Crochet · beginner project

How to crochet a beanie: an easy top-down hat

To crochet a beanie the easy way, work it top-down: crochet a flat circle until it's as wide as the hat's circumference divided by 3.14, then work rounds without increasing until it's tall enough, and finish with a ribbed brim.

Measure first

Measure around the head just above the ears. As a rough guide, babies are often about 14 to 17 in, children 18 to 20 in and adults 21 to 23 in. Make the hat 1 to 2 in smaller than the head so it hugs. Height from crown to brim is often about 5 to 6 in for a baby, 7 in for a child and 8 to 9 in for an adult.

Step by step

Start in a ring. A magic ring and a first round of stitches, joined with a slip stitch.
Increase to the crown width. Increase evenly every round, like a flat circle, until the circle measures the hat circumference divided by 3.14 across.
Work even. One stitch in each stitch, no increases, until the hat is about 1.5 in short of the height you want.
Ribbed brim. Alternate front post and back post double crochet for the last rounds, or add a band worked in back loops.
Finish. Invisible join, weave in the ends, add a pom-pom if you like.

The maths, worked

Hat circumference	Crown width (÷ 3.14)
16 in	about 5.1 in
18 in	about 5.7 in
20 in	about 6.4 in
21 in	about 6.7 in
22 in	about 7.0 in

If the circle starts to ripple before it's wide enough, use fewer increases per round; if it cups, add more. See crocheting in the round and why circles curl.

Make it easier

Use worsted or chunky yarn and half double crochet: fewer rounds.
Count each round and write the count down; a hat is easy to fix one round later.
Try it on as you go. Working top-down means you can stop at exactly the right height.

Prefer a scarf first? How to crochet a scarf · how to crochet.

Spread your increases evenlyStuck at an odd stitch count? The free calculator turns the stitches you have and the stitches you want into an exact, evenly spaced instruction.

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How big should a crochet beanie be?

Measure the head. As a rough guide adults are often about 21 to 23 in around; make the hat 1 to 2 in smaller so it stretches to fit. An adult beanie is usually about 8 to 9 in from crown to brim.

How do I know when to stop increasing?

When the flat circle's width equals the hat's circumference divided by 3.14. For a 20 in hat that's about 6.4 in across.

What stitch is best for an easy crochet hat?

Half double crochet in joined rounds: quick, warm and easy to count.

How do I make a ribbed brim?

Alternate front post and back post double crochet in the last few rounds, or crochet a band of single crochet in the back loop only and sew it on.