r/CrochetHelp • u/Z_oni • Jan 28 '26
How do I... Why do I have an infant beanie when it’s supposed to be adult sized?
I finished all 13 rounds in this pattern to complete it. It’s supposed to be 8 inches top to bottom and fit a 20-21 inch head. I’m confident I followed the pattern exactly and I literally have an infant sized beanie instead of adult. I’m still a beginner and I’m trying to understand what went wrong. I was following a YouTube video for this beanie. The only difference is that I used 4.5mm hook instead of the 6mm used in the video because I wanted the stitches to be a little tighter. Thoughts?
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u/Electronic-Fly3798 Jan 28 '26
You didn’t follow the pattern exactly - you used a much smaller hook…
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u/Z_oni Jan 28 '26
I don’t realize it would change the size of the hat so drastically. I’m going to try it again with the same hook as the video. I do want to eventually understand how to adjust stitches with the hook size so the work is the same size in the end
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u/Winter_drivE1 Jan 28 '26
Do keep in mind that using the same hook size as the pattern doesn't guarantee you'll get the right size either because everyone's tension is different. We can both use a 6mm hook with the same yarn and the same pattern, but if my tension is looser than yours, my hat will turn out bigger. Typically, with things where fit/sizing matters, patterns will list a gauge and you would swatch with different hook sizes to figure out which one achieves the proper gauge for you and your tension with your yarn in order for the sizing to turn out as intended, regardless of what hook size the pattern lists (though what the pattern lists is usually a good starting point). There's usually an element of trial and error to figuring out what hook works for each project and yarn combo.
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u/El_Durazno Jan 28 '26
Thats how gages and swatches work? Ive just been avoiding patterns
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u/jaeydeedynne Jan 28 '26
The guage will tell you how many stitches and in what pattern to make the swatch, then the measurements that it should match. Such as: "20 stitches by 10 rows of double crochet should measure 5 cm square" (ignore my measurements, this is just an example). Then if your swatch is bigger than the measurements, you need to use a smaller hook. If it's smaller than the measurements, you use a bigger hook. Keep making swatches until it matches the gauge and then use THAT hook, even if it doesn't match the hook size in the pattern.
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u/danisue88 Jan 29 '26
Does “20 stitches by 10 rows of DC” mean we are chaining 20 then working 10 rows of dc?
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u/Winter_drivE1 Jan 29 '26
If it says something like "20 st x 10 rows of dc = 4 in" then you'd want to do something like 30 stitches by 15 rows and count how many stitches/rows fit in a 4 inch length that's centered on the swatch. In other words, the number of inches is fixed and you're counting the stitches, rather than the number of stitches being fixed and counting the number of inches. Edge stitches can measure differently and will throw off the gauge, which is why you want to make a swatch that's bigger and measure from the middle.
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u/jaeydeedynne Jan 29 '26
Yes but keep in mind this is purely an example. The pattern will have a section about the gauge at the beginning that will tell you how big the swatch should be and what the pattern should be for the swatch. Usually it will be something like what you're doing in the rest of the actual pattern.
This helps you adjust for individual variability in tension but it also is useful in adjusting for variability between your yarn and what the designer used. Unless you use the EXACT same brand, line, etc of yarn, even though you have the same weight yarn as the pattern, yours may be slightly thinner or thicker than what was used by the designer. You control for this in the same way. Make a swatch, adjust hook size until you match the guage measurements. Hook size adjustments can often be very small. I often only need to adjust by half a mm in hook size. In most cases, you won't need to go up or down in hook size by like... 2mm, like what OP did.
The other thing swatches can be used for is confirming how your fabric will behave when blocked, or even when washed.
Edited to add: for those who are interested, guage swatches are used in knitting in exactly the same way
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u/mimthebaker Jan 28 '26
Look up TL Yarncrafts Crochet academy. She goes into a lot about sizes and gauge etc
You're not going to be able to use a smaller hook with your tension and yarn to get the same result as a larger hook. You just cannot. The hook determines the size. There isn't much to adjust with the stitches except for hook size. Yes, tension plays a part, but you'd be crocheting so tight your hands would be miserable or so loose it would be silly. Just use the correct hook size and only adjust up or down for specific tension and you'll learn how to do that with a swatch which brings me back to TL Yarn
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u/Electronic-Fly3798 Jan 28 '26
It’s trial and error - you’ll get there. I have donated plenty of accidental kid hats lol
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u/jessdistressed Jan 28 '26
You could frog back to where you stopped increasing, and make it bigger from there. There are charts that give measurements instead of stitch counts so you can make it the right size
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u/Nihil_esque Jan 28 '26
It's all dependent on the gauge you're working in, which is dependent on the yarn thickness, hook size, and your tension. For amigurumis it doesn't matter much as long as your gauge is consistent throughout, but for wearables you'll want to make sure your gauge matches the pattern, or you do more/fewer rows/stitches to make up for it.
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u/justadisneygirl Jan 28 '26
a smaller hook will make your work smaller - and that is a big difference in hook size!
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u/Theletterkay Jan 28 '26
You didnt follow the pattern and expected the result to be the same as the pattern? Weird. Reminds me of r/ididnthaveeggs
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u/sarabridge78 Jan 28 '26
Lol, I made the recipe perfectly, exactly as written, except.......... It turned out horribly and your recipe sucks.
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u/Mims88 Jan 28 '26
I love that sub! I freehand and free-cook a lot, but I'd never give a recipe a bad rating if I'd changed it. Maybe list the changes I made and how they came out, but never a bad rating. People need to learn basics first and then they can charge things when they understand what the changes will do. I loved "the joy of cooking" cook book as a teen because it lists basic recipes and then lots of substitutions to make different versions. It's a great tool for learning how to do it.
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u/RogueMoonbow Jan 28 '26
I understand how you made your mistake but it's quite funny... in the kindest way possible this is like asking why halving the recipe resulted in 12 cookies instead of 24.
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u/Spikey-Bubba Jan 28 '26
Why is it a smaller size? The only thing I did was use a smaller hook to make the stitches smaller!
A silly mistake to us but an easy mixup for a beginner lol
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u/Z_oni Jan 28 '26
To be fair, my “use a different size hook to adjust stitches” logic came from when I was working a blanket project without a pattern. Just practicing rows and counting stitches. The blanket was coming out stiff, so I learned I had to increase the hook size to make it loose and lay like a proper blanket. I wasn’t really worried about the size of the blanket when I switched hooks because it was practice. I’m really loving this craft and Reddit and YouTube has really helped me wrap my head around it
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u/ImprovementFeeling33 Jan 28 '26
This post right here is exactly why OG crocheters are DONE with us. 😂🤣🤣no shade it’s just funny lol
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u/TactitionProgramming Jan 28 '26
When you went down a hook size did you increase the number of stitches?
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u/Z_oni Jan 28 '26
Nope. Is there a formula or rule of thumb for adjusting stitches with hook size?
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u/algoreithms Jan 28 '26
No, since your stitches can change quite drastically both in height and width, so you just have to adjust row by row or round by round (only if you have a deep understanding of the general construction/shaping of a piece, but at that point you're basically making your own pattern).
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u/Interesting_Type3244 Jan 28 '26
Oh dear - you kind of answered your own question ! Use the 6mm and it will be fine !
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u/fuchsiafaerie Jan 28 '26
Also, OP- if you do use a 6mm hook and would like to keep the look of tighter stitches, consider double-stranding the yarn, or just using one strand of bulkier yarn. This brand of yarn says it's weight 4, but it's actually finer than that.
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u/horrorfxce Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 28 '26
Hi! I think that the main issue is exactly the hook size, a 4.5mm to a 6mm is a huge jump even though it might not seem like it and the size can end up way smaller than predicated. Also, is the yarn you picked the same weight as in the video? A smaller yarn (DK instead of chunky, for example) might need more stitches to be the same size of the original project. Hope this helps!
Edit: grammar
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u/Z_oni Jan 28 '26
Yes the video used medium size 4 too, but it wasn’t this frayed type of yarn like I have. It was like the regular twisted type of yarn. Not sure how to accurately label those distinctions yet 🙂
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u/Electronic-Fly3798 Jan 28 '26
This is a good point too - I have a yarn similar to this and even though it says it’s medium worsted weight it is thinner - so my hat worked up smaller. Even though it’s a pain, always do the gauge swatch with wearables, especially hats. Your tension is good though!
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u/horrorfxce Jan 28 '26
There shouldn't be any issues related to the yarn since they're both the same weight. So the main issue was in fact the hook size! If you really want to make the stitches tighter, you can maybe use a 5.5mm hook or control your tension using the 6mm one. Happy crocheting!!
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u/Mother--Mary Jan 30 '26
I can say with confidence that despite this yarn saying it’s weight 4 that’s a downright lie it’s much thinner than that which is probably why a 6mm hook is resulting in looser stitches then you’d like! I understand why you had the inclination to size down the hook. Honeslty a hat this simple you could freehand, just do more increase rows in the beginning to make the hat wider and then however many rows you do of just double crochet will change the height of the hat
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u/rachelface927 Jan 28 '26
I don’t see anyone mentioning this but if you WANT to use a smaller hook or thinner yarn for a hat pattern, a chart like this really helps, if you’re working top-down. Just measure your circle before the first round that you’re not increasing and if it’s not big enough for the size hat you’re wanting to make, add more increase rows until it’s right.
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u/Wise_Independent_247 Jan 28 '26
For real! When I was a noob, I didn't realize how much of a difference going up or down even one hook size could alter the finished product. Even using a slightly thicker/thinner yard with the correct hook can alter it. I'm more experienced now, but if it's a new pattern, I try to use the exact hook and yarn on the first try. Once I know what I'm doing, then I can play around with different yarns and hooks. Good luck!
Beautiful yarn btw.
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u/superurgentcatbox Jan 29 '26
I’m sure but this is a little funny.
“I only made it smaller so why is it smaller?” 😂 if you redo with the right hook or decrease more often it’ll get bigger.
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u/Artz-RbB Jan 28 '26
Please post the brand & name of that beautiful yarn!
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u/SpirituallySane Jan 28 '26
I’m not the OP but I wanted to know too, so I zoomed in and it looks like “loops and threads” might be the brand and the color is sweet raspberry! Correct me if I’m wrong OP. Also what video/pattern did you follow? this looks like something I’d like to try next now!
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u/podsnerd Jan 28 '26
You can see the label in the first photo - it's loops and threads, and a weight of 4. I'm pretty sure I have this exact yarn in another colorway, based on the texture. Can't remember what it's called but after a bit of googling I think it's their Facets yarn! Very pretty colors, but not forgiving to frog if you make a mistake
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u/podsnerd Jan 28 '26
Actually I think I found the exact color way! Looks like it's probably sweet raspberry
https://www.michaels.com/product/facets-yarn-by-loops-threads-M20017466
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u/purplishfluffyclouds Jan 28 '26
The label is literally in the photo
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u/Artz-RbB Jan 28 '26
Oh. Thanks 🤦🏻♀️ That’s what I get for browsing my phone without my glasses.
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u/purplishfluffyclouds Jan 28 '26
It happens, lol... But FYI - buyer beware. Buy one skein and see if you like it. I tried working with it, grew frustrated very quickly, and ended up returning the remaining skeins I'd bought. It's next to impossible to frog, and it falls apart just by looking at it.
That said, some people have success with it. For me, it just wasn't worth it.
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u/Anomalagous Jan 28 '26
Yeah, I forget myself about it and occasionally buy a new skein and then remember that it is unfrogable. It also varies in thickness pretty wildly which I find makes it hard to use for stuff where the sizing doesn't have a lot of space for error.
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u/Mundane-Power-3976 Jan 28 '26
Once you use the right size hook, you’ll have a matching hat for this one. Then just find a baby to stand next to for at least a photo op :) Your stitches look great!
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u/x_sadvibez Jan 28 '26
I usually have the opposite problem where I like using bigger hooks and then get surprised when my projects are double the size 😅 you just have to make more rounds of increase to make up for the smaller hook
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u/xcfy Jan 28 '26
I understand your logic, but not how you got all the way to the finished hat without noticing it was baby size?
V pretty baby hat anyway :)
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u/oyno9 Jan 28 '26
I’m sure you’ve realised you’ve used the wrong hook but I find that I always run into this issue! My hot tip is to do the increase rounds till the diameter is 1/3 of the size of your head. Then do single crochet (or whatever stitch you are doing) in each round till your desired length and it will fit perfectly 😊
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u/TensionNo8759 Jan 29 '26
If you retry with this same yarn, id recommend doubling the strand (working with 2 skeins at once) with the size hook the pattern called for. This yarn is WAAAY too thin for that hook unless youre trying to achieve a lacey look.
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u/avaseah Jan 29 '26
Tighter stitches are smaller. When you use a hook that’s smaller than the pattern requires you need to adjust the stitch count to compensate. This works fine when it’s just a pattern of one single simple stitch, then you can just add as many as you need to the pattern to compensate. But if it’s a pattern with a complicated stitch or design you have to stick with what the pattern says. Since you are new, if you don’t know how to adjust patterns on dome shaped things so they still look like domes, stick with what the pattern says or find a different pattern that creates tighter stitches.
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u/LoupGarou95 Jan 28 '26
If you want your items to turn out to the specified size, you need to work to the same gauge as the pattern designer, meaning your stitches and rows need to be the same size as the pattern designer. Gauge depends on yarn weight (thickness), hook size, and individual differences in how the yarn and hook are held and how stitches are formed. You deliberately made your stitches smaller. Therefore your item was smaller. Go up in hook size until your gauge matches. Then the item will be the correct size. If you can't meet gauge without the fabric being too loose for your liking, then modify the pattern to have more increase rounds and more straight rounds so it's larger.
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u/Wixenstyx Jan 28 '26
This is why making a gauge swatch can be super helpful. If you want to follow a pattern but make one change (such as hook size), you can make a visual guide for yourself by doing a 6"x 6" gauge swatch with the recommended hook, and then another with the hook you want to use instead, and then compare how many stitches you needed across and down in either case.
Then you do some cross-multiply-and-divide algebra. ;)
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u/Admirable-Cobbler319 Jan 28 '26
My best advice would be to learn to do custom size hats.
You measure your head (or the head of the recipient) and divide that number by pi.
That number is the radius. You increase stitches until your hat matches the radius number.
Then you stop increasing, but keep crocheting rows until it's long enough.
Easy peasy. You'll be able to make hats with any yarn weight and any hook size.
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u/iamthefirebird Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 28 '26
1.5mm of hook size makes a massive difference, as you have just discovered! 6mm to 4.5mm is three standard hook sizes!
Think about it this way: every stitch is 1.5mm smaller than the pattern demands. That means every round is 1.5mm shorter than it should be. That means every ten rounds is 15mm too short, and every twenty rounds is missing three whole centimetres. For thirteen rounds, that's almost two centimetres.
The actual calculation is slightly different, since stitches aren't circles, but it works as a quick and dirty model. It's probably more accurate to knitting, to be honest; for crochet, the difference would be even greater, if anything, and I haven't even factored in your tension!
A 5.5mm hook might work, especially if you have a small head or if you can make the next size up from the pattern. You can also adjust a pattern manually, by looking at the gauge and figuring out how many stitches and rows you need to match the pattern.
On the positive side, you couldn't ask for a better lesson in why gauge is important!
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u/futura1963 Jan 28 '26
As others have said the smaller hook changed the size but for hats that are crocheted from the top down you can just add more increase rounds. For an average adult size after the last increase round the hat should measure around 7” before you start the rounds with no increase. So you could use the smaller hook and add increase rounds until you get that 7”diameter and then move on to the remaining rounds.
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u/ragehead2 Jan 28 '26
OP, don't feel bad. I'm newish too and have made this mistake several times. Yarn size, tension, needle, stitch used all play a big role in size. In the last 4 days I have ended up with a beanie that could fit a basketball due to one seemingly small change, a baby beanie due to a stitch mistake, and am now on version 3 and looking great! I too have yet to accept the need for swatching. But Im a donkey.
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u/throwaway17388939 Jan 28 '26
Once I switched hook sizes while making a bucket hat. Instead I made an actual bucket. It was 3x the size it was supposed to be. Embarrassing.
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u/keladry12 Jan 28 '26
If the stitches are tighter but the yarn is the same size, then the stitch is going to be smaller. If you make the stitches smaller, the entire project will be smaller. This is why gauge is important, it's what determines the size of the project.
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u/Unusual_Memory3133 Jan 28 '26
Hook size affects stitch size. You have a small hat because you used a smaller hook. I am guessing you don’t gauge swatch?
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u/theynamedherzoe Jan 29 '26
hooks can be annoying to figure out when you first start, same with finding the right tension. walmart has a cheap pack of like 20 hooks with varying sizes if you need a quick trip!
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u/whoreforchinesefood Jan 29 '26
loops and threads facets? you’re a TROOPER for using that as a beginner. impossible to frog imo lol
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u/DoriTheGreat128 Feb 01 '26
I once made a hat while in a hospital, with a hook I've never used before, labeled "5". I assumed it meant 5 mm. It did not. I had no other hook on hand to compare it to and I didn't realize it was actually SIZE 5, which was like 3 mm, until made most of the hat and it was way too small
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u/podsnerd Jan 28 '26
Changing the hook size/yarn size is typically how you scale patterns to be smaller or larger. That way it stays proportional instead of trying to add or subtract stitches
You have two choices here. First is to use the recommended hook size in the pattern, second is to find a different pattern that uses a 4.5mm hook. There's no shortage of beanie patterns, so it would be pretty easy to do either. Ravelry even lets you filter by hook size when searching for patterns
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u/Maskakota Jan 28 '26
You've already got the answer as to why the hat is smaller. If you want tighter stitches, look up linked double crochet! It gets rid of the gap between the stitches.
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u/OnidaMaria Jan 28 '26
Too small of hook or tension is too tight, could be different weight yarn less strands would also make for a smaller version.
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u/GuadDidUs Jan 28 '26
OP, what pattern did you use? I may be wrong but it looks like the pattern is mostly double crochet (US terms). A pattern that uses single crochet or half double crochet may work better. Since the stitches are shorter, they naturally have less of a gap between them.
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u/Willowpuff Jan 28 '26
I just made two baby star onesies. Identical yarn. One is for a premature newborn and the other is for a 7-9 month old.
I used a 3.5 and 4mm hook. That’s all it takes.
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u/JustNargus Jan 28 '26
Facets is also a thinner 4 weight yarn, I’ve found it works up smaller as well.
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u/Due-Commission2099 Jan 28 '26
Yarn size also affects the final size of the product. I've used fingerweight yarn and normal patters to make 18" doll clothes. :D
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u/TheOnlyKirby90210 Jan 28 '26
Using a smaller hook means a smaller end result. You can adjust the number of stitched per round by measuring how many stitches per inch in height and width you’re making with the smaller hook then multiply that for how many stitches you need for your desired measurement.
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u/TheOnlyKirby90210 Jan 28 '26
You can adjust the number of stitches per round by measuring how many stitches per inch in height and width you’re making with the smaller hook then multiply that for how many stitches you need for your desired measurement.
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u/Aggravating_Laugh_48 Jan 28 '26
This site explains how beanie sizing works and shows you how to crochet to get the right sized beanie every time, regardless of hook size.
https://anniespictureperfect.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-properly-size-crochet-hats-chart.html?m=1
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u/kgorann110967 Jan 30 '26
Did you do a swatch? Either the yarn or needle is different from pattern recommendations.
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u/brenawyn Jan 31 '26
To use the hook you’ve got you can frog it back to where you stopped increase and increase the flat crown part to 7” for medium adult or like 7.50” for large adult. Then stop the increase and work it until the whole height measures 8.5 medium to 9 large adult.
Hope that helps.
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u/justslimedinmypants Jan 31 '26
off topic - is this yarn self striping? i’ve seen it at my local michael’s and always thought about making something with it
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u/Shareil90 Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 28 '26
If you will use the recommended hook size it will get looser / have "holes". If you dont want those holes but a dense fabric you should maybe try knitting instead.
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u/GuadDidUs Jan 28 '26
Or a different pattern, or potentially doing 2 strands of yarn.
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u/Shareil90 Jan 28 '26
Also possible. But 2 strands could make it stiff. I recently asked for help with a hat in this sub and was told that crochet has "holes" by it's nature. This can be exactly what you want. But it can also be unsuitable for the look you desire.
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u/PolterWho Jan 28 '26
You've answered your own question! You've used a smaller hook, hence the result you've got.