Blackbird Mountain Designs was previously known as YarnyBird. Blog posts may contain references to YarnyBird.

I can’t believe it’s almost Halloween! Where has this year gone?

My youngest turned 1 in August, and last Halloween she was too little to really worry about dressing up, because most of the time she was fastened in her car seat in the stroller. So I put a cute hat on her and called it good. This year I’m bringing a quick and easy candy corn hat pattern to you, and you can whip this up in time for Halloween. Grab your yarn, your hooks, and get making!

You can grab a printer-friendly PDF of the pattern on Etsy or Ravelry.

Pin it now, make it later!

Yarn

45 – 222 yards / 22 – 103 g Orange worsted weight yarn – I used Loops & Threads Impeccable in Pumpkin
45 – 148 yards / 22 – 70 g White worsted weight yarn
24 – 100 yards / 12 – 47 g Yellow worsted weight yarn – I used Loops & Threads Impeccable in Gold
70 – 80 yards / 33 – 38 g White worsted weight yarn for the pompom

Hooks

Notions

1 split ring stitch marker
Pom Pom Maker – Clover Large 3 3/8 in or Extra Large 4 ½ in
Scissors
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge

4” = 12 Center Single Crochet stitches
Work gauge in the round

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terms)

BLO – back loop only
Ch(s)—chain(s)
CSC—center single crochet
CSC2tog – center single crochet 2 together
SC – single crochet
SlSt—slip stitch
St(s)—stitch(es)

Special Stitches

– Center Single Crochet (aka Waistcoat Stitch or Knit Stitch) – work SC in between the posts of each SC from previous round

– Center Single Crochet 2 together – insert hook between posts of previous round stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch (2 loops on hook); insert hook between posts of next stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. 1 stitch decrease.

Sizing

I recommend measuring the head of the person you are making the hat for, and making the size that most closely matches their head circumference. Don’t rely solely on the “age” for the size, as that may vary, especially in babies.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in a continuous round, so you will want to place an split ring stitch marker on the 1st stitch of every round to keep your place.
Watch your tension! This stitch can be a bit fiddly and hard to work if your tension is tight. Keep your tension loose/relaxed and it will make the stitch much easier.
This hat is worked in a tube, with only one round of decreases at the very top, and then cinched up to close.
The ribbed brim is done last. You will work the body of the hat, bind off, then attach your yellow to the starting chain to work the brim.

Instructions

-Instructions will be given with sizes written as follows: Preemie (Newborn, 0-3, 3-6, 6-12, Toddler, Child, Adult Sm, Mens)

With I/5.5mm hook and orange yarn

Chain 28 (30, 34, 40, 46, 52, 58, 60, 66)

Join ends together with a sl st without twisting chain.

Ch 1 (does not count as st). SC around. DO NOT sl st to join on this or any round.

CSC into first SC from previous round. Place marker on this first st of round. CSC around.

Continue CSC around with orange for 2 (2, 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 4, 4.5) inches, not joining at the end of each round, and moving your marker up to the first st of each round as you go.

Change to white yarn and continue CSC around with white for 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) inches, not joining at the end of each round, and moving your marker up to the first st of each round as you go.

Once your piece measures 4 (4, 4, 4.5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5) inches from beginning chain, CSC2tog all the way around. Sl st to join.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

Weaving around all the stitches, create a drawstring and cinch the top of the hat closed. Once closed, you can stitch back and forth across the top a couple times to secure it closed.

For Brim

Huge shout out to Toni with TL Yarn Crafts for introducing me to the “Magic Brim” method. If the written instructions are confusing, you can check out her YouTube video tutorial here – https://youtu.be/xsEPLeUSwmg

Using G/4.25mm hook, attach yellow yarn to beginning of starting chain, where your little beginning yarn tail is.

Ch 5 (7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9). Turn and SC down the chain – you should have 4 (6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8) SC.

*Sl sl to next 2 chains on body of the hat. Turn and, skipping those 2 sl sts, SC in BLO for 8 sts. Ch 1, turn, SC in BLO for 8 sts.* Repeat all the way around the hat, creating a ribbed brim.

When you get all the way around, flip your hat inside out and, on the inside edge of the brim, sl st the 2 ends of the brim together.

(Brim will measure 1 [1.5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] inches)

Cut yarn, weave in all ends.

Following the instructions for your Clover Pom Pom Maker, use your white yarn to make a pom pom. I recommend an extra large pom pom for all sizes 6-12 months and up. I recommend a large pom pom for all sizes 0-3 months and smaller. for 3-6 month size, you can probably use either size pom pom.

Okay, this is *technically* a Candy Corn Hat. And all those little candy hats will be adorable. BUT think outside the box and mix up the colors HOWEVER you want! This is a great pattern for an ombre color scheme. Solid colors would look great, too! Stripes! You can change up how far you carry each color in the body of the hat and use as many colors as you want – just remember that the body of your hat needs to measure the hat length from the size chart MINUS the length of the brim in order for the finished hat to be the right size. Add more rounds to the body for a slouchier fit. Double the length of the chain for the brim, and fold it for a double brim hat. Yarn pom, faux fur pom, no pom. Personalize it, and then tag me in your Facebook/IG photos so I can see how you made it your own!