)x3, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1* repeat twice, (3 dc into next gap, ch 1)x3, join with sl st to 2nd ch

Rows 6-13: Sl st into next gap, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1 *3 dc into next gap, ch 1* repeat around, join with sl st to 2nd ch

First ear flap:

Continuing on from last sl st...

Row 1: Sl st into next gap, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1 (3 dc, ch 1)x2, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 1)x2, ch 1, 1 dc into last dc, turn

Row 2: Ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, turn

Row 3: Ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, 1 dc into last dc, turn

Row 4: Ch 2, 3 dc, 1 dc into last dc

Finish off

Second ear flap

Skip the next 20 stitches (both dc's and sl st's)
Join yarn to top of first dc in group

Row 1: Ch 3, (3 dc, ch 1)x2, 1 dc in top of last dc in group, turn

Row 2: Ch 2, 2 dc, (ch 1, 3 dc)x2, turn

Row 3: Ch 3, (3 dc, ch 1)x2, dc in last dc in group, turn

Row 4: Ch 2, miss 1 dc, dc in next 2 dc, ch 1, dc in next 2 dc, dc in 3rd ch, turn

Row 5, Ch 2, 3 dc, dc in 2nd ch

Finish off

Using the contrast colour work:

Row 1-2: sc around edge of hat & ear flaps

Finish off & weave in loose ends