Santa Hat with Pompom

Beginner Crochet Pattern (Worsted Weight)

A classic pointed Santa hat worked top-down from the tip to the brim. Red cone body, white ribbed fold-up brim, and fluffy white pompom. Perfect first holiday hat — uses only double crochet, simple increases, and basic color change.

Skill Level: Beginner
Construction: Top-down, seamless, worked in continuous rounds
Fit: Classic Santa (pointed & slightly slouchy)

Sizes

Baby (Child, Adult Medium)
To fit head circumference: 16" (19–20", 21–22")
Finished base circumference: 16" (20", 22")
Finished height (tip to brim edge, excluding pompom): 12" (15", 18")

Shown in Adult Medium. Instructions are written for Baby with Child and Adult in parentheses.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) acrylic or wool-blend
  • Main Color (MC – Red): 100 (150, 200) yd
  • Contrast Color (CC – White): 50 (75, 100) yd
• Hook: US H-8 (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle
• Pompom maker or 2 cardboard circles (3–4" diameter)
• Scissors

Gauge

14 dc and 8 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in dc worked in the round
Check gauge: Work Rnds 1–8 of Adult size; piece should measure approx 4" across. Adjust hook size if needed.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd(s): round(s)
• BLO: back loop only
• MR: magic ring
• PM: place marker
• rep: repeat
• CC: contrast color
• MC: main color

Notes

• Hat is worked in continuous spirals. Do not join at end of rounds unless stated. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.
• The gradual increase rate creates the classic pointed Santa shape (not a flat beanie crown).
• Brim is worked in BLO for ribbing and is designed to fold up.
• Weave in ends as you go when possible.
• Inline stitch-count checks appear as (math ✓).

Pattern

Tip & Crown (Pointed Cone)

With MC, make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 2 (does not count as st), 6 dc in MR, pull ring closed. PM in first dc. [6 dc]

Rnd 2: 2 dc in each st around. [12 dc] (6 inc → 6 + 6 = 12 ✓)

Rnd 3: Dc in each st around. [12 dc]

Rnd 4: (Dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) around. [18 dc] (6 inc → 12 + 6 = 18 ✓)

Rnd 5: Dc in each st around. [18 dc]

Rnd 6: (Dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [24 dc] (6 inc → 18 + 6 = 24 ✓)

Rnd 7: Dc in each st around. [24 dc]

Rnd 8: (Dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [30 dc] (6 inc → 24 + 6 = 30 ✓)

Rnd 9: Dc in each st around. [30 dc]

Rnd 10: (Dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [36 dc] (6 inc → 30 + 6 = 36 ✓)

Rnd 11: Dc in each st around. [36 dc]

Rnd 12: (Dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [42 dc] (6 inc → 36 + 6 = 42 ✓)

Rnd 13: Dc in each st around. [42 dc]

Baby size only – stop increasing here and proceed to Body.
(Baby crown ends at 42 sts; one more even rnd brings usable base near 48 after Body start.)

Rnd 14 (Child & Adult): (Dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [48 dc] (6 inc → 42 + 6 = 48 ✓)

Rnd 15 (Child & Adult): Dc in each st around. [48 dc]

Child size only – stop increasing and proceed to Body.

Rnd 16 (Adult): (Dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [54 dc] (6 inc → 48 + 6 = 54 ✓)

Rnd 17 (Adult): Dc in each st around. [54 dc]

Rnd 18 (Adult): (Dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [60 dc] (6 inc → 54 + 6 = 60 ✓)

Rnd 19 (Adult): Dc in each st around. [60 dc]

Rnd 20 (Adult): (Dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [66 dc] (6 inc → 60 + 6 = 66 ✓)

Rnd 21 (Adult): Dc in each st around. [66 dc]

Rnd 22 (Adult): (Dc in next 10 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. [72 dc] (6 inc → 66 + 6 = 72 ✓)

Adult crown complete at 72 sts.

Body (Work Even)

Continue with MC.

All sizes: Dc in each st around until piece measures approximately:

• Baby: 8" from tip
• Child: 11" from tip
• Adult: 14" from tip

(These lengths create the classic floppy Santa point before the brim is added.)

Stitch count remains: Baby 42, Child 48, Adult 72.
On the final MC round, work until 1 st remains, then change to CC (white) in the last yarn-over of the last dc. Fasten off MC.

White Ribbed Brim

With CC:

Brim Rnd 1: Dc in each st around. [42 (48, 72) dc]

Brim Rnds 2–6 (or until brim measures 2"): Dc BLO in each st around.

This creates stretchy horizontal ribs. The brim will fold up naturally for the classic Santa look.
(Optional: for a denser brim, substitute hdc BLO.)

At end of final brim round: sl st to first st, fasten off CC leaving a 6" tail. Weave in end securely on wrong side.

Pompom (White)

1. Using CC, wrap yarn around a 3–4" pompom maker (or two cardboard circles) 80–100 times for a full pompom.
2. Tie a 12" length of CC tightly around the center.
3. Cut the loops and remove from maker/cardboard.
4. Fluff and trim into a neat 3–4" ball.
5. Thread both tails of the center tie onto a yarn needle. Pass through the very tip (magic-ring center) of the hat from outside to inside, then back out. Tie in a firm square knot on the inside and weave in ends. Tug gently so pompom sits snugly on the tip.

Finishing

• Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side.
• Fold brim up approximately 1–1½".
• Optional light blocking: stuff hat with a towel rolled into a cone shape and mist lightly; allow to dry.
• Trim pompom again if needed after attachment.

Size Adjustments & Tips

• Larger/smaller head: Add or omit one increase round (always +6 sts) and adjust final body length by ½–1".
• More slouch: Add 1–2 extra even rounds in MC before color change.
• Striped variation: Alternate 2 rnds MC / 2 rnds CC in the upper body.
• Faux-fur brim: Substitute a round of bulky eyelash yarn for the last 2 brim rounds (still beginner-friendly).
• Yarn amounts are generous; leftover white is perfect for a matching scarf or second pompom.

Quick Reference Stitch Counts

Enjoy your handmade Santa hat — hoop hoop hoop!