This Mini Santa Hat Applique Crochet Pattern makes a small flat red hat with a white ribbed brim and a textured white pom-pom. The tapered panel and rounded lower corners follow the simple red-and-white hats in the reference photo.
Make a matching set for gift tags, cards, garlands, or sewn decorations. The hat panel stays unstuffed, while the tiny pom-pom adds a little dimension at the top.
Pattern Information
- Skill level: Confident beginner to intermediate, with front and back post stitches.
- Terms: US crochet terminology.
- Construction: Flat red panel worked from the tip downward, white ribbed brim, and separate crocheted pom-pom.
- Estimated size: About 5–7 cm tall including the pom-pom with fine cotton yarn. Yarn, hook, and tension change the finished size.
- Reference details: Bright red hat, broad white ribbed band, and a small textured white pom-pom.
This is an image-inspired adaptation. Counts and shaping have been checked, but the pattern has not been physically crocheted or independently tested. Follow the written instructions for exact stitch placement; the photo tutorials and chart illustrate the construction.
Materials for the Mini Santa Hat Applique Crochet Pattern
- Fine cotton yarn in Christmas red and white, a few grams of each per applique.
- A 2–2.5 mm crochet hook, or a size that makes firm, even stitches.
- Tapestry needle and scissors.
- Two stitch markers for the first and last stitches if needed.
- A tiny amount of stuffing for the pom-pom only.
- Optional blocking mat and rust-resistant pins.
Use the same yarn weight for the red panel and white brim. No stuffing is needed inside the hat panel. For a completely flat decoration, use an unstuffed pom-pom and flatten it gently before sewing.
Stitches and Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch |
| dec | single crochet decrease over 2 stitches |
| FPdc | front post double crochet |
| BPdc | back post double crochet |
| MR | magic ring |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
The panel and brim use turned rows. The pom-pom uses continuous rounds. Beginning chains do not count as stitches anywhere in this pattern.
Front and Back Post Double Crochet
FPdc: Yarn over. Insert the hook from front to back and back to front around the vertical post of the next stitch. Complete a double crochet. Work around the post, not into its top loops.
BPdc: Yarn over. Insert the hook from back to front and front to back around the next post. Complete a double crochet. Alternating these two stitches gives the white brim its raised ribs.
Small Bobble for the Pom-Pom
In one stitch, work three partial double crochets: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, and draw through two loops, leaving the remaining loops on the hook. Repeat twice more in the same stitch.
With four loops on the hook, yarn over and draw through all four. This counts as one bobble stitch. Do not add an extra securing chain; continue into the next base stitch as instructed.
Before You Begin
The red panel starts at its narrow top with two stitches. Increase at both ends of every other row until the bottom has twelve stitches. The intervening straight rows make the sides slope gradually.
Put markers in the first and last stitches if the edges are hard to see. After every turn, work into the first actual stitch below the hook and ignore the turning chain.
Mini Santa Hat Applique Crochet Pattern
1. Red Hat Panel
With red, ch 2.
- Row 1: 2 sc in the second chain from the hook. [2]
- Row 2: Ch 1, turn, inc in each stitch. [4]
- Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 4 sc. [4]
- Row 4: Ch 1, turn, inc in the first stitch, 2 sc, inc in the last stitch. [6]
- Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 6 sc. [6]
- Row 6: Ch 1, turn, inc, 4 sc, inc. [8]
- Row 7: Ch 1, turn, 8 sc. [8]
- Row 8: Ch 1, turn, inc, 6 sc, inc. [10]
- Row 9: Ch 1, turn, 10 sc. [10]
- Row 10: Ch 1, turn, inc, 8 sc, inc. [12]
- Row 11: Ch 1, turn, 12 sc. [12]
Change to white on the final pull-through of the last sc in Row 11. Leave a red tail to weave in later. Keep the panel flat rather than joining its sides into a cone.
Red Panel Count Check
| Rows | Count |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 sc |
| 2–3 | 4 sc per row |
| 4–5 | 6 sc per row |
| 6–7 | 8 sc per row |
| 8–9 | 10 sc per row |
| 10–11 | 12 sc per row |
The full row-count sequence is 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12. Each increase row adds two stitches: one at each edge.
2. White Ribbed Brim
Row 12: With white, ch 2, turn, dc in each of the 12 red stitches. [12 dc]
The ch 2 gives height and does not count as a stitch. Keep the first and last dc in the actual edge stitches, not in a turning chain.
Row 13: Ch 2, turn, (FPdc around the next post, BPdc around the next post) six times. [12 post stitches]
Work the first post stitch around the first dc of Row 12. Do not add an ordinary dc at either edge. The repeat uses all twelve posts and finishes with a BPdc.
Lower edging: Ch 1, turn, sl st loosely into each of the 12 stitch tops. [12 sl st] Fasten off with a long tail.
Gently round the lower corners with your fingers. Keep the edging loose so the white band stays broad and does not curl inward. Leave the brim unfolded to show the vertical ribs.
3. Small White Crocheted Pom-Pom
With white, work in continuous rounds:
- R1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
- R2: Inc × 6. [12]
- R3: (1 sc, 1 small bobble in the next stitch) × 6. [12 stitches: 6 sc and 6 bobbles]
- R4: Dec × 6. [6]
Push the bobbles outward if they settle inside. Add a tiny pinch of stuffing for a rounded pom-pom, or leave it unstuffed for a flatter applique.
Fasten off with a 20 cm sewing tail. Thread it through the front loops of the final six stitches and draw closed. Keep the remaining tail for attachment.
Sew the Pom-Pom to the Tip
Place the white pom-pom over the narrow red top, centered above Row 1. Its lower edge should overlap the red tip slightly.
Sew through several red stitches near Rows 1–2 and through the base of the pom-pom at least three times. Change direction between passes so it cannot swing from one loose stitch.
Secure the tail on the back and weave it through dense stitch areas before trimming. Check the attachment with a gentle pull. Keep the front seam hidden under the white pom-pom.
Weave in the Ends
Weave the red starting and finishing tails into the back of the red panel, changing direction before trimming. Keep red tails away from the white brim so they do not show through.
Weave white tails through the back of the brim and pom-pom. Avoid long strands across the back, especially if the applique will be sewn onto a garment or card.
Shape the Applique
Lay the hat on a flat surface. Smooth the red panel into a tapered triangle, round the lower white corners, and arrange the pom-pom over the tip.
If the red edges curl, dampen the panel lightly and pin it flat without stretching. Leave the raised white ribs and textured pom-pom unpressed. Let it dry completely before using or sewing it onto another project.
The finished hat should stay flat and unstuffed below the pom-pom. Do not sew the side edges together.
Photo Tutorials and Stitch Chart
The final gallery contains two step-by-step photo guides and a third image with the finished hat above a stitch-symbol chart and English legend. The chart covers the red panel, Rows 1–11.
The chart is a stitch-count guide: each plus sign represents one finished single crochet, with row totals shown at the side. Follow the written directions for the increases on Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, and for the white post-stitch brim and pom-pom.
Ways to Use Your Mini Santa Hats
- Sew one onto a fabric gift bag or stocking.
- Attach one to a handmade holiday card using a method suitable for the card material.
- Sew several onto a crochet chain to make a garland.
- Add a separate hanging cord anchored through several red stitches below the pom-pom for an ornament.
For sewn decorations, use small stitches around the panel and brim while leaving the pom-pom raised. Do not use the pom-pom alone as the hanging attachment.
Tips and Troubleshooting
The red panel is uneven
Count every row and mark both edges. Increase only on Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, working twice into the first and last stitches.
The brim has thirteen stitches
The turning chains do not count. Row 12 has twelve dc, and Row 13 works around those twelve posts only.
The white ribs look flat
Work around the vertical posts rather than into the top loops. Alternate front and back post stitches all the way across.
The pom-pom looks too large
Use less stuffing and keep its stitches firm. A slightly smaller hook for the pom-pom can help if the yarn is fluffy.
FAQ
Is this a wearable hat?
No. It is a small flat applique shaped like a Santa hat.
Does the red panel need stuffing?
No. Only the separate pom-pom may need a tiny amount.
Can I use thicker yarn?
Yes. Keep the same yarn weight for both colors and use a matching hook. The applique will become larger.
More Free Christmas Crochet Patterns
- Six-Point Star Ornament Crochet Pattern
- Poinsettia Keychain Crochet Pattern
- Christmas Wreath Ornament Crochet Pattern
Save This Pattern
Save this Mini Santa Hat Applique Crochet Pattern for your next handmade holiday project. Happy crocheting from Lovely Amigurumi!
Mini Santa Hat Tutorials, Stitch Chart, and Pinterest Gallery
Two photo tutorials and one photo-and-chart guide come first, followed by three Pinterest images.
