Cathedral Window Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

The Cathedral Window Hat is a cozy, beginner-friendly beanie that looks far more intricate than it is. Worked as a simple straight tube in single crochet, it features a wide stained-glass band of jewel-toned colorblocks in plum, teal, and amber that wraps around the brim like light through a chapel window. The dark brown crown and edging frame those colors beautifully, giving the hat a dark academia feel. It is warm, soft, and stretchy enough to wear all winter, and it makes a wonderful first colorwork project because the color changes are plain round-by-round stripes.

Materials Needed

• Worsted weight (4) acrylic or wool blend yarn: 150 yds plum (A), 100 yds teal (B), 100 yds amber (C), 50 yds dark brown (D)
• 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Finished size: 20 inches circumference, 8.5 inches tall (fits an average adult head)

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – single crochet two stitches together (a decrease)
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• [ ] – repeat the instructions inside the brackets the number of times stated

Gauge

16 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Work a small swatch in the round and measure it flat; if you have more stitches than 16 per 4 inches, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Count your stitches at the end of every round. The tube stays at 80 sts until the crown, so any drift will show up as a twisted or slanted hat.
• Change colors on the last stitch of the previous round (pull the new color through the final loop) so the color line stays crisp.
• Keep your tension relaxed on the color-change rounds; tight joins are the most common cause of a puckered band.
• Try the hat on before starting the crown decreases to confirm the brim sits where you like it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The hat is worked in rounds as a straight tube from brim to crown. The brim band uses color changes to create the stained-glass squares, and the crown is worked in single crochet with decreases.

Brim and Body

Setup: With A, ch 80, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc (80 sts).

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (80 sts).

Stained-Glass Colorband (20 rounds, 4 rounds per color block)

Rnds 3-6: With B, sc in each st around, join with sl st (80 sts).

Rnds 7-10: With C, sc in each st around, join with sl st (80 sts).

Rnds 11-14: With A, sc in each st around, join with sl st (80 sts).

Rnds 15-18: With B, sc in each st around, join with sl st (80 sts).

Rnds 19-22: With C, sc in each st around, join with sl st (80 sts).

Crown Shaping

Rnd 23: With D, [sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (72 sts).

Rnd 24: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (72 sts).

Rnd 25: [Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (64 sts).

Rnd 26: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (64 sts).

Rnd 27: [Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (56 sts).

Rnd 28: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (56 sts).

Rnd 29: [Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (48 sts).

Rnd 30: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (48 sts).

Rnd 31: [Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (40 sts).

Rnd 32: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (40 sts).

Rnd 33: [Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (32 sts).

Rnd 34: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (32 sts).

Rnd 35: [Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (24 sts).

Rnd 36: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (24 sts).

Rnd 37: [Sc in next st, sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (16 sts).

Rnd 38: Sc in each st around, join with sl st (16 sts).

Rnd 39: [Sc2tog] 8 times, join with sl st (8 sts).

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 8 sts and pull tight to close.

Edging

With right side facing, join D to any st at the brim edge. Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working each tail in a different direction so the color changes stay flat. There is no seaming to do since the hat is worked in one piece. Lightly steam or wet block the hat over a bowl or hat form to smooth the colorband and even out the crown, then let it dry completely before wearing.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the jewel tones for a single gradient set of three shades for a softer, more subtle stained-glass look.
• Add a folded brim by working 6 extra rounds in A before the colorband, then folding the first rounds up.
• For a slouchier fit, add 4-8 rounds of single crochet in D between the colorband and the crown shaping.