How to Crochet a Beanie With a Brim & Ear Flaps

The basic beanie can have many embellishments.

A beanie fits snugly over the crown of the wearer's head, and can be decorated or embellished in many different ways. Adding a narrow brim and ear flaps adds functionality as well as style. The circular nature of round crochet is a natural for creating the beanie. A narrow brim can also trade on the natural properties of crocheted yarn, but a wider brim may need to be starched or stitched to a stiffening agent, such as buckram.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crochet hook
• Wig form
• Buckram hat form
• Blunt yarn needle
• Sharp sewing needle
• Sewing thread

Instructions

The Basic Beanie

1. Crochet a six-stitch chain, and slip stitch the last stitch to the first. Double crochet through the center of the ring you just created till it is filled with an even number of stitches. Slip stitch the last stitch and the first stitch of the row together.

2. Chain two, and begin the next round without turning the work. Double crochet through the first stitch in the row, make two double crochets in the next stitch. This shaping row will begin cupping the hat slightly. Check often to make sure it is progressing evenly by placing it over a buckram hat form or wig form. You may need to increase the number of double crochets in one space if it cups too rapidly, or make one double crochet in a space or even skip a stitch in the previous row if the material starts to ruffle.

3. Repeat the shaping rows until you have made a small round hat that will fit snugly over the crown of the wearer's head, extending to just above the ears, forehead and nape of the neck. Slip stitch the first and last stitches of the last row of double crochet together.

Brim Shaping

1. Keeping the last loop of the beanie on the crochet hook, insert the hook through the bottom loop -- the one closest to the crocheted fabric -- of the previous row of crochet. Make a single stitch. Repeat around the rim of the hat. Slip stitch the last and first stitches together.

2. Make an increase row. For a flat brim, increase every other stitch or even every two stitches by making two double crochets in one stitch. To create a ruffled brim, make two double crochets in every stitch. Slip stitch the last two stitches together. Continue to make increase rows until the desire width is reached. For a narrow, bill-style brim, fold the brim in half. Place markers at each end of the fold.

3. Double crochet from one marker to the other, double chain and turn. Skip the first stitch, double crochet across to the next to the last stitch, skip the stitch and double crochet in the last stitch. On all hat styles, single crochet around the brim of the hat.

4. Hold the work so that the crown of the hat faces away from you. Insert the crochet hook through the underside of the last row and work a decrease row around the brim, matching the brim style. Repeat until the bottom crocheted fabric is the same width as the top. Cut the yarn, and pull the cut end through the last loop. Leave the end loose.

Inserting a Form

1. Turn the crocheted hat wrong side out. Place the crown of the beanie on the crown of the form. Gently press the wrong side down against the form, leaving the right or pattern side up.

2. Smooth the brim out over the brim of the form until you reach the edge. Finish turning the hat right side out, tucking the second layer of crochet under the edge, matching the inner edge of the underside of the brim with the bottom edge of the beanie.

3. Thread a sharp sewing needle with polyester thread. Stitch through the loose edge of the underside of the brim, the hat form and the upper edge of the brim to keep all the layers together.

Adding Ear Flaps

1. Place the hat on the future wearer's head or on the wig form. Mark slip a yarn marker on the underside of the brim at the top of the ears on both sides. Remove the hat from the wig form, and turn it over so the underside is accessible.

2. Insert the crochet hook at one of the markers and pull up a loop of working yarn. Chain seven, then slip stitch the last stitch to the stitch in front of the top of the ear position on the hat. Crochet three single stitches in the next three stitches. Triple crochet seven times through the center of the loop, working your way around the loop to the stitch behind the ear marker. Count three stitches from the marker toward the back of the hat. Slip stitch the last treble crochet stitch to the third stitch.

3. Single crochet in the next stitch toward the back of the hat, then single crochet around the top of the treble crochets. Slip stitch the last crochet in the row to the underside of the hat, make one single crochet in the hat brim, then single crochet back around the flap. Repeat the single crochet rows till the flap reaches the desired size.

4. Single crochet to the bottom of the flap, then single crochet two more stitches. Count back four stitches, insert the hook through stitch number five, and make a single crochet. Crochet across the five stitches again, but do not slip stitch the last one to the first. Instead continue crocheting in a spiral to create a string to use to tie the flap under the chin. Repeat on the other side to make the second flap.

References

• McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Spring-Summer, 1966
• Art of Crochet by Teresa; How to make the Crochet Crocodile Scale

Resources

• Theater House; Buckram Hat Forms