Basic Crochet Beanie 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 those 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, there will be some implied steps that are not 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.

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The 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: Making 2 hdc in each stitch of the previous round (32 stitches at the end of round 2).
4. Increase by 16: Making 1 hdc in the first stitch, 2 dc in the second stitch, and continuing 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 step17 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

Notes

Reading increases in written patterns can be difficult. The following is how I think about increases in rounds 2–7. This is also why the number of increases is included at the start of each of the above steps.

Round 2: There are 16 stitches and we need to increase 16 times. So, for every stitch, increase by 1. Now we have 32 stitches.
Round 3: There are 32 stitches and we need to increase 16 times. So, for every 2 stitches, increase by 1. Now we have 32 stitches.
Round 4: There are 48 stitches and we need to increase 8 times. So, for every 6 stitches, increase by 1. Now we have 56 stitches.
Round 5: There are 56 stitches and we need to increase 8 times. So, for every 7 stitches, increase by 1. Now we have 64 stitches.
Round 6: There are 64 stitches and we need to increase 8 times. So, for every 8 stitches, increase by 1. Now we have 72 stitches.
Round 7: There are 72 stitches and we need to increase 8 times. So, for every 9 stitches, increase by 1. Now we have 80 stitches.

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 less rows of regular hdc to proportionally reduce the length. 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.