How to Crochet a Ballpark Newsboy Cap

Newsboy caps have been popular among both children and adults.

Newsboys caps have a slouched top like a beret with a small brim like a baseball cap. The cap style was made famous by the newsies, or adolescent boys selling news papers during the late 19th and early 20th century in American cities. The headpiece was later used by both baseball players and golfers. A simple newsboy's cap can be crocheted from a single yarn color. The hat is worked at a gauge of five single crochet = 3 inches.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook -size N
• Crochet hook -size K
• Yarn - six ounces bulk or sweater weight
• Yarn needle
• Plastic butter lid

Instructions

Main Cap

1. Chain 4 with the size N hook. Join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch to form a ring.

2. Chain one. Put seven single crochet inside the ring created by the first chain of four. Make sure you are working in the opening at the center of the ring and not in the stitches. Join the first and last single crochet in round one with a slip stitch to form a ring.

3. Chain one. Put two single crochet in each stitch around. This is called an increasing single crochet, and will be referred to as such in the rest of the pattern. Join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch to finish the ring. This completes round two, made of 14 single crochet stitches.

4. Chain one. Put two single crochet in the next stitch, and one in the next. Repeat this pattern increasing in every other stitch around. Join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch to finish the round. The round contains a total of 21 single crochet.

5. Chain one. Single crochet in the first stitch, increase in the second and single crochet in the third. Repeat around, so that there are two single crochet and then an increase stitch around. Join the first and last stitch with a slipstitch to finish the round. The round contains 28 single crochet.

6. Chain one. Increase in the first single crochet, single crochet in the next three. Repeat this pattern around. Join the first and last stitch with a slipstitch to end the round. The round has a total of 35 single crochet.

7. Chain one. Single crochet in the first two stitches, increase in the third and single crochet in the next two stitches. Repeat this pattern around. Join the first and last stitch with a slipstitch. The round has a total of 42 single crochet.

8. Chain one. Increase in the first stitch. Single crochet in the next five stitches. Repeat around. Join the first and last stitch in the round with a slip stitch. The round has a total of 49 stitches.

9. Chain one. Single crochet in the first three stitches, increase in the next stitch, single crochet in the next three stitches. Repeat this pattern around so that there are six single crochet together between increase stitches, for a total of 56 stitches. Join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch.

10. Chain one. Increase in the first stitch. Single crochet in the next seven stitches. Repeat this pattern around for a total of 63 stitches. Join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch.

11. Measure the circle. It should have about an 11-inch diameter. To this point you have completed the dome of the cap.

12. Chain one. Single crochet in each stitch around. Join the round with a slip stitch.

13. Chain one. Single crochet in the first seven stitches. Decrease in the next two stitches. To decrease insert the hook through the eighth stitch in the round and pull up a loop. Leaving that loop on the hook, insert the yarn in the ninth stitch in the round and pull up a second loop. Then work all three of the loops on the hook off together in a single crochet. Repeat this pattern around for a total of 56 stitches. Join the first and last stitch with a slipstitch to end the round.

14. Chain one. Single crochet in the first three stitches. Decrease in the next two stitches. Then single crochet in the next three stitches. Repeat the pattern around, so that there are runs of six standard single crochet separated by a decreased single crochet for a total of 49 stitches. Join the round with a slip stitch.

15. Chain one. Decrease. Single crochet in the next five stitches. Repeat this pattern around. For a total of 42 stitches. Join with a slip stitch.

16. Chain one. Single crochet in the first two stitches, decrease, then single crochet in the next two stitches. Repeat this patter around so that there is a pattern of four single crochet separated by a decreasing stitch for a total of 35 single crochet. Join the round with a slip stitch

17. Chain one. Single crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch and tie off the end. Weave the end back into the hat. This completes the main cap of the hat.

Visor

1. Switch to the size K needle, and chain 17. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, and in each other chain across for a total of 16 single crochet.

2. Turn the work. Chain one. Single crochet in each stitch across. Repeat this for another row.

3. Turn the work. Chain one. Decrease, single crochet in next 12 stitches and decrease for a total of 14 stitches.

4. Turn the work. Chain one. Decrease, single crochet for 10 stitches and decrease for a total of 12 stitches.

5. Turn the work. Chain one. Decrease, single crochet in the next eight stitches and decrease for a total of 10 stitches.

6. Turn the work. Chain one. Decrease, single crochet in the next six stitches and decrease for a total of 8 stitches.

7. Turn the work. Chain one. Working only in the back loops of each stitch, single crochet in each chain across. This makes the row of eight single crochet a double thickness. Keep working in the loops on the back of each row to make the visor double thick from font to back.

8. Chain one. Increase single crochet in six stitches and increase in the last stitch. This will give you a total of 10 stitches.

9. Chain one. Turn the work. Increase in the first stitch, single crochet in eight stitches across and increase in the last stitch for a total of 12 single crochet.

10. Chain one. Turn the work. Increase in the first stitch, single crochet in 10 stitches and increase again in the last stitch for a total of 14 stitches.

11. Chain one. Turn the work. Increase in the first stitch, single crochet in the next 12 stitches and increase again in the last stitch for a total of 16 stitches. Fasten off the row and work the end into the visor.

12. Whip stitch the visor to the bottom row of the cap. Weave the end into the hat.

Tips & Warnings

• To give the visor shape, or make it less floppy, trace the visor on a plastic butter lid before beginning to work in the back loops and slide it between the two layers of crochet.

References

• Lion Brand Yarn: "Free Crochet Pattern: Crochet Newsboy Cap"; Lion Brand Project Catalogue; 2006