How to Crochet a Beanie

By Rachel Choi – 93 Comments
To crochet a beanie there are many different crochet patterns that you can learn. The basic idea is to start from the top of the beanie by crocheting multiple stitches into a circular shape. Then the number of stitches is slowly increased each time you crochet around the circle to form the shape of the beanie. Once the crocheted beanie is as wide as you want it, keep crocheting without increasing the width. Continue to crochet in circles around the rim of your beanie until it is the length that you desire. 3-crochet-beanies

It is very easy to learn how to crochet a beanie using basic crochet stitches and patterns. Here is a free easy crochet pattern of a beanie to help you get started.

Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

Finished Size: 5.5’’(14 cm) tall, 7’’ (18 cm) diameter

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn
Crochet Hook F (3.75mm)
crochet yarn size 4
3-crochet-beanies-flat

Gauge:
17 sc = 3’’
8 rows = 2’’
Gauge Swatch: 3’’w x 2’’h (7.5cm x 5cm) ch 18.
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across
Row 2 – 8: ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across
Finish off.

Crochet Pattern: Beanie
Round 1: ch 2, sc 10 in second ch from hook, place marker
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around
Round 3: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc) around
Round 4: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc) around
Round 5: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc) around
Round 6: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc) around
Round 7: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc) around
Round 8 – 9: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 10 sc) around
Round 10 – 11: sc in each sc around
Round 12: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 10 sc) around
Round 13 – 17: sc in each sc around
Round 18 – 19: (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 15 sc) around
Round 20 – 31: sc in each sc around
Finish off

Need help understanding the abbreviations? Check out the crochet abbreviation chart.

If you find that the crochet beanie pattern is too big or too small, feel free to make alterations as needed by increasing or decreasing the number of crochet stitches in each round or changing the number of rounds. You may also like to change colors in each round to make stripes or use a different crochet stitch to give your beanie a different look, such as a double crochet stitched beanie.

You may also like to check out the Crochet Pattern: Family Beanie Set – 6 sizes. This pattern set has various beanies for you to crochet! Plus, you don’t have to worry much about how to increase or decrease the size of your beanie.

Be sure to check out the Crochet Spot Store for more beanie and hat patterns!

crochet beanies

If you need help with crocheting the beanie, leave a comment and I would be glad to help you!

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93 Comments

  1. […] like to change colors in each round to make stripes or use a different crochet stitch, such as a single crochet stitched beanie, to give your beanie a different […]

  2. […] poms go great with hats and beanies. To add a pom pom to your hat or beanie, simple use a yarn needle and sew your pom pom […]

  3. Mel says:

    I just finished this beanie tonight and love it! I am a beginner crocheter and this pattern was so easy for me to follow. I plan on making a lot more! Love your website too!

  4. Rachel says:

    Woohooo!! That’s awsome mel. I am so glad that it was easy for you to follow!! Thanks for choosing to make my pattern, I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to make next!

  5. Evelyn King says:

    Hi Rachel, I do not have a comment, but a question. I would like to crochet a beannie like cap for the summer months to wear to church. I would like to use a yarn that has no wool in it and has silver or gold thread running through it, plus small flower decorations. Can you help me. A friend of mine introduced me to your web site. thank you. Evelyn King [email protected]

  6. Rachel says:

    Hi Evelyn! I’m glad you asked! There are a lot of ways you can make your beanie and I will be happy to help you choose or even help make a pattern for it! I will email you with some ideas!

  7. Andie says:

    Hi Rachel, I have a question. During round 3 (and additional ones after) when you put the single crochet numbers in parenthesis I was wondering do we do that pattern just like that? I mean do we alternate 2 sc, 1sc, 2 sc, 1 sc, like that? or do we just do 2 sc in first one, then 1 sc after that? lol. I don’t know if I make any sense.

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Andie!

      That’s a good questions! You repeat everything in the parenthesis over and over again alternating like you said “2 sc, 1sc, 2 sc, 1 sc” I hope that helps! Let me know if you need more help 🙂

  8. KimmiBeast says:

    Hey, I love this beanie.. what would be the best kinda of yarn to use? i want to make it out of somthing soft..

    • Rachel says:

      Hi KimmiBeast!
      Any medium weight yarn would work here. If you want something soft you can try Carron simply soft yarn or Red Heart Soft yarn. I like those 🙂

  9. Bonton says:

    My intent is to make a kufi..can I use this pattern and stop maybe at row 15? I have not been able to find a kufi crochet hat pattern anywhere. also, I noticed after the end of each of the rows there is no counting I know this is simple but please bare with me. How do I determine the number of rows before starting the next…to me that would work accurate. Or maybe I’m just missing something. If you can explain I would really appreciate it.
    Thank you.

  10. Rachel says:

    He Bonton!

    You sure can use this pattern and just make it shorter. You can also use the beanie that is made with double crochet. Here is the link:

    http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-a-beanie-using-double-crochet-stitches/

    This one looks more like a kufi to me!

    There isn’t a stitch count because I was being lazy when I wrote it, lol. If you use a stitch marker place it at the beginning of every round, when you crochet and reach the marker you will know that you finished the round. Also each round at the beginning increases by 10 sc.

    You can find more about stitch markers here, in example 2 at the bottom: http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-read-crochet-patterns/

    Let me know if you need more help 🙂

  11. Sara says:

    Hello! Great pattern for us beginners! I was wondering – I’ve heard you can decrease the stitches at the last rows to make it fit a little more snug – how would you recommend doing this? Or do you have a pattern for this already that I haven’t found yet? 🙂 Thanks!

  12. Gina says:

    Hi Rachel,
    I think I might be doing it wrong, and need a little help. After completing round 7, I have 70 sc. When I try to do round 8, the numbers don’t work. Can you help me out? Thanks!

  13. Rachel says:

    Hi Gina!
    Don’t worry too much about the numbers for this pattern. For round 8, do the repeat as many times as you can then sc in the rest of the stitches for the round.

  14. Lyn says:

    Thanks Rachel! We have a beanie drive for bushfire affected people and also homeless people running right now, and I needed a fast, easy and good looking patten. This is it! Thanks for sharing 😀

  15. Jeannine says:

    I know that I too would love to use a 3.25 mm crochet hook, but alas, I cannot find one. With a range of hooks from tensy tiny to huge, my local AC Moore store seems to jump from 2 mm hooks right up to 3.5 mm. Any hints about where I might find such a rare item?

    Jeannine

  16. Nicole says:

    Hi – thankyou for a great pattern! I finished this for my son last night and he loves it! A little too big – he is 4 – halfway through I measured it up against one of his beanies – so I pulled out a lot of stitching back to round 13 and completed the pattern SC in every stitch – though I think I would adjust it a little more for next time. Anyway – it looks fantastic – my first project that has actually turned out!!!

  17. Candace says:

    Hi!! Ummm……. I have a H size hook. I have a big head. How would you go about increasing? For I wont to make this for my friend for her birthday. It is next month on the 2 of october. She will be 18, and i want to make her some thing from my hands and hart.

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Candace, the beanie increases every time you make 2 sc in one sc, just follow the pattern and your beanie should get bigger and bigger. If you are using an H hook your beanie will also turn out larger than the finished size specified in the pattern. Also beanies should stretch.

  18. Brianna Morgan says:

    hi rachel, i love all the neat things you’ve made by crocheting..i was wondering..at the beginning of each of your entries there is always something like 8 rows and how you do them..i am majorly confused about how you incorporate those 8 rows and then start the rounds for the beanie..please help

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Brianna, are you talking about the gauge? By making this you are checking the tension in your work to make sure that your beanie will turn out the proper size. This is separate from the beanie and not apart of the beanie itself. You can learn more about gauges at the post: What the Heck is a Gauge?

  19. Brianna Morgan says:

    okay thanks..it was just majorly confusing me i was like why do i have to do rows and then make a circle..ive got it now thank you

  20. Judy says:

    Great pattern and easy instructions! I have been looking for something like this to do for my triplet granddaughters. Do you have a crochet rose pattern that could be done and attached to this beanie?

  21. Carisa says:

    Do you turn after each row?

  22. Sarah says:

    Hey Rachel!
    I’m 16 and trying to get into the habit of making small projects every week; it’s my New Year’s Resolution. I love to make hats, but my last one didn’t turn out too good because it was small. (It was also a different pattern.) I think this pattern will work for my big head, but I was also wondering if there’s such thing as a stretchy yarn that I can use for this beanie. Can you help me?

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Sarah! There are stretchy yarns, but I don’t know the names of them off the topic of my head. To make sure that it fits, be sure to make the gauge first and measure your head and compare it to the finished size in the pattern.

  23. Lindsey says:

    Hi Rachel- Thanks for the pattern! I’m a little concerned though- I’m on round 14, and my hat is looking extremely lumpy and bumpy . . . I was diligent in counting and following the pattern, but could this be normal or am I doing something wrong?

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Lindsey, if it is bumpy it might be you gauge? Bumpy and waviness can be due to it being loose. You can also choose to use less stitches in round 1 instead of 10 sc.

  24. Macker905 says:

    Hello Rachel
    I am not sure what I did wrong but it just continued to increase, thought I kept a marker.
    When your instructions state i.e .(2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc) , that does mean in “each” of the next 5 sc, right?
    I could have fit 3 heads inside of this!!…Yikes,
    Thanks
    Macker905

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Macker905, you are reading it right. Be sure to check your gauge. The gauge on this beanie is really tight, so if your using a larger hook and your stitches are looser than should be, that can be why your beanie is too big.

  25. Debi says:

    What yarn did you use for these. I really like the look of them.

    thanks

  26. Macker905 says:

    Thank you Rachael, I am going to give it another try!

  27. Macker905 says:

    Hello Rachel
    I have what may be a silly question but you have become my Crochet Guru so here goes.
    Is there a way to change colours on a beanie pattern and have it match up when the round is complete. I found after I changed the colour and I came to the end of the round the beginning is lower and the new colour does not ‘meet up’ together, it is uneven. Did I explain that, or am I rambling. Is there something obvious I am not seeing.?
    Thank you for taking the time to help, that is very kind of you
    Macker905

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Macker905, this beanie is made is a spiral fashion, so that is why your colors won’t line up. However, if you made a ch 1 at the beginning of each round and then a slip stitch into the ch 1 at the end of the round, then the colors would line up. This way you are not crocheting in a spiral, but you would also have to work this way for the entire beanie.

  28. Macker905 says:

    Thank you Rachel, I will give it a try.

  29. Carmen says:

    Hi Rachel ! I would like to know how to make the beanie larger ? Im trying to make one for my husband and he does have a larger head. I tried to figure it out for myself but I did not do very good . Thank You

  30. Carmen says:

    Thank You , Rachel ! I have another question on this pattern at the end of every row u do not say to sl , so does this mean that at the end of each row u put a marker and then just keep on going to next row without a sl ? Im a bit confused on this part . Thank You

  31. Barbara says:

    I saw your beanie cap pattern. Is there a way that instead of slip stitch and go around and around and around and so on using a marker to show you where you’re at, at the end of row, that you could do so many stitches and turn instead and when you get the hat as long and big as you like that you could stitch the side of the cap up? I am not that good at slip stitchin using a marker. The piece ends up being uneven or sized incorrectly and so on.
    Thanks.

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Barbara, there are lots of ways you can make a beanie. This beanie pattern doesn’t require you to slip stitch at the end of each round. Instead it’s crocheted in a spiral, making it seamless. However, you can ch 1, and turn after each round if you like (although turning would require you to slip stitch at the end of each round). If you do not want to slip stitch but still want to turn, you can sew it up when you are done.

  32. […] for The Ships Project or other projects: Crochet Pattern: Beanie (using double crochet stitches) How to Crochet a Beanie Easy Adjustable […]

  33. Denise says:

    If I use a smaller hook, maybe one size smaller, would it make this hat smaller? I am making chemo caps for an aunt and single crochet, tight patterns are a little hard to come by. 🙂 I think this looks so easy, but it’s got to fit tighter than on someone with hair. 🙂 (My hubby is bald too so I might have to make a bigger one for him! lol)

  34. Rachel says:

    Hi Denise, the hook size you use isn’t as important as the gauge in the pattern. The gauge tells you whether your stitches are tight or loose. If you’re worried about the beanie not fitting, how about taking the exact measurement of the wearer’s head if you can.

  35. Kristy says:

    I’m so excited to make one of these! I hope they make good winter hats. I’ve decided to make winter hats for my family. Hopefully before Xmas!

  36. Courtney says:

    I fit my hat to my daughter’s head perfectly, but when I do a finishing stitch around the last row of the hat it keeps tightening it? Do I have to use a finishing stitch?? (I know you don’t list a finishing stitch on your directions but I had heard it makes the hat look cleaner? Although I don’t even think it’s necessary with your pattern.)

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Courtney, you don’t really need a finishing stitch around the hat. Perhaps you may need it for certain patterns, but probably not this one. To finish off, you can make a slip stitch in the next stitch then cut the yarn and weave it into your work.

  37. anna says:

    I’m up to round 10 and the beanie is flat with two dents, do i keep going or have I done it wrong?

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Anna, it should start to turn into a “bowl” shape. At round 10 is should be a very shallow bowl, but will turn more bowl like by rounds 13 – 17.

  38. naaz says:

    Rachel could you tell me the beanie heights for different age groups. I am planning to sell crocheted items and don’t have a baby to fit it on. I have the hat widths, i need to know only the hat heights. The pattern I bought says hat height for newborn is 4-4 1/2 inches but when I search it the internet some sites say it is 5 1/2 to 6 inches tall for a newborn and the adult hat is 11 inches tall !!!! Would greatly appreciate it if you would help me out with the sizing.

    • Rachel says:

      Naaz, I wouldn’t say there’s a set hat height for different age groups. It all depends on how you want the hat to fit, the style you’re going for, and how stretchy your yarn is. If there’s a certain hat style you’re interested in making maybe you can take a quick trip to the store and find one to measure.

  39. AnnaM says:

    What yarn is the Camo hat made out of? I love it and would love to make son and nephew hats out of it!

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Anna, I made this hat a while ago, so I can’t remember the exact yarn, but I think it was Red Heart. You can use any medium weight yarn you want, it doesn’t have to be the one I used.

  40. rizza says:

    Hi!can i use the cannon tiket 8 yarn for this project?tnx

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Rizza, I’m not familiar with the yarn you’re asking about but try making the gauge in the pattern with it. If you get the correct size then yes you can use it!

  41. ashley says:

    hi thx so much the beanie i crocheted came out great it was actually for my neices b-day present so thx so much keep posting crochet paterns this website is on my favorites list

    -ashley

  42. Elizabeth says:

    i love that yarn! what brand is it?

  43. roxana says:

    everytime i try to make a hat it looks funny. the top stays a flat circle like a plate then comes straight down. can u tell me what im doing wrong? ive followed the pattern precisly (several times) lol thx

  44. Sophie says:

    I have been working at this and I cant get the begining spiral down. it keeps curving down and turning into a cylinder. Please help me! I really want to make this hat but im getting very frustrated as it just gets tighter & turns into a cylinder 🙁

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Sophie, make sure to use a stitch marker so that you know where one round ends and the next begins. It sounds like you may be missing some of the repeats that should be repeated all the way around the beanie. The instructions with in the ( ) should be repeat until the end of the round is reached. Here’s more information about using stitch markers if you think it’ll help you: All About Stitch Markers in Crochet

  45. Heather says:

    Im totally new to crocheting. Do you turn after each row? I thought you had to for the height but maybe that’s why my hat is coming out so floppy. Is turning something you only do when the pattern specifies then? (and thus not at all on this project)? Thanks!

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Heather, no need to turn during this pattern. This hat is worked in the round like a continuous spiral, that way there won’t be a seam when you’re done. If turning is required, the pattern will normally says so.

  46. Autumn says:

    Hi! This is a really helpfull article, along with tutorials found on YouTube. But my mom and I are having trouble making beanies. They stay flat, like doillies instead of turning into a bowl shape! :O And we follow exactly along with tutorials, patterns, everything! What are we doing wrong?
    We are very confused, and any help would be greatly appreciated! Please and thanks! <3

    ~Autumn

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Autumn, the first few rounds of the beanie, should be fairly flat. It’s not until you do a few rounds that don’t have increases in them that the beanie starts to take shape. When you do the rounds without the increases, be sure that you’re not accidentally adding stitches. You can check by counting the number of stitches on the row.

  47. Carolyn says:

    Hi,
    I ended up with a flat beanie. I followed all of the directions and had no problems–any ideas about what I might have done wrong?
    Thanks 🙂

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Carolyn, if the beanie is flat as in it never starts to look like a bowl, then you may have added stitches by accident. For the rounds that say “sc in each sc around” make sure that those rounds have the same number of stitches as the previous round. Those are the rounds that will make your beanie look like a bowl since there are no increases on those rounds.

  48. Karen says:

    I made the newborn beanie for my grandson to be using the 1/2 double crochet stitch. I tried to enlarge it for my 7 1/2 month old grandson whose head is 19 ” around and it came out all wavy. How do I increase the circumference of the hat and still maintain the shape?

    Thanks

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Karen, you can play around with it by increasing or decreasing the number of crochet stitches in each round or changing the number of rounds. But I haven’t made a 19″ version of this beanie so I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly how many stitches or round would be required. You can used the Family Beanie Set if you’d like since that set has different sizes to crochet that are already measured out. Those beanies are crocheted differently than this beanie pattern.

  49. elli says:

    im crocheting a beanie and im all finshed widening it. It doesnt seem to be forming. it’s flat like a place setting.. what am i doing wrong? please respond asap. Thank you so much!

  50. elli says:

    My beanie is not forming. I just finished widening it and now just single double crocheting down. It is flat as a board. Why is this happening? How do i fix it? Thank you so much for your quick response!!

    btw.. I have followed the exact guidelines!!!!

    • Rachel says:

      Elli, if you are doing each round with single crochets after the increasing rounds be sure that you are not adding stitches by accident. After each round, count the number of stitches you made to make sure they are are the same on each round. If the number of stitches is the same on each round, the hat will start to form a bowl or cylinder shape. You may have to do a few rounds of single crochet until you notice that the hat is it taking shape.

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