If you’ve been looking for a cozy, textured beanie that feels just as at home on a woodland walk as it does on a chilly morning commute, the Rustic Trail Beanie is the one for you. This free puff stitch crochet pattern is part of the From Us to You Donation Challenge 2025, a project encouraging makers everywhere to create hats and scarves for those in need.

This design uses the puff stitch, a classic, squishy stitch that gives incredible texture and warmth, making this an intermediate-level crochet pattern.

I recommend using solid color yarns or yarns with a long color change. That way, the stitch definition really shines through, and those puff stitches look like little trails winding up your hat.

Why It’s Called the Rustic Trail Beanie

On one of our family woodland walks, we came across a set of stepping stones crossing a river. The puff stitch rows in this design instantly reminded me of those stones—neatly placed with little “paths” between them, inviting you to follow along.

We live in an area that’s popular with hikers and trail walkers, so it felt only right to give this hat a name that reflects that outdoor spirit.

You’ll love this pattern if:

• You enjoy a squishy, textured stitch that pops.
• You prefer minimal finishing (no endless seams here!).
• You like versatile designs that look great in both solids and slow-color-change yarns.
• You want a modern puff stitch crochet beanie that’s both stylish and practical.

Materials Needed

To make your own Rustic Trail Beanie, you’ll need:

• #4 weight yarn (worsted/aran) – approx. 275-320 yards depending on size
• 5 mm crochet hook
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape
• Stitch markers (optional but recommended) – they’re especially helpful for newer crocheters to mark where the brim starts and the last 6 stitches at the top of the hat.

Grab the PDF Pattern

If you prefer an ad-free, printable version of this pattern (perfect for on-the-go crocheting), you can grab your copy in any of my shops:

From Us to You Donation Challenge Event:

Between 11am on 24th September – 11:59pm EST on 26th September you can get this pattern as a free pdf download only as part of the From Us to You Event.

To get your download please click the button below:

Special Stitches

This puff stitch crochet pattern uses a few stitches that may be new if you’re still building your skills:

• Puff Stitch – *YO, insert hook into next st to be worked, YO and pull through (3 loops on hook). * Rep from * to * twice more when you will have 7 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 7 loops on your hook. Ch1. NOTE: the Ch1 does NOT count as a stitch.
• Third Loop only – The photo below shows you which loop is the back loop. When working in rows this will be on the side facing you.
• BLO (Back loop only) – The photo below shows you which loop is the back loop.

Need a refresher on the puff stitch? Sandra from SandraStitches has an excellent video tutorial here that walks you through these stitches step by step.

Sizing

The Rustic Trail Beanie pattern is currently written for 3 adult sizes:

• Small (to fit head circumference 21-21.5″)
• Medium (to fit head circumference 21.5–22.5″)
• Large (to fit head circumference 23–24″)

Don’t worry if you’re looking to make this for kids—I plan to expand the pattern soon to include child sizes. Stay tuned!

Pattern Specifics

• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Construction: Worked side to side in one piece, joined at the end
• Seaming: Minimal (just one short seam to finish and close the top)
• Abbreviations (US Terms):
  • Ch(s) – chain(s)
  • St(s) – stitch(es)
  • Rep – repeat
  • HDC – half double crochet
  • Sc – single crochet
  • PS – puff stitch
  • Ss – slip stitch
  • SM – stitch marker
  • *to* – repeat between the * and *FO – fasten off
  • YO – yarn over

Pattern Notes:

• Written in US terms.
• The Ch1 which ends your puff stitch does not count as a stitch.
• This pattern is worked from side to side. Row 1 will be your hat length (note that if you are working the folded brim option this measurement is with the brim folded). Work the width to the desired measurement before seaming it together.
• Your overall stitch counts will remain the same for each row.
• Do not work your slip stitches too tightly as you will need to work into them on subsequent rows!
• Do not Ch1 at the start or end of any rows.
• I would recommend using stitch markers to mark the first and last SS on each row and the first and last hdc each row. This will help you maintain the correct stitch count.
• You may want to check the length of this beanie once you have worked row 3. Remember that you will need to measure it with the brim folded in half if you are working the folded brim option.
• There is a right and wrong side to this pattern. Puff stitches are worked on the wrong side rows.
• Where the pattern differs for size, this will be written as small (medium / large).

Rustic Trail Beanie – Free Puff Stitch Crochet Pattern

** This is a free pattern on the Sunflower Cottage Crochet blog for the foldable brim version of this beanie. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

Row 1 Ch 38 (42, 44). Sc in second ch from hook and each of the next 11 (13, 13) sts. HDC in next 19 (21, 23) sts, sc in next 3 sts, ss in last 3 sts. (37, 41, 43 sts)

Row 2: Turn, SS in first 3 sts, Sc in next 3 sts, sc third loop in the next 19 (21, 23) sts. Sc BLO in last 12 (14,14) sts. (37, 41, 43 sts)

Row 3: Turn, Sc BLO in first 12 (14, 14) sts, sc in next 22 (24, 26) sts, SS in last 3 sts. (37, 41, 43 sts)

Row 4: Turn, ss in the first 3 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, *PS in next st, hdc in next st*. Rep from * to * 8 (9, 10) more times. Sc BLO last 12 (14, 14) sts. (37, 41, 43 sts)

Row 5: Turn, Sc BLO in first 12 (14, 14) sts, hdc in next 19 (21, 23) sts, sc in next 3 sts, ss in last 3 sts.  (37, 41, 43 sts)

Rows 6 on: Rep rows 2-5 until hat measures approximately 20 (21, 22)” wide.

NOTE: if you want an invisible seam end with a hdc row (row 5)

Leave a long tail (enough to sew your hat together) and FO.

 Assembly:

Thread your yarn through your tapestry needle and sew the sides of your hat together. I used a simple whip stitch but you can use whatever stitch you are comfortable with.

NOTE: to get my invisible seam where the brim is I seamed the front loop on one side and the and the back loop on the other together.  For the section with the puff stitches I made sure to sew the third loop on one side to the corresponding stitch on the other to maintain the ridge. You may want to give it a go and after a couple of stitches take a peek to ensure you have seamed the third loop on the correct side of your hat.

FO and weave in ends.

Cut another piece of yarn approximately 6-8 inches long. Thread it through your tapestry needle.

Weave your thread around the opening at the top of your hat just under the first set of slip stitches. Once you have gone all the way around, tie the yarn tight to close the hole and FO. Note: Depending on your yarn used you may find that your hat has a wee gap at the top where you have pulled it closed. You can, if you choose to, stitch the gap closed.

Final Thoughts

The Rustic Trail Beanie is more than just another puff stitch crochet hat pattern—it’s a project with purpose, designed to keep someone warm and cozy while also bringing joy to the maker. Whether you’re joining the From Us to You Donation Challenge 2025 or making it as a gift for a loved one, this is a pattern you’ll want to crochet again and again.