Basic Beanie Crochet Pattern

I recently fulfilled two crochet beanie orders and quite liked the result so here’s a pattern. The customer explicitly requested that these have a gathered effect at the top and no folded brim, so these are particular features of this pattern. As is, this pattern makes an M/L hat.

Materials Used

I used Red Heart Comfort yarn in black (DK/Light Worsted) with a 4.5 mm crochet hook for one of the hats and Red Heart Super Saver yarn in aran (Light worsted/Worsted) with a 4.5 mm crochet hook for the other.

How to Read the Pattern

This pattern uses US terms.

Sl st: Slip stitch
Hdc: Half double crochet

For ease and to minimise repetition, some implied steps will not be included in all of the steps below. At the end of each round, you will always sl st into the first stitch to join and complete the round. To begin a new round, after making your sl st to join, chain 2. This chain 2 is not counted as a hdc in this pattern.

Pattern

  1. Form a magic loop and chain 2.
  2. Make 16 hdc into the loop. Sl st into the first hdc to join round. You will also want to tighten and secure your magic loop. (16 stitches at the end of round 1).
  3. Increase by 16: Make 2 hdc in each stitch of the previous round (32 stitches at the end of round 2).
  4. Increase by 16: Make 1 hdc in the first stitch, 2 dc in the second stitch, and continue alternating around (48 stitches at the end of round 3).
  5. Increase by 8: Make 1 hdc in the first 5 stitches. Make 2 hdc in the next stitch. Continue this around. (56 stitches at the end of round 4).
  6. Increase by 8: Make 1 hdc in the first 6 stitches. Make 2 hdc in the next stitch. Continue this around. (64 stitches at the end of round 5).
  7. Increase by 8: Make 1 hdc in the first 7 stitches. Make 2 hdc in the next stitch. Continue this around. (72 stitches at the end of round 6).
  8. Increase by 8: Make 1 hdc in the first 8 stitches. Make 2 hdc in the next stitch. Continue this around. (80 stitches at the end of round 7).
  9. Lengthen: Make 1 hdc into each stitch all the way around. (80 stitches at the end of round 8).
  10. Lengthen: Repeat the previous step 17 more times (80 stitches at the end of round 25).
  11. After joining the round cut a 3–4 inch tail, pull it through the sl st, and weave in your ends.

Summary

  • Magic loop
  • 16 hdc around
  • 2 rounds of increase by 16
  • 4 rounds of increase by 8
  • 18 rounds of hdc (no increasing)
  • Bind off

Sizing

This pattern makes an M/L hat. To make a size S/M, stop increasing once you have 72 stitches (skip step 8, round 7). Consider doing fewer rounds of regular hdc to reduce the length proportionally. Once you’ve formed the top, the length is entirely customisable and you may even add more rows to create length for a folded brim.

Originally published on Medium in 2022. Re-published on another domain 9 Jan, 2023.