Moon in a Nightcap Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

Meet the Moon in a Nightcap: a tiny navy sphere with a sleepy striped hat, made for anyone who loves quick, cute amigurumi. It is a wonderful first "in-the-round" project for advanced beginners, and a fast, satisfying make for experienced crocheters. The body is smooth single crochet, and the nightcap is worked directly onto the moon's own stitches, so there is no seaming at all. At about 2.5 in (6.5 cm) across and 4 in (10 cm) tall with the hat, it fits in your palm and makes a charming desk buddy or small gift.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted (category 4) acrylic. Navy: about 30 yd (27 m). White: about 10 yd (9 m).
• Hook: 3.5 mm (US E/4) crochet hook.
• Notions: Stitch marker, polyester fiberfill stuffing, yarn needle, scissors, and a small pom-pom maker or a fork for the 0.5 in (1.3 cm) pom-pom.
• Finished size: About 2.5 in (6.5 cm) diameter sphere, 4 in (10 cm) tall including the hat.

Abbreviations

• MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into to start a closed circle.
• sc – single crochet.
• inc – increase: work 2 sc into the same stitch.
• dec – decrease: work 2 stitches together into 1 sc.
• st(s) – stitch(es).
• rnd – round: one full circle of crochet.
• FO – fasten off: cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last loop.

Gauge

20 sc x 22 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet. To check, crochet a small flat swatch of sc and measure a 4 in (10 cm) section; if you have more stitches than 20, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Work in continuous rounds without joining or turning, and move your stitch marker to the first stitch of each new round so you never lose your place.
• Stuff the moon firmly before the final decrease round; a well-stuffed sphere keeps its round shape and holds the hat up nicely.
• When you change colors for the hat stripes, change on the last pull-through of the previous stitch so the color change looks clean.
• Keep your tension even and slightly tight so the stuffing does not show through the single crochet.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Moon (Color A – Navy)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnds 5-8: sc in each st around (24 sts).

Rnd 9: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 10: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Stuff the moon firmly now.

Rnd 11: dec x6 (6 sts).

FO, leaving a tail. Weave the tail through the remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close. Do not cut the hat opening yet — the hat is worked onto Rnd 8 of the moon.

Hat (Color B – White, then stripes)

Join white yarn with a slip stitch to any stitch on Rnd 8 of the moon (the widest round). Work the hat upward from there, in continuous rounds.

Rnd 1: sc in each st around Rnd 8 (24 sts).

Rnd 2: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 3: sc in each st around (18 sts).

Change to Color A (navy).

Rnd 4: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 5: sc in each st around (12 sts).

Change to Color B (white).

Rnd 6: [sc, dec] x4 (8 sts).

Rnd 7: sc in each st around (8 sts).

Change to Color A (navy).

Rnd 8: dec x4 (4 sts).

FO, leaving a tail. Weave the tail through the remaining 4 sts and pull tight to close the tip of the hat.

Pom-pom (Color B – White)

Make a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) pom-pom with white yarn using a small pom-pom maker or a fork. Trim it evenly so it is round and fluffy.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming on this project except the pom-pom. Use the white yarn tail from the pom-pom to sew it securely to the very tip of the hat, stitching through the pom-pom several times so it cannot pull loose. Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the moon and hat, tugging gently so the fabric does not pucker. Shape the moon with your fingers into a neat sphere. No blocking is needed for acrylic amigurumi, but you can gently steam the hat tip over a kettle if it looks bent, then reshape it by hand and let it cool.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Make the moon in pale yellow and the hat in dusty blue for a classic bedtime look.
• Add a hanger: Before closing the hat tip, crochet a small chain loop of 6-8 chains and attach it so the moon can hang from a bag or nursery hook.
• Sleepy face: Embroider two tiny closed-eye curves and a small smile in white or black yarn on the front of the moon before adding the hat.