Forked Cluster Crochet Hat – Free Pattern

The Forked Cluster Hat is an easy crochet hat pattern, worked in the round from the top down. For this hat you will need any #4/Medium/Worsted weight yarn in one or two colors. I decided to work my ribbing in a contrasting color but you can absolutely use one color for the entire hat if you wish!

The pattern is written for 5 sizes – Baby, Toddler, Child, Adult Small and Adult Large – so this is a great pattern to make in bulk for gifts.

This beanie has a lovely texture thanks to the forked cluster stitches, and has a classic fit that is perfect for men, women and children of all ages!

The hat ribbing is added using the “join-as-you-go” technique which means minimal seaming 🙂 For the body of the hat, you use the larger hook size; for the ribbing, you will go down to the smaller hook for a nice, snug fit.

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What you’ll need for this easy crochet hat pattern

Yarn

This pattern calls for any worsted weight yarn in one or two colors. 

I used Furls Wander Acrylic for my hat, which is a super-soft, 100% premium acrylic yarn (if wool allergies are a concern, then acrylic yarn is a great option). If you can, it is a really good idea to choose a premium acrylic yarn where possible, as these are generally softer than cheaper acrylics. Some great, really soft yarn options for your crochet beanie include:

• Lion Brand Heartland (100% acrylic)
• We Crochet Brava Worsted (100% acrylic)
• Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran (100% acrylic)

Hook

You will need two hook sizes for this hat:

• a larger one (5.5mm/I-9) for the body.
• a smaller one (4mm/G-6) for the ribbing to ensure a snug fit (don’t worry about it being too tight, the ribbing is very stretchy).

Other supplies

The beanie is worked from the top-down in joined rounds. It is a good idea to use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round!

Crochet Hat Sizing

The head circumference measurements that I used for each size are as follows:

• Baby: 16”-18” / 40.5 – 45.5cm
• Toddler: 18”-20” / 45.5 – 51cm
• Child: 20”-21” / 51 – 53.5cm
• Adult Small: 21”-23” / 53.5 – 58.5cm
• Adult Large: 23”-24” / 58.5 – 61cm

For more details how on figure out the hat size that you need to make, I strongly recommend you read this post on Crochet Hat Sizes – you can get a free printable Hat Size Chart too!

The stitch pattern is not especially stretchy, so this beanie has quite a snug fit. If your head measurement is in between the sizes above, I would suggest making the larger size.

This hat is designed to sit just below the ear – if you would like to make the beanie a little longer, you can add some extra rounds to the BODY section, before proceeding to the ribbing.

How to crochet the Forked Cluster Hat

This hat is crocheted from the top down, in alternating rounds of single crochet (sc) and Forked Cluster (FC) stitches. You will begin with a magic circle, and then increase the circumference of that circle until you reach the required diameter for the size you are making. 

For simplicity, all increases are done on the single crochet rounds, and all of the FC rounds are worked even i.e. no increases.

Once the crown is the required size, you will stop increasing, and simply crochet even rounds until your hat reaches the required height. It is very easy to work a few extra rounds if you would like your beanie to come down a little further past the ears 🙂

The ribbing is added at the end, and joined to hat body as you go. There is a full photo tutorial here on how to add ribbing to crochet, so don’t worry if you haven’t used this technique before!

And you can also watch video tutorial on how to crochet the forked cluster stitch, if you would like a little mor detail on how to work this stitch 🙂

Finished Measurements

Notes

Skill Level

Construction

This hat is worked from the top down as follows:

• CROWN: Begin with a magic circle, and work increase rounds until you reach the required stitch count for the size you are making.
• BODY: Crochet the rest of the hat body without increasing.
• RIBBING: Work the ribbing directly into the last BODY round, joining to that round as you go. Please see this tutorial on how to attach crochet ribbing to a hat for more details.

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 the previous row/round.
• The pattern is written for the smallest size, with larger sizes given in parentheses ( ).
• Ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.
• Ch 2 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.

Gauge

BODY: 12 sts x 10 rows = 4″ x 4″ / 10 cm x 10 cm measured over alternating rounds of FC and sc (with larger hook).

RIBBING: 4 sts x 12 rows = 1″ x 4″ / 3 cm x 10 cm measured over sc (blo) ribbing (with smaller hook).

Note: as this hat is worked from the top down, it is easier to check your gauge by measuring your circle as you go. After 6 rounds, your circle will measure approx. 6” / 15cm across.

Materials

Hook

BODY: 5.5mm (US I-9) or hook required to meet gauge.

RIBBING: 4mm (US G-6)

Yarn

The amounts given here are for Furls Wander Acrylic (120yds/110m per 100g skein; Weight: #4/Medium/Worsted; 100% acrylic).

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• st = stitch
• sp = space
• sk = skip
• mc = magic circle
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• FC = Forked Cluster (see Special Stitches)
• blo = back loop only
• beg = beginning
• rem = remaining
• C1 = Color 1
• C2 = Color 2

Special Stitches

Forked Cluster stitch (FC)

Step 1: Yarn over, Insert hook into indicated st, yarn over and pull up a loop. [3 loops on hook]

Step 2: Yarn over, Insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a loop. [5 loops on hook]

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through first 3 loops.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through remaining 3 loops.

Written Pattern

CROWN

Baby (Toddler, Child) only

Round 1: Start with a mc, ch 1 (does not count as a st), 7 (8, 9) hdc in mc, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn. [7 (8, 9)]

Adult Small (Adult Large) only

Round 1: Start with a mc, ch 2 (does not count as a st), 10 (11) dc in mc, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn. [10 (11)]

All Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult Small, Adult Large)

Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), 2 sc in join st and each st around, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn. [14 (16, 18, 20, 22)]

Round 3: Ch 2 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), FC (working first leg in join st, and second leg in next st), *FC (working first leg in same st as second leg of previous FC, and second leg in next st); repeat from * around until all sts have been worked, FC (working first leg in same st as second leg of previous FC, and second leg in next st), sl st to join to beg FC, do not turn. [14 (16, 18, 20, 22)]

Round 4: Repeat Round 2. [28 (32, 36, 40, 44)]

Round 5: Repeat Round 3. [28 (32, 36, 40, 44)]

Round 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in join st, sc in next st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn. [42 (48, 54, 60, 66)]

BODY

All Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult Small, Adult Large)

Round 7: Repeat Round 3. [42 (48, 54, 60, 66)]

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in join st and each st around, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn.

Rounds 9 – 14 (14, 16, 16, 18): Repeat Rounds 7 and 8.

If changing color for the ribbing, cut yarn and fasten off. Join in C2 (to join st at end of last round).

RIBBING

Work the ribbing perpendicular to the hat body, joining to the final BODY round as you go. At the end of each odd-numbered row, the second sl st is in place of a turning ch-1.

Note: please see How to Ribbing to a Crochet Hat for a photo tutorial on how to crochet the ribbing.

All Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult Small, Adult Large)

With smaller hook and RS facing, ch 7 (7, 7, 9, 9). 

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st to join to first BODY st, sl st in next BODY st, turn. [6 (6, 6, 8, 8)]

Row 2: Sk 2 sl sts just made, sc (blo) in first st and in each st across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc (blo) in each sc across, sl st to join to next BODY st, sl st in next BODY st, turn.

Row 4: Repeat row 2.

Rows 5 – 42 (48, 54, 60, 66): Repeat previous 2 rows.

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming the ribbing.

Finishing

Turn hat inside out and seam ribbing edges.

Weave in remaining ends. Add a pom pom if you wish 🙂.

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