Ember Beanie: A Free Crochet Beanie Pattern in Three Sizes

What you'll make: a simple free crochet beanie pattern

The Ember Beanie is a cosy hat in one easy stitch. You work it from the top down in joined rounds of half double crochet, then finish with a band of single crochet.

It is a good first hat. There are 23 rounds in all, and the round numbers are the same in every size. Only the number of stitches you start with changes.

It is also a crochet beanie in three sizes, so one pattern covers a few heads. This is a free pattern, and you can use it for personal projects.

Sizes and how to choose

There are three adult sizes: S, M and L. The hat is 8½ in (21.5 cm) tall in all of them. Pick the size by the head you are making it for.

The pattern gives the finished size around, then the head it fits. Choose the size whose head range matches the person who will wear it.

• Adult S: about 18¼ in (46 cm) around. Fits a head of about 19½ to 20½ in (50 to 52 cm).
• Adult M: about 20½ in (52 cm) around. Fits a head of about 21 to 22 in (53 to 56 cm).
• Adult L: about 23 in (58 cm) around. Fits a head of about 23 to 24 in (58 to 61 cm).

What you need

This is a crochet hat pattern for beginners, so the list is short. You need one yarn, one hook and two small tools.

The pattern asks for about 135 yds (123 m) of yarn for Adult S, 150 yds (137 m) for M and 170 yds (155 m) for L. That is how much yarn each size uses, so check your ball before you start.

• Yarn: worsted-weight (#4) wool or acrylic, about 135 [150, 170] yds (123 [137, 155] m).
• Hook: US H-8 (5 mm).
• Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle.

Gauge and why it matters

The gauge is 14 hdc and 10 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) in half double crochet.

Check your gauge before you start. The fit depends on it. Make a small swatch in half double crochet and measure it. If you have more than 14 stitches in 4 in, your hat will come out smaller. If you have fewer, it will come out bigger.

If your swatch is off, change your hook size and try again.

Abbreviations (US terms)

This half double crochet hat uses US crochet terms. Here is what each abbreviation means.

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rep: repeat
• *: repeat the instructions after the * as directed
• [ ]: numbers for the larger sizes

How a top-down crochet hat crown grows

A top down crochet hat starts as a small flat circle. Each round adds stitches, so the circle gets wider. In the Ember Beanie, the crown has 8 rounds, and Rounds 2 to 8 are increase rounds.

Round 1 is 8 [9, 10] hdc in a magic ring. Round 2 doubles it: 2 hdc in each stitch. From Round 3, you work 2 hdc in just one stitch out of every few. The gap grows by one stitch each round: 1 hdc before each increase in Round 3, 2 in Round 4, and so on up to 6 in Round 8.

Each round after the first adds the same number of stitches as you began with: 8, 9 or 10. By Round 8 you have 64 [72, 80] hdc, and the increases stop.

The crown lies flat at first and starts to curve down once the increases stop. That is the moment the circle turns into a hat. If it looks flat while you work, that is normal.

The pattern: crown, body, band and finishing

Numbers are given for Adult S, with M and L in brackets: 8 [9, 10]. Where only one number is given, it is for all sizes. The ch-2 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch. Join each round to the first hdc.

Start: Make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring).

Crown, then body, then band, then finishing:

• Round 1: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), 8 [9, 10] hdc in the ring. Join with a sl st to the first hdc. (8 [9, 10] hdc)
• Round 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (16 [18, 20] hdc)
• Round 3: Ch 2, *hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (24 [27, 30] hdc)
• Round 4: Ch 2, *hdc in the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (32 [36, 40] hdc)
• Round 5: Ch 2, *hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (40 [45, 50] hdc)
• Round 6: Ch 2, *hdc in the next 4 sts, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (48 [54, 60] hdc)
• Round 7: Ch 2, *hdc in the next 5 sts, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (56 [63, 70] hdc)
• Round 8: Ch 2, *hdc in the next 6 sts, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. Join. (64 [72, 80] hdc)
• Body, Rounds 9–19: Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join. (64 [72, 80] hdc)
• Band, Rounds 20–23: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join to the first sc. (64 [72, 80] sc)
• Finishing: Fasten off and weave in the ends. Pull the magic ring tail tight before you weave it in.

Joining rounds neatly

This half double crochet hat is worked in joined rounds. At the end of each round, you join with a sl st to the first hdc. In the band, you join to the first sc.

The ch-2 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch. That is the tricky bit. Do not count it, and join to the first hdc, not to the chain. Your stitch count at the end of each round should match the number in brackets.

Use your stitch marker to mark the first hdc of the round. Then the join is easy to find, and you will not lose the start of the round.

Tips for a first crochet beanie

Count at the end of every round. The pattern gives the stitch count after each one. Round 8 should have 64 [72, 80] hdc, and the body and band keep that number.

If your crown ruffles at the edge, you may have too many stitches. If it cups, you may have too few. Compare your count with the number in brackets.

A magic ring is a neat way to start. If you do not like it, ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring instead.

Pull the magic ring tail tight before you weave it in. That closes the hole at the top of the hat.

Following it in Row & Round

In Row & Round, you open a PDF pattern and a highlighter bar sits on the round you are working. Tap +1 and the count and the bar move together. Undo is one tap away, and your place is saved on every tap.

The Ember Beanie has the same round numbers in every size, so the same counter works for S, M and L. Round 12 is Round 12 whichever size you chose.

The body is eleven plain rounds in a row, which are easy to lose track of. You can set an alert for a round you want to remember, such as the last body round before the band.