I love making a little something special for baby shower gifts. My family usually pools together and does a "welcome wagon" for the baby by filling a wagon with assorted baby gifts. I will have to blog about that sometime... pretty sure Mom has some pictures. Anyway, I have done rag edge flannel blankets, but the selection of gender neutral flannel is lacking. So, the surprise gender babies get a hat. I made THIS cute bear hat before, but this time I did not have enough yarn left over for two ears. I had just a few feet and it worked to make a super soft and fluffy ball on top.

Come on, tell me that doesn't look soft and fluffy!

This chunky, oatmeal yarn is amazingly soft! It also makes crocheting a hat really quick, which I love. This one did not take very long at all, which was good because my week was super crazy (Halloween prep + kid with severe poison ivy on her face + applesauce to make = stressed out Mom).

So, here is the pattern for you! I promise, it is really easy! The size worked out perfectly for me, but everyone crochets a little differently, so you might want to look up a size chart to make sure.

Yarn that would be great for this... Cozy Wool, Hometown USA, Wool-Ease, etc. Those are the nice, thick, bulky ones you want to use to get the right size and texture.

(I used a size K hook, but everyone crochets a little differently depending on the yarn and how tightly you hold it. After the first 4 rows it should be 3.5 to 4 inches in diameter.)

Chunky Newborn Beanie Pattern

Make a magic ring (Google it if you need to- these work great!)

Row 1: 7 hdc in ring, join with sl st to beginning hdc. (7hdc)

Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in same sp as joining, 2 hdc in each hdc, join. (14hdc)

Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in same sp as joining, *1 hdc in the next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, repeat from * around, join. (21 hdc)

Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in same sp as joining, *1 hdc in next hdc, 1 hdc in next hdc, 2hdc in next hdc, repeat from * around, join. (28 hdc)

Row 5: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc all the way around, join.

Row 6-9: Repeat row 5.

Row 10: Sl st in each hdc all the way around, join and fasten off. Weave the end of the yarn into the hat and trim. (28 sl st)

To make the fluffy ball on top:

Take 36" or so of yarn and wrap it around your middle three fingers. Tie it tightly in the middle with a short piece of yarn (about 8 " or so). Use the ends of the short piece of yarn to attach it to the hat. Weave the ends into the hat and trim. Clip the loops of yarn at the ends and fluff it out into a ball.

This pattern is for personal, charitable, and non-commercial use only. If you make one I would love to see pictures!