The solid shell stitch crochet hat pattern is given for a newborn, 6-12 months, and teen/adult XS sizes, but you can easily modify this to any other size you like. With each round of the crown it increases by about one inch; and each round gives you the stitch multiple needed for the stitch pattern along the side of hat.

I love the shell stitch in crochet and have found many variations that I like. This one is the solid shell, and it buckles slightly to give you a simple but a pretty texture. In my opinion, it’s a great stitch for women and girls, but in grey, black or other neutral colors you might get away with making this for men and boys as well.

I used a light #3 baby yarn, but any DK weight, or even a worsted weight, yarn will work just as well. For this hat I chose a cotton/acrylic blend, but if making it for winter weather you might want to stick with simply acrylic yarn to make it slightly warmer. This one, however, is perfect for transitional weather. Or, wear it under a hood when the weather gets cold.

It was my first time working with Bernat Softee Baby Cotton yarn. The yarn has a nice soft, yet solid feel to it. Combined with the shell stitch, it gives a lot of stretch to the crocheted hat. It’s comfortable to wear and makes for a great gift for anyone on your list.

It’s shown in a solid color, but as always, feel free to experiment with different colors for a pretty striped hat. This way you could even use up your smallest amounts of scrap yarn in your stash. And use any yarn you have on hand as long as you stick with the same kind within one hat.

You might also enjoy the following:
Single Crochet Beanie
Crochet Pom Pom Hat
Cross-Over Long DC Newsboy Hat Pattern