Pelia Preemie Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

The Pelia Preemie Hat is a small gift made with a big heart. Named after the Hebrew word for miracle, Pelia celebrates the precious little miracles these hats are made for. Crochet one to donate during the Preemie Crochet Challenge and help bring a little extra warmth, comfort, and love to a tiny baby.

Note: Please make sure you check with your local NICU department to see if they are accepting bonding square and/or other preemie items, and what their specific regulations might be.

MATERIALS

Finished Sizes:

Up to 2 lbs – 8” circumference x 3” long
Up to 4 lbs – 8.75” circ. x 3.5” long
Up to 5 lbs – 9.5” circ. x 4” long

Yarn: #3 DK/Light worsted weight – 1.75 oz/131 yd balls
Sample used: Katia Seacell Cotton in Water Blue

Up to 2 lbs – .4 oz/30 yds
Up to 4 lbs – .65 oz/49 yds
Up to 5 lbs – .75 oz/56 yds

Crochet Hook: Size G/6 (4 mm)

Notions: Yarn Needle

Gauge: 5 repeats x 24 rows = 4” in pattern

Difficulty: Adv Beginner – Uses a combination of stitches, as well as increases to create texture without shaping.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
ssc – spiked single crochet
yo – yarn over

For a full list of abbreviations, please see my List of Abbreviations.

Notes:

Each of the 3 sizes are written out separately below.

Special Stitches:

SSC (Spiked Single Crochet) – insert hook in indicated sc 3 rows below, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through both loops.
SSC v-st (Spiked Single Crochet V-Stitch) – work ssc in indicated sc 3 rows below, sc in next st, ssc in same sc as previous ssc. Video tutorial here

PELIA PREEMIE HAT

Up to 2 lbs:

Make magic ring, ch 1.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in magic ring, sl st in first sc to join. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (24 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (30 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, [sk next sc, ssc in next sc (3 rows down), sc in next sc, ssc in same sc as previous ssc], rep from * around, sl st in first ssc. (20 ssc, 10 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (30 sc)

Rounds 9 – 19: Repeat Rounds 6 – 7.

Round 20: Repeat Round 7.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Up to 4 lbs:

Make magic ring, ch 1.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in magic ring, sl st in first sc to join. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (24 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (30 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in each of next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (33 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, [sk next sc, ssc in next sc (3 rows down), sc in next sc, ssc in same sc as previous ssc], rep from * around, sl st in first ssc. (22 ssc, 11 sc)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (33 sc)

Rounds 9 – 20: Repeat Rounds 7 – 8.

Round 21: Repeat Round 8.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Up to 5 lbs:

Make magic ring, ch 1.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in magic ring, sl st in first sc to join. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (24 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (30 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in 1^st sc, sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st in first sc to join. (36 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, [sk next sc, ssc in next sc (3 rows down), sc in next sc, ssc in same sc as previous ssc], rep from * around, sl st in first ssc. (24 ssc, 12 sc)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (36 sc)

Rounds 9 – 22: Repeat Rounds 7 – 8.

Round 23: Repeat Round 8.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

SPIKED SINGLE CROCHET V-STITCH TUTORIAL

The Pelia Preemie Hat was created for the Annual Preemie Challenge 2026 that is hosted by Sunflower Cottage Crochet. It will be available for free download until the end of the event.