Long Floppy Striped Santa Hat

A classic Christmas Santa hat worked from the tip down in worsted-weight yarn. Slow increases create a long, pointed tail that flops to one side. Bright red and white four-round stripes run the full length, with a clean white textured brim and a large round red pom-pom at the tip.

Difficulty: Easy

Skills used: Magic ring (ch-3 alternative given), half double crochet, increasing, joined rounds, simple color change, back-loop hdc, pom-pom

Sizes

Child (Adult S/M, Adult L)

Instructions are written for Child with Adult S/M and Adult L in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

To fit head circumference: 19–20½ (21–22½, 23–24½)" / 48.5–52 (53.5–57, 58.5–62) cm

Finished Measurements

Hat circumference (unstretched, at brim): 18¾ (20½, 24)" / 47.5 (52, 61) cm

Length, tip to start of brim: 19 (19, 21¾)" / 48.5 (48.5, 55) cm

Brim height: 3½" / 9 cm

Total length, tip to brim edge: 22½ (22½, 25¼)" / 57 (57, 64) cm

The extra length beyond crown depth is intentional — the tail should flop and curve to one side.

Yarn

Worsted weight (category 4); acrylic or wool blend.

Color A — Christmas Red (includes pom-pom): 175 (220, 300) yd / 160 (201, 274) m

Color B — White: 150 (185, 250) yd / 137 (169, 229) m

Sample yardage is based on a typical 100 g / 218 yd (200 m) worsted skein: 1 (1, 2) skein(s) A and 1 (1, 2) skein(s) B.

Hook

US H/8 (5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions

• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker (optional, to mark first stitch)
• Pom-pom maker, 3½" (9 cm), or two cardboard circles of the same diameter
• Scissors

Gauge

14 hdc and 11 rounds = 4 × 4" (10 × 10 cm) in hdc worked in the round, blocked.

Check: 14 sts ÷ 4" = 3.5 sts per inch ✓
Check: 11 rnds ÷ 4" = 2.75 rnds per inch ✓

Work a swatch in the round: magic ring, increase as for Rnds 1–8 of the hat, then work even until the piece measures at least 4" (10 cm) across. Measure over the even section.

Abbreviations (US)

• blo — back loop only
• ch — chain
• hdc — half double crochet
• inc — increase (2 hdc in the same stitch)
• MR — magic ring
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side
• × — times

Notes

• Hat is worked top down in joined rounds, RS always facing. Do not turn at the end of a round.
• Join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round (not the beginning ch-1). The ch-1 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
• Place the join at center back. The long tail will flop to one side in wear.
• Stripe pattern: 4 rounds Color A, 4 rounds Color B, throughout the body, beginning with A. Change color in the join: yarn over and pull the new color through the last sl st of the old-color round. Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the join. Do not cut until the body is complete.
• Increases are always 6 per increase round, spaced evenly. After the tip, each increase round is followed by 3 even rounds.
• The white brim is a standing cuff worked in hdc blo (horizontal ridges). It is not folded, so the RS stays visible.
• Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of each round. Inline checks confirm the math.

Hat Body

Tip

With A, make a MR.

Alternative start (if you prefer not to use a MR): Ch 3, sl st in first ch to form a ring. Work Rnd 1 into the ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 hdc in ring, join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2 (inc): Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around, join. (12 sts) (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 ✓)

Rnds 3–4: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (12 sts)

Taper (stripes begin their 4-round rhythm)

Change to B.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (12 sts)

Rnd 6 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st; rep from * around, join. (18 sts) (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 ✓)

Rnds 7–8: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (18 sts)

Change to A.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (18 sts)

Rnd 10 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join. (24 sts) (6 increases → 18 + 6 = 24 ✓)

Rnds 11–12: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (24 sts)

Change to B.

Rnd 13: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (24 sts)

Rnd 14 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts; rep from * around, join. (30 sts) (6 increases → 24 + 6 = 30 ✓)

Rnds 15–16: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (30 sts)

Change to A.

Rnd 17: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (30 sts)

Rnd 18 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts; rep from * around, join. (36 sts) (6 increases → 30 + 6 = 36 ✓)

Rnds 19–20: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (36 sts)

Change to B.

Rnd 21: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (36 sts)

Rnd 22 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts; rep from * around, join. (42 sts) (6 increases → 36 + 6 = 42 ✓)

Rnds 23–24: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (42 sts)

Change to A.

Rnd 25: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (42 sts)

Rnd 26 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 sts; rep from * around, join. (48 sts) (6 increases → 42 + 6 = 48 ✓)

Rnds 27–28: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (48 sts)

Change to B.

Rnd 29: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (48 sts)

Rnd 30 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 7 sts; rep from * around, join. (54 sts) (6 increases → 48 + 6 = 54 ✓)

Rnds 31–32: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (54 sts)

Change to A.

Rnd 33: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (54 sts)

Rnd 34 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 8 sts; rep from * around, join. (60 sts) (6 increases → 54 + 6 = 60 ✓)

Rnds 35–36: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (60 sts)

Change to B.

Rnd 37: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (60 sts)

Rnd 38 (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 9 sts; rep from * around, join. (66 sts) (6 increases → 60 + 6 = 66 ✓)

Child size now stays at 66 sts. Adult sizes continue increasing as written.

Rnds 39–40: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (66 sts)

Change to A.

Rnd 41: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (66 sts)

Rnd 42

• Child: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (66 sts)
• Adult S/M and Adult L (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 10 sts; rep from * around, join. (72 sts) (6 increases → 66 + 6 = 72 ✓)

Rnds 43–44: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72, 72) sts

Change to B.

Rnds 45: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72, 72) sts

Rnd 46

• Child and Adult S/M: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72) sts
• Adult L (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 11 sts; rep from * around, join. (78 sts) (6 increases → 72 + 6 = 78 ✓)

Rnds 47–48: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72, 78) sts

Change to A.

Rnd 49: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72, 78) sts

Rnd 50

• Child and Adult S/M: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72) sts
• Adult L (inc): Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 12 sts; rep from * around, join. (84 sts) (6 increases → 78 + 6 = 84 ✓)

Rnds 51–52: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. 66 (72, 84) sts

Child and Adult S/M body is complete. Cut A. Do not cut B (it is carried and will be used for the brim). Skip to White Brim.

Adult L only — extra tail length

Change to B.

Rnds 53–56: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (84 sts)

Change to A.

Rnds 57–60: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join. (84 sts)

Adult L body is complete. Cut A. Do not cut B.

Body length check: 52 (52, 60) rounds ÷ 2.75 rnds per inch = 18.91 (18.91, 21.82)" → 19 (19, 21¾)" ✓
Opening check: 66 (72, 84) sts ÷ 3.5 sts per inch = 18.86 (20.57, 24)" → 18¾ (20½, 24)" ✓

White Brim

With B, RS facing, continue in joined rounds on 66 (72, 84) sts.

Rnds 1–10: Ch 1, hdc blo in each st around, join.

Fasten off B, leaving a 12" (30.5 cm) tail. Weave in this tail and all other ends on the WS.

Brim height check: 10 rounds ÷ 2.75 rnds per inch = 3.64" → 3½" ✓

The back-loop ridges form a distinct white cuff at the bottom of the hat. Leave the cuff standing (do not fold) so the RS and stitch texture stay visible.

Ribbed-band option (stretchier): For a vertical-rib cuff instead of blo ridges, work Rnds 1–10 as *FPhdc around next st, BPhdc around next st; rep from * around, join. Child size has an even stitch count (66), so the rib repeats evenly (33 × 2 = 66 ✓). Adult S/M (72) and Adult L (84) also divide evenly by 2 ✓.

Large Red Pom-Pom

Using A, make a firm, round pom-pom 3½" (9 cm) in diameter.

Cardboard method: Cut two 3½" (9 cm) cardboard circles. Cut a 1" (2.5 cm) hole in the center of each. Hold the circles together and wrap A around them densely, passing through the center hole, until the hole is nearly filled. Slide scissors between the two circles and cut the yarn all the way around the outer edge. Pass a 12" (30.5 cm) length of A between the circles, pull tight, and tie a square knot. Leave these tails long — they are used to sew the pom-pom on. Remove the cardboard and trim the pom-pom into a smooth ball, taking care not to cut the long tails.

Pom-pom maker: Wind A on both halves of a 3½" (9 cm) maker until full. Cut, tie with a 12" (30.5 cm) length of A, release, and trim round. Leave the tie tails long.

Finishing

1. Thread the pom-pom’s long tails onto a yarn needle. Pass both tails down through the magic-ring opening at the tip, to the WS. Tie a firm square knot around the ring, then weave each tail through several stitches on the WS and trim. Tug the pom-pom to confirm it cannot pull out.
2. Weave in every remaining end on the WS.
3. Shape the hat with your hands so the striped tail curves and flops to one side. For a more lasting curve, hold a steam iron several inches above the tail (do not press or flatten the stitches), pin the tail in a gentle arc, and let it dry completely.
4. Optional: lightly steam the white brim so the blo ridges sit evenly. Do not stretch the opening wider than the finished circumference.

The hat is ready to wear. The long striped tail should droop naturally, with the red pom-pom hanging at the end and the white brim sitting level around the head.

Size at a Glance

Stripe Color Key (body)

A = Red, B = White. Each block is 4 rounds.

Rnds 1–4 A · 5–8 B · 9–12 A · 13–16 B · 17–20 A · 21–24 B · 25–28 A · 29–32 B · 33–36 A · 37–40 B · 41–44 A · 45–48 B · 49–52 A

Adult L only: Rnds 53–56 B · 57–60 A

Body always ends on a red stripe so the white brim reads as a clean, separate cuff.