Custom design requests can be so much fun. I love working with creative ideas that haven’t been done before. That is exactly what I had come in a few weeks ago from a photographer who had a Momma request a vintage flip hat for her sons one year photo shoot.
She specifically wanted a hat that resembled a cap that the grandfather wore when he worked at their gas station. She found an image online that looked similar and I put my yarn and hook to work to create a design that made her photoshoot personal and so darn cute.
The Vintage Flip Cap fit the picture layout perfect, especially on this sweet little guy. I am drooling over how cute it came together.
About the Vintage Flip cap pattern
The design of the cap is pretty basic. But take note, it sits just above the ears, not covering them like in a traditional cap. The character really comes into play with the flip in the oversized bill. This was the feature that Sherry (the photographer) was most looking forward to being a key in the design.
Check out these views to see the extra long brim and the flip. On a side note, please excuse the watermelon I used as a prop-LOL, it was the only thing that I had on hand to fit the 12 month cap size.
Materials Needed for the Vintage Flip Cap
- Crochet Hook Size K (6.50 mm)
- Crochet Hook Size H (5.00 mm)
- Worsted (#4) weight yarn – between 50-170 yards depending on the size of hat you are making
- Measuring Tape
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
Sizes available in the pattern
- Newborn (12 ¼” around – fits up to 14” circumference)
- 3 to 6 Months (14” around – fits up to 15″ or 16″ circumference)
- 6 to 12 Months (16″ around – fits up to 18″ circumference)
- 12 to 24 Months (17″ around – fits up to 19″ circumference)
- Larger Sizes are available on Oombawka Designs Website, find them by clicking HERE
- Child (18” around – fits up to 20″ circumference)
- Youth / Ladies (19” around – fits up to 21” circumference))
- Adult / Men’s (20” around – fits up to 22” circumference)
Meet Gauge
Check your gauge by crocheting 9 rows of 12 hdc with crochet hook K (6.50 mm), this should measure 4″ square.
If your gauge swatch is larger (smaller) then adjust your hook down (up) one size and retry to match the gauge swatch. Continue to repeat until the gauge has been meet. Failure to do this will result in your hat being the wrong size and we don’t want that to happen.
Stitches/Abbreviations Used in the Vintage Flip Cap Pattern:
- Hdc = half double crochet
- Sc = single crochet
- Sc2tog = single crochet next 2 stitches together
- Ch = chain
- Slst = slip stitch
- Join = this means to join the rounds together with a slip stitch in the first stitch of the round
- St(s) = stitch(es)
- R = round or row
Pattern Notes
- The pattern is written for the smallest size with adjustments made in parenthesis for subsequent larger sizes. Example: sc in next 5 (6, 7, 8) stitches = sc in next newborn size (3-6 month, 6-12 month, 12-24 month)
- If there is no notation work the row as stated for all sizes.
- Do NOT count the beginning chain of the rounds.
- To get the front brim to lay correctly you will put the hat on with the flap over your face, fold on about row 3 of the brim, not where the brim joins the hat, see picture below:
Pattern for vintage flip cap Crown:
All sizes of the hat will begin with Crochet Hook K (6.50 mm)
R1: Ch 2, 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join in the 1st sc made to form a round, pull beginning end of yarn to close hole (alternatively-you may begin with a magic circle), (7 st)
R2: Ch 1, 2hdc in each st around, join in top of beg hdc (14)
R3: Ch 1, 2hdc in 1st st, hdc in next st, [2hdc in next st, hdc in next st], repeat [] around, join (21)
R4: Ch 1, 2hdc in 1st st, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, [2hdc in next st, hdc in each of the next 2 sts], repeat [] around, join (28)
R5: Ch 1, 2hdc in 1st st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, [2hdc in next st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts], repeat [] around, join (35)
Newborn Size: continue to main body of hat
3-6 Month Size:
R6: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in each of the next 11 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in each of the next 10 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next 11 sts, join (38) continue to main body of hat
6-12 & 12-24 Month Sizes:
R6: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in each of the next 4 sts, [2hdc in next st, hdc in each of the next 4 sts], repeat [] around, join (42) 6-12 month size continue to main body of hat
12-24 Month Size (make sure you completed R6 above):
R7: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in each of the next 13 st, [2hdc in next st, hdc in each of the next 13 sts], repeat [] around, join (45) continue to main body of hat
Pattern for main body of hat:
Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join (35, 38, 42, 45)
Newborn Size: repeat for a total of 4 rows (or end on round 9)
3-6 Month Size: repeat for a total of 4 rows (or end on round 10)
6-12 Month Size: repeat for a total of 5 rows (or end on round 11)
12-24 Month Size: repeat for a total of 5 rows (or end on round 12)
After final round has been completed fasten off, mark where you left off and weave in ends. Continue to Brim of Hat
Pattern for Brim/Oversized Bill of hat:
Switch to crochet hook H (5.00 mm).
To begin the brim, count 10 (11, 12, 13) stitches to the left of the back seam, join with a slst in the 10th (11th, 12th, 13th) st.
R1: Ch 1, [2sc in next st, sc in next st], repeat [] for a total of 7 (8, 9, 9) times, turn (21, 24, 27, 27)
R2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 17 (20, 23, 23) sts, sc2tog, turn (19, 22, 25, 25)
R3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (19, 22, 25, 25)
R4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 15 (18, 21, 21) sts, sc2tog, turn (17, 20, 23, 23)
R5: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (17, 20, 23, 23)
R6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 13 (16, 19, 19) sts, sc2tog, turn (15, 18, 21, 21)
R7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (15, 18, 21, 21)
R8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 11 (14, 17, 17) sts, sc2tog, turn (13, 16, 19, 19)
R9: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (13, 16, 19, 19)
R10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 9 (12, 15, 15) sts, sc2tog, turn (11, 14, 17, 17)
R11: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 7 (10, 13, 13) sts, sc2tog, turn (9, 12, 15, 15)
R12: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 5 (8, 11, 11) sts, sc2tog, turn (7, 10, 13, 13)
R13: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 3 (6, 9, 9) sts, sc2tog, turn (5, 8, 11, 11)
Newborn & 3-6 Month Size: continue to final round.
R14: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 0 (0, 7, 7) sts, sc2tog, turn (0, 0, 9, 9)
R15: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of the next 0 (0, 5, 5) sts, sc2tog, turn (0, 0, 7, 7)
6-12 & 12-24 Month Size: continue to final round.
Final Round:
- Right side of hat should be facing you.
- Ch 1, sc in each row end of the brim (working from last row of brim down to R1).
- Change to crochet hook K (6.50 mm), sc in each st around last row of the main body of hat
- Change back to crochet hook H (5.00 mm), sc in each row end of the brim (working from R1 up to last row of brim)
- Single crochet in each of the stitches along the front of the brim (last row of brim),
- Do not join
- Continue to work around the entire row working a spike stitch over each of the sts from the final round.
- Join, fasten off and weave in ends.
Other Fun Hat Designs You May Love
- Herringbone Brimmed Beanie – click HERE
- Construction Hard Hat – click HERE
- Fishing Hat – click HERE
- Braided Beanie – click HERE
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