Peachy Rainbow Star Baseball Cap Free Crochet Pattern

Last summer, my daughter spotted a crocheted baseball cap at a craft fair and tugged on my sleeve with those big hopeful eyes. "Mom, can you make me one?" The vendor wanted forty dollars for it, which honestly felt steep for something I knew I could figure out myself. So I spent the next few weeks obsessing over crown shaping, brim structure, and how to get that perfect dome silhouette.

This peachy baseball cap is the result of all that tinkering. It has everything I wanted: a smooth, structured crown that actually looks like a real baseball cap, a sturdy brim that holds its shape, and the cutest little rainbow star applique that makes it feel special without being over the top.

I am genuinely proud of how this one turned out. The construction is clever but not complicated, and the finished hat looks so polished that people will think you bought it from a boutique. Let me walk you through exactly how to make your own.

About This Crochet Baseball Cap Pattern

This crochet pattern creates an adult medium baseball cap designed to fit a head circumference of 22 to 22.5 inches. The cap body is worked in continuous rounds from the crown down, which means no seaming panels together. You will get that classic six-panel baseball cap look simply from the increase lines during the crown shaping. Pretty clever, right?

The main body uses a warm peachy terracotta color with a contrasting cream brim. A sweet rainbow star applique gets sewn to the front panel, adding a playful pop of color that catches the eye without overwhelming the design.

Skill level: Intermediate. You should be comfortable working in the round with consistent tension. If you have made amigurumi or beanies before, you have the skills for this project.

Time estimate: Approximately 8 to 12 hours for an experienced crocheter, including the applique and all finishing work.

Materials You Will Need

Yarn:

Main Color (MC): Peachy terracotta, approximately 220 yards of DK weight cotton yarn

Contrast Color (CC): Cream or off-white, approximately 80 yards of DK weight cotton yarn

Rainbow Colors for Applique: Small amounts (under 5 yards each) in coral pink, soft yellow, mint green, sky blue, and lavender

Recommended Yarn Brands:

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Terracotta and Ecru works beautifully here. The mercerized cotton has excellent stitch definition and holds its shape without blocking. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK or Hobbii Twister Cotton DK are also great options.

Hooks:

US size E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook for the cap body and brim

US size D-3 (3.25 mm) crochet hook for the applique (optional, but it keeps the star nice and firm)

Notions:

At least 4 stitch markers

Yarn needle for weaving ends and seaming

One wooden button, approximately 0.75 inch diameter

Sewing thread and hand needle for button attachment

Optional: brim stiffener spray or thin craft plastic for brim structure

Gauge

18 single crochet stitches and 20 rounds equal 4 inches, worked in continuous rounds with a US E-4 (3.5 mm) hook.

Please take gauge seriously on this pattern. A looser gauge will make the hat too big and floppy. A tighter gauge will make it too small and stiff. Swatch first and adjust your hook size if needed.

Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions

Before we dive into the pattern, let me define every stitch you will use:

ch: Chain. Wrap yarn over hook and pull through the loop on your hook.

sl st: Slip stitch. Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion.

sc: Single crochet. Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops.

sc2tog: Single crochet two together. A decrease that turns 2 stitches into 1. Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Insert hook in following stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

inc: Invisible increase. Work 2 single crochets into the same stitch.

MR: Magic ring. A method of starting rounds that creates a tight, gapless center.

BLO: Back loop only. Insert your hook only into the back loop of each stitch.

PM: Place marker.

st(s): Stitch(es).

rnd(s): Round(s).

How to Make a Magic Ring

The magic ring gives you a clean, tight center for your crown. Here is how to do it:

Form a loop with your yarn, crossing the tail end behind the working yarn. Insert your hook through the center of the loop, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Chain 1 (this does not count as a stitch). Work your required number of single crochets into the center of the ring. Pull the tail end to close the ring snugly.

If magic rings intimidate you, you can chain 2 and work your stitches into the second chain from the hook instead. It will leave a tiny hole, but it gets covered by the crown button later.

Pattern Instructions

Section 1: Crown

The crown is worked in continuous rounds. This means you do not join at the end of each round. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch and move it up as you go.

Begin with MC and your E-4 hook.

Round 1: MR, work 6 sc into ring, pull ring closed, PM in first st. (6 sc)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sc)

Round 3: (Sc in 1 st, inc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)

Round 4: (Sc in 2 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (24 sc)

Round 5: (Sc in 3 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (30 sc)

Round 6: (Sc in 4 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (36 sc)

Round 7: (Sc in 5 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (42 sc)

Round 8: (Sc in 6 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (48 sc)

Round 9: (Sc in 7 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (54 sc)

Round 10: (Sc in 8 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (60 sc)

Round 11: (Sc in 9 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (66 sc)

Round 12: (Sc in 10 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (72 sc)

Round 13: (Sc in 11 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (78 sc)

Round 14: (Sc in 12 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (84 sc)

Round 15: (Sc in 13 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (90 sc)

Round 16: (Sc in 14 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (96 sc)

Checkpoint: Your crown should measure approximately 4.25 inches across and lie flat without cupping or ruffling. If it cups, go up a hook size. If it ruffles, go down a hook size.

Section 2: Upper Band

Now we work straight rounds to build the sides of the cap.

Rounds 17 through 27: Sc in each st around. Work 11 rounds without any increases or decreases. (96 sc each round)

Checkpoint: The hat body should measure approximately 5.5 inches tall from crown to this point.

Section 3: Bottom Edging and Back Opening

The back of the hat has a small opening for size adjustment. After completing Round 27, sl st to close, then fasten off.

Identify the 6 stitches at the center back of your hat. Reattach MC to the stitch immediately to the left of these 6 stitches.

Working in BLO, sc evenly around 90 stitches (skipping the 6 center back stitches to create the gap). Sl st to close this modified round. Fasten off. (90 sc)

This BLO round creates a clean ridge at the base of the hat.

Section 4: Back Straps

Right Strap:

Reattach MC to the first stitch to the right of the gap opening.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 4 sts. (5 sc)

Rows 2 through 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc each row)

Row 7 (button loop row): Ch 1, turn, sc in 1 st, ch 3, skip 1 st, sc in rem 3 sts. (4 sc, 1 ch-3 loop)

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st and 3 sc into ch-3 space. (7 sc)

Fasten off and weave in end.

Left Strap:

Reattach MC to the last stitch to the left of the gap opening.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 4 sts. (5 sc)

Rows 2 through 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc each row)

Fasten off. Sew your wooden button to the left strap, aligned with the button loop on the right strap.

Section 5: Brim

The brim is worked separately in CC (cream), then attached to the cap.

Foundation: Ch 49.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (48 sc)

Row 2: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (48 sc)

Row 3 (increase row): Sc in first 4 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 9 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 3 sts. Ch 1, turn. (53 sc)

Row 4: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (53 sc)

Row 5 (increase row): Sc in first 4 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 10 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 3 sts. Ch 1, turn. (58 sc)

Row 6: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (58 sc)

Row 7 (increase row): Sc in first 5 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 11 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 4 sts. Ch 1, turn. (63 sc)

Row 8: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (63 sc)

Row 9 (increase row): Sc in first 5 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 12 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 4 sts. Ch 1, turn. (68 sc)

Row 10: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (68 sc)

Row 11 (increase row): Sc in first 5 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 13 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 5 sts. Ch 1, turn. (73 sc)

Row 12: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (73 sc)

Row 13 (final shaping row): Sc in first 6 sts, inc in next st, (sc in 14 sts, inc in next st) 4 times, sc in rem 6 sts. Ch 1, turn. (78 sc)

Row 14: Sc in each st across. Do not turn. (78 sc)

Brim Edging: Sl st evenly around the outer curved edge and down both short sides. Fasten off.

Optional Brim Stiffening: For extra structure, work surface slip stitches across the underside of the brim in horizontal lines, spacing them every 2 rows. Alternatively, insert a piece of thin craft plastic cut to shape.

Checkpoint: Your finished brim should measure approximately 2.75 inches deep and 7 inches across the straight joining edge.

Section 6: Attaching the Brim

Align the straight edge of the brim (48 stitches) with 48 stitches across the front center of the cap lower edge. Using MC or CC, sl st through both layers across all 48 stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Section 7: Rainbow Star Applique

Use your smaller D-3 hook for a tighter, firmer applique.

Star Center:

With coral pink, MR, work 6 sc into ring, close ring. Sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off.

Round 2: Join soft yellow with sl st. Ch 1. Inc in each st around. (12 sc) Sl st to join. Fasten off.

Round 3: Join mint green with sl st. Ch 1. (Sc in 1 st, inc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc) Sl st to join. Fasten off.

Round 4: Join sky blue with sl st. Ch 1. (Sc in 2 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (24 sc) Sl st to join. Fasten off.

Round 5: Join lavender with sl st. Ch 1. (Sc in 3 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (30 sc) Sl st to join. Fasten off.

Star Points (make 5):

Join MC to any stitch of Round 5. You will work each point across 6 stitches.

Row 1: Sc in each of next 6 sts, ch 1, turn. (6 sc)

Row 2: Sc2tog, sc in 2 sts, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (4 sc)

Row 3: Sc2tog twice, ch 1, turn. (2 sc)

Row 4: Sc2tog. (1 sc)

Fasten off. Reattach MC to the next unworked stitch and repeat for the remaining 4 points.

Your finished star should measure approximately 2 to 2.25 inches across.

Attaching the Star: Center the star on the front panel, about 1 inch above the brim join. Sew securely using whip stitch around the outer edge.

Section 8: Crown Button

With MC, MR, work 6 sc into ring, close ring, sl st to join. Fasten off leaving a long tail. Sew this small circle to the very top center of the crown. This covers your starting point and adds that classic baseball cap button detail.

Finishing and Care

Weave in all your ends securely. For the best results, wet block your finished hat by hand washing in cool water with gentle soap. Stuff the crown with a rounded object (a small bowl works great) to hold the dome shape while drying. Press the brim flat. Allow everything to air dry completely.

Care instructions: Hand wash in cool water. Do not wring or machine dry. Reshape and air dry.

Size Customization Tips

For a child’s medium (20 inch circumference): Stop crown increases at Round 14 (84 stitches). Work straight rounds until the body is about 5 inches tall. Reduce the brim foundation chain to 43 stitches.

For an adult large (23 to 23.5 inch circumference): Add one more increase round after Round 16: (sc in 15 sts, inc in next st) 6 times (102 sc). Adjust the brim foundation to 51 stitches.

For a deeper crown: Add 2 to 4 extra straight rounds after Round 27.

You Did It!

I hope you love making this crochet baseball cap as much as I loved designing it. The rainbow star applique is such a sweet touch, and the whole hat comes together in a way that looks so professional.

Thank you so much for choosing this pattern. If you make one, I would absolutely love to see it! Tag me on Instagram or share a photo in my Facebook group. Seeing your finished projects genuinely makes my day.

If this pattern caught your eye, go ahead and save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you are ready to start. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I love hearing how your projects turn out!