This crochet shamrock hat is the perfect way to stay warm while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! Featuring soft, textured puff stitches and a detachable shamrock motif, it’s a stylish, festive, and cozy make.
Scroll down for the free written pattern, or purchase the ad-free, print-friendly PDF here.
Need a little extra help with the shamrock? There’s a video tutorial to guide you through it! Plus, this versatile shamrock can be used for a garland, brooch, keychain, or appliqué, so you can add a touch of St. Patrick’s Day charm anywhere. Find all the details here → Crochet Shamrock Tutorial 🍀.
In this Post:
Where To Get This Pattern
Option 1: Scroll on down to get this pattern for free!
Option 2: Purchase the easy-to-read, print-friendly PDF:
Why I Love This Crochet Shamrock Hat Pattern
Ah, St. Patrick’s Day, the one day a year when everyone is Irish! If you’ve ever stood in the freezing cold at a parade, you know how essential a warm hat can be. I wanted to create something festive for my national holiday but also versatile enough to be worn any time of year.
That’s how this crochet shamrock hat came to life! Made with slip stitch ribbing for a snug, stretchy fit and topped with a puffy shamrock motif, it’s cozy, stylish, and fun to wear. Plus, the shamrock is detachable, so you can wear the hat on its own or swap in different motifs for other occasions.
Skill Level
This pattern is great for an advanced beginner who’s ready to try some new techniques! The hat starts with slip stitch ribbing, which creates a super stretchy, knit-like fabric but may take a little practice to get the tension just right.
While it might seem a little snug at first, don’t worry – it stretches a lot! Keeping your tension nice and loose is key to making it easy to work into each stitch.
The puff stitch body adds soft, cozy texture and might take a little practice, but you’ll have plenty of chances to get comfortable with it throughout the pattern!
The Shamrock
It took a bit of trial and error until I was happy with my little shamrock – I knew I wanted to use puff stitches in it somewhere to pick up on the puffs in the hat.
OK, Let’s Make This Shamrock Hat!
1. Gather Your Materials
Yarn
I used Hayfield Aran with Wool in Green Heather, but any worsted weight (#4) yarn will work. The wool blend gives the hat extra warmth without being too heavy. If you prefer a non-wool fiber then the pattern lists lots of suitable alternatives below.
Hook
I used a 5mm (H-8) crochet hook for my hat, but you can adjust the size to match your tension. If the slip stitch ribbing feels too tight or difficult to work into, try going up a hook size (or two) to make it easier.
Other Supplies
You’ll also need a yarn needle for weaving in ends, a stitch marker to keep track of your rounds, and optionally, a pin or keychain ring if you want to make the shamrock detachable.
2. Grab Your Pattern
Before you start, take a moment to read through the pattern.
If you wish, you can purchase an inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of this pattern through Ravelry or Etsy.
The hat is worked from the bottom up, starting with a ribbed band and continuing into the puff stitch body. The shamrock is made separately and can be sewn on or used for other projects!
3. Tips & Tricks
Slip Stitch Ribbing
- This stitch creates a super stretchy fabric—don’t worry if the ribbing looks small, it will stretch a lot!
- Keep your tension extra loose to make working into slip stitches easier.
- If your ribbing feels too tight, go up a hook size.
Puff Stitch Tips
- Make sure to pull up tall loops for an even texture.
- The ch-1 at the top of the puff stitch counts as part of the stitch.
Customizations
- Swap out the shamrock for a pom-pom, flower, or other appliqué.
- Try striped ribbing or a two-tone color scheme.
Assembly Tips
- For a detachable shamrock, sew on a snap button or safety pin instead of stitching it directly to the hat.
Watch How to Make the Shamrock
If you’d like a step-by-step tutorial for the shamrock, check out the full crochet shamrock video tutorial. 🍀
This shamrock is super versatile – use it for a shamrock garland, keychain, brooch, or appliqué on bags and scarves.
Crochet Puff Stitch Hat + Shamrock – Free Crochet Pattern
Materials
Yarn
Any Aran/Worsted/#4 weight yarn.
The amounts given here are for Hayfield Aran with Wool in Green Heather (840m (919yds) per 400g skein; #4/Worsted; 80% Acrylic 20% Wool)
- Toddler: 115 yds/105m (50g)
- Child: 126 yds/116m (55g)
- Adult Small: 152 yds/139m (66g)
- Adult Medium: 168 yds/153m (73g)
Alternative Yarns:
- WeCrochet Wool of the Andes Tweed (110yds/101m per 50g skein; 80% Peruvian Highland Wool, 20% Donegal Tweed)
- WeCrochet Brava Tweed (218yds/199m per 100g skein; 97% Premium Acrylic, 3% Viscose)
- WeCrochet Brava Worsted (218yds/199m per 100g skein; 100% Premium Acrylic)
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran (201yds (184m)/100g; 100% Acrylic)
- Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Merino (220yds (201m)/100g; 100% Merino Wool)
Hook
5mm/H-8 (or any hook that allows you to meet gauge and to crochet the slip stitch ribbing comfortably (see Notes above))
Other Supplies
Yarn Needle and stitch marker
Finished Measurements
| Size | To fit head circumference | Hat circumference | Hat height (incl. ribbing) | Hat height (excl. ribbing) | Ribbing height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TODDLER | 18 – 19″ / 45.5 – 48.5cm | 17″ / 43cm | 7″ / 18cm | 5.5″ / 14cm | 1.5″ / 4cm |
| CHILD | 19 – 20″ / 48.5 – 51cm | 19″ / 48.5cm | 7.5″ / 19cm | 6″ / 15cm | 1.5″ / 4cm |
| ADULT (S) | 21 – 22″ / 53.5 – 56cm | 21″ / 53.5cm | 8.5″ / 21.5cm | 7″ / 18cm | 1.5″ / 4cm |
| ADULT (L) | 23 – 24″ / 58.5 – 61cm | 23″ / 58.5cm | 8.5″ / 21.5cm | 7″ / 18cm | 1.5″ / 4cm |
Pattern Notes
Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.
Construction
This hat is worked from the bottom up as follows:
- RIBBING: Work the ribbing in a long strip, then fold and seam the edges.
- BODY: Work the body in rounds, beginning with a round worked into the edge of the ribbing.
General Pattern Notes
- The stitch count for each row/round is given in brackets [ ] at the end of the row/round. If no stitch count is given then the count is the same as for the previous row/round.
- Ch 1 at the start of a row/round does not count as a stitch.
- Ch 2 at the start of a puff stitch round does not count as a stitch.
- Instructions are written for multiple sizes as follows:
- Toddler (Child, Adult Small, Adult Large)
- Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch counts and row/rounds that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).
Ribbing
- The slip stitch ribbing is very stretchy, so don’t worry if it seems a little short; it will stretch out a lot!
- Try to maintain a really loose tension when crocheting the ribbing – it should be very easy to work into each sl st. If you are finding it very difficult after a couple of rows then you are probably crocheting too tightly and might even need to go up a hook size for the ribbing.
Gauge
Ribbing: 5 sts x 5 rows sl st ribbing = 1” x 1”.
Body: 6 sts x 8 rows = 4” x 4” measured over puff st (see Special Stitch below).
Note: it is more important to match the Body gauge for this pattern as the ribbing will stretch.
Special Stitch
Puff Stitch (puff st)
Step 1: Yarn over, insert hook into indicated st, yarn over and pull up a long loop. [3 loops on hook]
Step 2: Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop [5 loops on hook]
Step 3: Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop [7 loops on hook]
Step 4: Yarn over and pull through all 7 loops, ch 1 tightly to finish the st (this ch-1 is the ‘top’ of the puff st).
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- blo = back loop only
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- pm = place marker
- puff st = puff stitch (see Special Stitch above)
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- sp = space
- st = stitch
Written Pattern
PUFF STITCH HAT
All Sizes: Toddler (Child, Adult-S, Adult-L)
RIBBING
Foundation Chain: Ch 9.
ROW 1: Sl st (blo) in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [8]
ROW 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), sl st (blo) in each st across, turn.
ROWS 3 – 52 (58, 64, 70): Repeat ROW 2 [8]
Fold ribbing in half and seam edges (you can whip stitch with a yarn needle or work a row of sl sts to do this).
Turn the ribbing the right way around so that your seam is on the inside of the hat.
BODY
Continue working the rest of the hat in the round, starting at the ribbing row just to the left of your seam.
ROUND 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc into side of each ribbing row, sl st to join to first st [52 (58, 64, 70)]
ROUND 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), puff st in first st, *sk next st, puff st in next st; repeat * around, do not join. [26 (29, 32, 35) puff sts]
ROUND 3: Puff st in ch-2 sp (pm in this st), *puff st in next ch-1 sp; repeat * around to marked st, do not join. [26 (29, 32, 35) puff sts]
ROUND 4: Puff st in first ch-1 sp (pm in this st), * puff st in next ch-1 sp; repeat * around to marked st, do not join. [26 (29, 32, 35) puff sts]
ROUNDS 5 – 14 (14, 16, 16): Repeat ROUND 4.
Fasten off but leave a long tail to close the top of the hat.
Now, you can stop here but if you want to jazz things up a little bit for St. Patrick’s Day, keep going for the shamrock motif!
SHAMROCK
Follow this tutorial (including video) to crochet the shamrock → Crochet Shamrock Pattern
I decided to make my shamrock detachable so I sewed a safety pin to the back of it. Feel free to sew it on to the hat if you prefer.
Finishing
Turn hat inside out. Weave tail in and out between the stitches of the last row. Pull tail tightly to close up the top of the hat. Secure well with several stitches.
Weave in any remaining ends. Turn hat the right way around.
All done!
If you wish, you can purchase an inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of this pattern through Ravelry, Etsy or LoveCrafts.
I hope you have enjoyed this pattern, if you have questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me. And be sure to tag your finished project on Instagram or Facebook using @nedandmimi or #nedandmimi!
Happy crocheting!
Sarah