Woodland Wanderer Crochet Toddler Hat Pattern
It’s officially baby month.
That feels strange to type.
For months now, we’ve been counting down with doctor’s appointments, nursery projects, and far too many tiny crochet outfits. Now suddenly we’re at the point where every time I’m on the phone, someone asks, “Any baby yet?”
Not yet.
I’ve made myself one little promise though.
No fall decorations.
No pumpkin spice chai.
No pretending summer is over until our little summer baby is finally in our arms.
…although I will admit designing fall crochet patterns probably bends that rule just a little.
This hat actually started because of my husband.
As we’ve been getting ready for baby girl’s arrival, we’ve spent a lot of time digging through old boxes, reorganizing closets, and making room for one very tiny new roommate. Somewhere in the middle of all that, he came across his Forest Sprite Beanie.
He picked it up, looked at it for a second, and suddenly got this huge smile on his face.
“Oh my gosh! You could make her one so we can all match!”
From there, he was already imagining family walks through the colorful fall leaves, bundling up for the Christmas market later this year, and all the little adventures we’d get to share once she’s a bit bigger.
I couldn’t let him down.
The only problem?
This yarn is just a little too cozy for a newborn.
I used Yarn Bee’s Dream Spun in Tuscany, a soft acrylic and wool blend that gives you that beautiful wool look without feeling quite as bulky as the yarn from my adult version. It’s warm enough for crisp autumn weather while still working up incredibly quickly thanks to the thicker yarn and simple puff stitches.
So while she’ll be sporting her little Pumpkin Pie Baby Beanie this fall, this is the hat we’ll be looking forward to next year. It’s already fun imagining a toddler wobbling through crunchy leaves with two little crochet leaves bouncing around on top of her hat.
Instead of the dangling acorn from the adult version, I added two tiny leaves that dance around as little ones run and play. I chose gold because it practically screams fall, but one of my favorite things about this yarn is how many colors pair beautifully with it. Yellow, burnt orange, deep red, forest green—even dark teal would look right at home!
The result is a quick, cozy toddler hat that’s ready for all the little adventures that make fall so special—crunching leaves in the backyard, wandering through the pumpkin patch, or tagging along while Mama gets her annual pumpkin spice chai fix.
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Crochet Toddler Hat Pattern
Materials
- Yarn Bee Dream Spun. 105 yards of Tuscany.
- I Love This Cotton Yarn. 6 yards of Gold.
- J / 6.00mm Crochet Hook
- H-8 / 5.00mm Crochet Hook
- Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends
Size
Finished hat fits an average toddler head. About 17” around and 11” long.
Gauge
Ribbing rows: 4 sc st = 1.5 in; 4 rows = 1.5 in
Puff st rows: 2 puff st = 1.5 in; 2 rows = 1.5 in
Special Stitches
Puff Stitch: Working into the same stitch, yarn over, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop. *Yarn over, insert hook into stitch again, and pull up a loop.* Repeat *to* once more, leaving seven loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all strands on the hook. Ch 1. Puff st made.
Decrease Puff Stitch: Working the puff st up to the seven loops, yarn over and repeat the puff st in the next space until you have 13 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all strands on hook. Ch 1. Dec puff st made.
Ribbing
Note: Ribbing uses 6.00mm hook with color “Tuscany” in blo (back loop only).
R1: Ch 5.
R2: Sc into 2nd ch from hook. Sc in the next 3 sts. (4 st)
R3: Ch 1 (does not count as sc here and throughout), sc in next 4 sts. (4 st)
R4–44: Rep R3.
Connect first and last rows by sl st or sewing.
Hat
Note: Hat also uses 6.00mm hook with color “Tuscany”
R1: Ch 1, sc in each row around. Sl st into first sc. (44 st)
R2: Ch 3, 1 puff st in same st. *Skip next st, work 1 puff st into following st.* Repeat from *to* around. Sl st into top of first puff st. (22 puff sts)
R3: Rep R2, with each puff going into the space between the previous row’s puff sts. (22 puff sts)
R4: Rep R3. (22 puff sts)
Note: Each row will continue to start with the Ch 3, 1 puff st in same st, and placing the puff sts in between the puff sts in the previous row, and sl st into the top of the first puff st.
R5: 4 puff st, dec puff st, 10 puff st, dec puff st, 4 puff st. (20 puff st)
R6: 3 puff st, dec puff st, 10 puff st, dec puff st, 3 puff st (18 puff st)
R7: 1 puff st, dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 6 puff st, dec puff st, 1 puff st, dec puff st, 1 puff st (14 puff st)
R8: 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 4 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st (10 puff st)
R9: 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st (7 puff st)
R10: 1 dec puff st, 1 dec puff st, 1 puff st, 1 dec puff st (4 puff st)
R11: 2 dec puff st (2 puff st)
R12: 1 puff st. Fasten off.
Leaves
Note: Leaves use 5.00mm hook with color “Gold”
Ch10. 3tc in 5th ch from hook (making a tc from the 4ch). 2dc in next ch. 1hdc in next ch. 1 sc in next 2 ch sts. 1 sl st, [ch2, sl st in 2nd ch] 1 sl st in last ch. Continuing to work on the other side of the chs, 1 sc in next 2 ch sts. 1hdc in next ch. 2dc in next ch st. 2tc in last ch st. Sl st into top of 4ch tc made previously. Do NOT fasten off.
Ch5. Sl st into 2nd ch from hook. 1sc in next ch st. 1hdc in next ch st. 6dc around final ch st. Continuing on the other side of the chs, 1hdc in next ch st. 1sc in next ch st. Sl st into last ch. Fasten off. Sew leaves unto top of hat and weave in ends.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed making this Woodland Wanderer Toddler Beanie as much as I enjoyed designing it!
One of my favorite things about crochet is how quickly something as simple as a hat can become part of family traditions. Maybe it’ll be worn to the pumpkin patch every year, maybe it’ll make an appearance in holiday photos, or maybe it’ll simply keep one little head warm on chilly walks through falling leaves. Those are the kinds of handmade memories that make projects like this so special.
If you’re crocheting for an even littler pumpkin, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Pie Baby Hat or my collection of Free Crochet Baby Hat Patterns for Every Season for more cozy baby-sized inspiration!
Already thinking ahead to the holidays? My Crochet Baby Santa Hat Pattern is another quick project that’s always a favorite this time of year.
I’d love to know—which color would you choose for the little leaves? Gold like mine, or would you go with oranges, reds, or greens? Let me know in the comments below!
You can also browse my Etsy and Ravelry shops for the printable PDF version of this pattern, which includes all five sizes from newborn through 1–2 years. And if you’re considering a hook upgrade, I’m still reaching for my Clover Amour hooks—they’ve been my favorite for years, and I even put together a full review along with a few budget-friendly alternatives if you’d like to compare options.
And if you make your own Storybook Lane Baby Overall Dress, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @crochetwithgabriellarose so I can admire your beautiful work, or follow the Crochet with Gabriella Rose Facebook page to keep up with new patterns, tutorials, and crochet inspiration!
