This is a chunky ribbed beanie worked in the round from the crown down, with a stretchy brim and an optional faux fur pom. It uses only single crochet and slip stitch, so a confident beginner can finish it in about four hours.
Chunky Ribbed Beanie with Faux Fur Pom
Free crochet pattern · US terms
- Yarn
- 5 – Bulky (chunky) — suggested
- Hook
- 6.5 mm (K-10.5) — verify with a swatch
- Gauge
- 9 sts x 10 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in back loop single crochet, unblocked (calculated, not measured)
- Size
- approx. About 20 in (51 cm) around the brim unstretched and 8.5 in (22 cm) tall with the brim folded, to fit a head of about 21-23 in (53-58 cm)
- Level
- Confident beginner
- Time
- about 4 h 10 min (estimate)
Written and count-checked on paper, not yet physically tested. Make the gauge swatch and the checkpoint below before you commit all your yarn.
The hat is crocheted as one piece in continuous rounds from the top down, so there is no seaming. The body uses single crochet worked in the back loop only, which gives the vertical ribbing you normally see on store-bought beanies. The last rounds form a folded brim, and a removable faux fur pom finishes the top.
It suits anyone who can make a single crochet and a slip stitch and is ready to work in the round without joining. The chunky yarn and large hook make the fabric grow quickly, which keeps the project short enough for a first hat.
Before You Start
Materials
Suggested materials. Any yarn of the same weight works if you match the gauge.
1.5 skeins (about 150 yd / 137 m) bulky weight yarn, 100 g each
Bulky yarn gives the thick ribbed look and works up fast. A smooth acrylic or wool blend is easiest to see your stitches in; a single strand of worsted held double is a close substitute.
6.5 mm (K-10.5) crochet hook
This hook matches bulky yarn at the gauge below. If your swatch comes out loose, go down one hook size.
Removable stitch marker
Marks the first stitch of each round so you do not lose your place in continuous rounds. A scrap of contrasting yarn works too.
Tapestry needle
Used to weave in the two yarn ends. A blunt tip passes between stitches without splitting them.
Faux fur pom pom, about 4 in (10 cm) wide, on a snap or with a long tie
Snap-on poms let you remove the pom before washing. If you cannot find one, a yarn pom or no pom at all is fine.
Yarn needed (estimate): estimated about 150 yd (137 m) / 1.5 skeins of 100 g
Gauge and Size
Gauge: 9 sts x 10 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in back loop single crochet, unblocked. This gauge is calculated from the yarn and hook above, not measured on a finished sample. Make a 4 in (10 cm) swatch first; change the hook size, not your tension, until it matches.
Finished size (approximate): About 20 in (51 cm) around the brim unstretched and 8.5 in (22 cm) tall with the brim folded, to fit a head of about 21-23 in (53-58 cm). Your size depends on your gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| BLO | back loop only |
| inc | increase: work 2 sc into the same stitch |
| rep | repeat |
| FO | fasten off |
| MR | magic ring |
Special Stitches
Back loop single crochet (BLO sc)
Insert the hook under the back loop only of the next stitch, the loop farthest from you, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. Working only the back loop pushes the front loops forward and creates the ribbed texture.
How This Pattern Is Written
- All instructions use US crochet terms.
- The hat is worked in continuous rounds from the crown down. Do not join at the end of each round and do not turn; the first stitch of each round is marked with a stitch marker and moved up as you go.
- The turning chain is not used because there are no turning chains in this pattern.
- Right side: the outside of the hat faces you the whole time. The front loops of the ribbing sit on the right side.
- The brim is the last few rounds worked in normal single crochet, then folded up. The fold is not sewn down, which lets the wearer adjust the height.
- Counts are given at the end of each round in parentheses. If your count is off by one or two stitches, fix it before moving on, because the error grows in later rounds.
The Pattern
Crown and Body
Finishing and Assembly
Sizes and Variations
Child size
work Rounds 1-6 only, then BLO sc in each st for 16 rounds, then 4 brim rounds. The count stays at 36 sc.
Slouchy adult
after Round 7, work 30 rounds of BLO sc instead of 15, then add the brim rounds. The count is unchanged at 42 sc.
Two-color hat
change color after Round 7 and again after Round 22. Carry the unused color up the inside and work over it so no ends show on the right side.
No-pom version
skip the pom and add a small pom pom or a tassel made from leftover yarn instead.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The crown ruffles and will not lie flat. | Too many increases, or your stitches are looser than the gauge. | Pull back to Round 4 and check the count is 24 sc. If the count is right, switch to a 6.0 mm hook and continue. |
| The hat is too tight around the head. | The gauge is tighter than 9 sts per 4 in (10 cm), so the finished circumference is smaller than planned. | Add one more increase round to reach 48 sc, then work the body rounds as written. That adds about 2.5 in (6 cm) of circumference. |
| The ribbing looks flat instead of textured. | The hook went under both loops instead of the back loop only. | Unravel to the start of the body and work the back loop only, the loop farthest from you, on every stitch. |
| A gap shows at the top of the hat where the magic ring was. | The magic ring was not pulled fully closed, or the tail was cut too short to weave in. | Pull the starting tail firmly while the ring is still open, then weave the tail through the first round twice before trimming. |
| The brim edge looks wavy. | The slip stitch round was worked too tightly, pulling the edge in. | Redo the slip stitch round with a looser tension, or work it with one hook size larger than the body. |
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent and squeeze, do not wring. Roll the hat in a towel to remove water, then lay it flat to dry away from direct heat. If the hat needs stretching, pin it to the finished measurements and let it dry fully. Remove the pom before washing.
Questions Makers Ask
How do I know which loop is the back loop?
Hold the hat with the right side facing you. Each stitch has two top loops; the one closest to you is the front loop and the one farther away is the back loop. Work under the back loop only for the ribbed body.
Can I use worsted weight yarn instead of bulky?
Yes, but hold two strands of worsted together and use a 6.5 mm hook, then check the gauge. If the gauge matches 9 sts per 4 in (10 cm), the finished size will be the same.
Do I need to join at the end of each round?
No. This hat is worked in continuous rounds, so you spiral upward without joining. The stitch marker shows where each round begins.
How much yarn does the pom take?
A store-bought faux fur pom takes no yarn. If you make a yarn pom, plan on about 20 yd (18 m) extra, so buy a second skein if you are close on yardage.
Next: Try a matching ribbed cowl worked in the same back loop single crochet, which uses the same stitch and gauge with no shaping.