If you’ve been looking for a simple, textured, and unisex crochet baby hat pattern, you’re in the right place! The Misty Days Preemie Beanie was designed especially for the Preemie Crochet Challenge 2025 and comes in four sizes to fit babies from 2lbs to 6lbs.

This design is perfect for beginners — it uses only basic stitches (slip stitch and half double crochets primarily) to create a subtle texture that looks beautiful without pressing uncomfortably against a tiny baby’s head. The result? A sweet, practical hat that’s soft, cozy, and ideal for donating or gifting.

The Misty Days Beanie works up quickly (because preemie hats are adorably tiny!) and only uses small amounts of yarn, making it a great stash-buster too.

Why Misty Days?

The Misty Days Beanie is part of my Misty Days Collection, a growing series of patterns that all use the same stitch combinations to create timeless, textured designs. So far, the collection includes the Misty Days Sweater, Misty Days Poncho, and the recently added Misty Days Blanket.

This hat was designed specifically for the Preemie Crochet Challenge 2025, but I’m also working on grading the pattern for larger baby and child sizes — so keep an eye out for updates in the coming months!

About the Preemie Crochet Challenge 2025

The Preemie Crochet Challenge is a wonderful annual event where crocheters come together to make and donate handmade items for premature babies. Each day of the challenge, designers share free crochet patterns for preemie-friendly projects, and makers are encouraged to create and donate as many as they’d like.

It’s a beautiful way to give back to families who need comfort and support during a challenging time — and your makes really do make a difference.

I have been hosting this event for several years now.

You can check out the patterns that featured in previous years’ events via the links below.

Free PDF Pattern:

This blanket pattern was designed with preemies in mind, and I’m thrilled to make it part of the Preemie Crochet Challenge. For the duration of the event, you can grab the PDF version of this pattern completely free. 

I host this event every year. My daughter was a preemie so it means a lot to me.

Each day throughout September 2025 there will be a new design featured. For at least 24 hours that design will be available as a free pdf download. You can click the button below to grab your free pdf download or go to the roundup.

Stitches Used

This easy crochet baby hat pattern is made using:

• Slip Stitch (sl st)
• Half Double Crochet (hdc)
• Double Crochet (dc)

There are also. couple of half double crochet 2 together stitches to create the rounded top of the hat. But if you are new to this stitch, then honestly, it takes longer to say it than work them!

That’s it! Simple, approachable, and perfect for beginners — but the stitch placement creates a lovely texture that looks much more advanced than it really is.

Sizing

The Misty Days Beanie is written in 4 preemie sizes:

• 2lbs
• 2–4lbs
• 4–5lbs
• 6lbs

Because they’re so small, each hat works up quickly and is a wonderful project when you only have a little bit of time (or yarn!) to spare.

Yarn Choice

I made my sample beanies using DK yarn from my scrap bucket — because tiny hats are perfect for using up leftovers. That said, I only used yarns where I could confirm the fiber content.

When it comes to making crochet items for babies, yarn choice is incredibly important. Certain fibers are not suitable for delicate skin, and safety always comes first. If you’re unsure which yarns are best, I recommend reading my full guide here:
👉 My Guide to Choosing the Best Yarns for Baby Crochet Projects

Pattern PDF

I know I am going to grade this pattern for larger child sizes. So I have made the decision not to include this one in my shops for the moment until all of the sizes I want included have been written and tested. As soon as they are ready I will pop the links here for you.

Similar Crochet Baby Patterns

If you enjoy this design, you may also love:

• Little Dots Preemie Baby Hats
• Preemie Cardigan
• One More Hug Blanket pattern written in 9 sizes from preemie to king.

Pattern Specifics

• Skill Level: Confident Beginner
• Yarn: DK (#3) weight
• Hook: Size recommended on yarn label (I used 4mm)
• Sizes: 4 preemie sizes (2lbs–6lbs)
• Construction: Worked in the round

Materials: 

• #3 weight yarn of your choosing – approx. yardage is listed below in the sizing section. I used Stylecraft Special DK for my hats.
• 4mm hook
• Stitch markers (optional)
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

Gauge:

For the main textured section of the hat I got 10 sts and 10 rows as per the pattern to 2”. Width is more important than the height for this pattern.

Sizing:

This pattern is written for several preemie sizes:

• Preemie 2lbs – approx. 55 yards of yarn
• Preemie 2-4lbs – approx. 63 yards of yarn
• Preemie 4-5lbs – approx. 71 yards of yarn
• Preemie 5-6lbs – approx. 79 yards of yarn

Abbreviations used:

• Ch(s)–chain(s)
• St(s)–stitch(es)
• rep–repeat
• sk—skip
• HDC – half double crochet
• Hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 together
• FSC – foundation single crochet
• Ss – slip stitch
• YO—yarn over
• FO—fasten off 

Pattern Notes:

– Written in US terms.
– Ch1 at the start of a row does not count as a st unless otherwise stated.
– The slip stitch to join never counts as a stitch.
– For the main texture you will work a ss into the hdc from the previous round and a hdc into the ss from the previous round.
– This beanie is made from the bottom up.

– When working your slip stitches do not make them too tight because you will need to work into these on the next row!

– Where the pattern differs for each size it will be written as  2lbs (4lbs/5lbs/6lbs) 

Special stitches:

Third Loop:

Below is a photo of where you can find the third loop.

You can find my video tutorial on working the hdc into the third loop (also known as the camel stitch) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUuktGH7tmw&t=4s 

Half double crochet 2 together (HDC2tog): YO, insert hook into indicated st, YO and pull through, YO and insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, YO and pull through all 5 loops on hook.

Free Pattern – Misty Days Preemie Baby Beanie

** This is a free pattern on the Sunflower Cottage Crochet blog. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

To make the band:

Row 1 – FSC 3(3/4/4)  OR CH 4 (4/5/5), SC in second CH from hook and each CH across. (3(3/4/4))

Row 2 – Turn, Ch1, SC BLO in first st and each st across.

Rows 3 on – Repeat row 2 until your band measures 8”(10”/11”/12”)

Joining your ends – Ch1, grab the starting end of the band (first row done), and line it up to match the final row of the band.  Sew the ends together with a SS join in each stitch

You are now working in the round.

To make the main body of the hat:

Round 1- CH1, work 40 (50, 54, 60) HDC sts evenly around the top of the brim. SS to the top of the first HDC to join. (40/50/54/60 sts)

Round 2- CH1, hdc third loop in same st as join and each st across. SS to top of first stitch to join. (40/50/54/60 sts)

Round 3 – CH1, turn, hdc in first st, SS in next st, *hdc in next st, SS in next st. Rep from * around. SS to first hdc to join. (40/50/54/60 sts)

Rounds 4- 14(16/18/20) – Rep round 3 until work  measures 3.25” (3.75”/4.25”/4.75”) tall from the bottom of your brim. 

Note: you will be working a hdc into the ss and a ss into the hdc from the previous round.

For 2lb Size: 

Round 15 – CH1, HDC2tog around. SS to top of first st to join. (20 sts)

Round 16 – CH1, HDC2tog around. SS to top of first st to join. (10 sts)

Leave a long tail, FO and sew top of hat shut. 

Weave in ends

For 4lb Size:

Round 17 – CH1, HDC2tog around. SS to top of first st to join. (25 sts)

Round 18 – CH1, HDC2tog around. HDC in top of last remaining st.  SS to top of first st to join. (13sts)

Leave a long tail, FO and sew top of hat shut. 

Weave in ends

For 5lb Size:

Round 19 – CH1, HDC2tog around. SS to top of first st to join. (27 sts)

Round 20 – CH1, HDC2tog around. HDC in top of last remaining st. SS to top of first st to join. (14sts)

Round 21- CH1, HDC2tog around.  SS to top of first st to join. (7sts)

Leave a long tail, FO and sew top of hat shut. 

Weave in ends

For 6lb Size:

Round 21 – CH1, HDC2tog around. SS to top of first st to join. (30 sts)

Round 22 – CH1, HDC2tog around.  SS to top of first st to join. (15 sts)

Round 23- CH1, HDC2tog around. HDC in top of last remaining st.  SS to top of first st to join. (8 sts)

Leave a long tail, FO and sew top of hat shut. 

Weave in ends

Final Thoughts

The Misty Days Preemie Beanie is soft, subtle, and practical — exactly what you want in a crochet baby hat. Whether you’re donating to the Preemie Crochet Challenge or making a thoughtful gift for someone special, this little hat works up quickly and carries so much love in every stitch.