Hive Beanie – A Textured & Stylish Crochet Beanie Pattern Free on the Blog

Looking for a easy and free crochet beanie pattern that’s more than just single crochets and repetition? Meet the Hive Beanie—a beautifully textured, free crochet hat pattern that’s unisex, confident beginner-friendly, and perfect for giving back.

This hat was designed especially for the From Us to You Donation Challenge—a fantastic event filled with kindness, creativity, and the joy of making handmade items for those in need. All of the patterns featured in this event are free to view on the blog posts.

Whether you’re making hats to donate or to gift to loved ones, the Hive Beanie is a satisfying and practical project that works up beautifully in a variety of yarns and colors.

Note: this post may contain affiliate links. Should you use them I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to yourself.

The Almond Stitch – Small Tweaks, Big Texture

Let’s talk about the real showstopper here: the almond stitch. This stitch is a bit of crochet magic. And it is perfect for winter accessories and blankets!

By tweaking basic stitches just a little (i.e. working into the back loop only), you end up with a stunning texture that almost looks like it popped off the hook all by itself. If you’ve been working your way through beginner patterns and you’re ready to learn something new (without diving off the deep end), the almond stitch is your new best friend.

You can find my comprehensive written, photo and video tutorials for the almond stitch on my blog posts here.

Just want the video tutorials for this stitch? You can find the right handed version here and the left handed version here.

It’s rhythmic, relaxing, and adds just the right amount of “ooooh, what stitch is that?” to your hat without being too tricky to master.

Pattern Details – Let’s Get Technical (But Not Too Much)

The Hive Beanie is a modern, stylish hat that works in solid colors, stripes, color blocks—you name it. It’s worked flat in rows as a rectangle (so satisfying!), then seamed and gathered at the top. You’ll add the brim last, and if you’re in the mood for even more warmth, you can go full cozy-mode with a double brim (I’ve got a video tutorial on that right here if you want to try it).

Here’s what you need to know:

• Skill Level: Confident beginner
• Sizes Included: 8 sizes from newborn to adult large
• Construction: Worked flat in rows, seamed, gathered at the top, brim added in the round
• Style: Unisex – looks fab on everyone!
• Customization: Add a double brim for warmth; switch up the colors for a bold or classic look
• Yarn Needed: Approx. 80–200 yards, depending on size

🧡 Where to Get this Crochet Beanie Pattern Pdf

This pattern is free right here on the blog—just scroll to the bottom of the post to find the full written instructions.

But if you’d like a printable, ad-free PDF version, you can grab it in my shops below:

From Us to You Donation Challenge:

From Wednesday 28th May until 11:59pm EST on Friday 31st May you can get this pattern as a free pdf download as part of the From Us to You Donation Challenge.

All you have to do is scroll to the bottom of this post and click the special event button. Your pdf will be waiting on the next page for you to download directly to your device.

Yarn & Hooks – What I Used

For this design, I reached for Women’s Institute Soft and Smooth Aran—a yarn that really lives up to its name! It’s soft, has great stitch definition, and holds up beautifully after wear and wash. However, it appears that this yarn is only available in the UK at HobbyCraft stores.

You can use any #4 weight yarn for this pattern – it will look great in most yarns. Personally I would avoid the yarns where the colour changes quickly (i.e. every few stitches) as it will over power the texture of the almond stitch.

Yarn weight: #4 Aran
Yarn used: Women’s Institute Soft & Smooth Aran
Hook sizes:
– 4mm for the brim – this helps it stay nice and snug, avoiding the dreaded flare
– 5mm for the body – perfect for showing off that almond stitch texture

Not only does this yarn feel lovely to work with, but it comes in a wide range of shades—ideal for your next favorite solid-color hat or a scrappy stash-busting version with all your leftover yarn babies.

A Great Project for Skill-Building Crocheters

If you know your way around the basic stitches—think slip stitches, single crochet, and half double crochet —but you’re itching to level up just a touch, the Hive Beanie is calling your name.

You’ll practice working flat, back loop only, seaming, gathering, and working in the round—all wrapped up in a pattern that doesn’t feel overwhelming. That’s right, you can sharpen your skills and still have something giftable (or wearable!) by the end of the day.

Want More Cozy Crochet Patterns?

If hats aren’t enough (and let’s be honest, when are they ever?), you might enjoy some of my most popular blanket patterns too:

• Relaxing Waves Blanket: A rhythmic, beginner-friendly wave pattern that’s great for any skill level
• Always and Forever Unisex Scarf: A great looking unisex scarf written in multiple sizes
• Granny’s in the Frame Square: A modern take on the traditional granny with bold texture

These make wonderful gifts and donation items as well.

Ready to Get Hooking?

Scroll down to find the free crochet hat pattern for the Hive Beanie below ⬇️

Whether you’re making one for donation, a gift, or just because your head’s cold (relatable), I hope this pattern brings you joy, confidence, and a little burst of “look what I made!”

Materials needed for this crochet hat pattern: 

Gauge:

12 sts and 10 rows per 3”

Sizing:

This pattern is written for 8 sizes from newborn to adult large.

Abbreviations Used:

Pattern Notes:

• Written in US Terms
• CH1 stitches at the beginning of each row do not count as a st unless otherwise stated. 
• The stitch count remains the same for each row. They are given at the end of row 1 when each round maintains the same stitch count.
• Where pattern is different per size this will be shown as newborn (6mth/12mths/1-3 yrs/4-10 yrs/ teen/ adult med/adult large).
• You may find it easier to highlight or mark the stitch counts you need where these differ between sizes.
• Please read the pattern and ensure you are comfortable with it before starting your project.
• Do not work your slip stitches too tightly as you will be working into them on the next row!
• You may end on any row before starting the brim but will get a better finish if you can end with a repeat of row 4. 
• Please note that with the size adult medium your brim will be slightly smaller than the other adult sizes to accommodate for the stitch multiple and ensure that the hat is not too long. Similarly some of the child sizes have stitch counts that you may not expect because of the brim size too. 

Special Stitches:

Back Loop: The photo below shows you which loop is the back loop.

The Free Hive Crochet Beanie Pattern

** This is a free pattern on the blog. 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! Please credit me as the designer in any posts or sales. **

Main body of the hat: (5mm hook)

Row 1: CH 21 (23, 25, 29, 27, 29, 33, 33)

SS in second CH from hook and next 3 (1, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1) chains, HDC in next 4 CH’s, *SS in next 4 CH’s, HDC in next 4 chains* Rep from * to * until you have 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2) CH’s remaining. SS in last 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2) CH’s

(Stitch totals: 20(22, 24, 28, 26, 28, 32, 32) sts)

Row 2: Turn, CH1, HDC BLO in first 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4) sts, SS BLO in next 4 sts, *HDC BLO in next 4 sts, SS BLO in next 4 sts* Rep from * to * until you have 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4) sts remaining. HDC BLO in last 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4) sts.

Row 3: Rep row 2.

Row 4: Turn, CH1, SS BLO in first 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2) sts, HDC BLO in next 4 sts, *SS BLO in next 4 sts, HDC BLO in next 4 sts* Rep from * to * until you have 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4) sts remaining. SS in last 4, (2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2) sts.

Row 5: Rep row 4.

Rows 6 on: Rep rows 2-5 until your work is 13 (16, 17, 18, 18, 20, 21, 22)” wide.

Do not FO

Brim: 4mm hook

Now we will work the brim. Turn your hat so you are working along the bottom edge (i.e. effectively down one side of the rows that you have just worked).

You can find my video tutorials for this technique at:

Right handed – https://youtu.be/Hl2NEa7cZxc

Left handed – https://youtu.be/n5wfOIIGriI

I recommend using a 4mm hook for this section, but you can use a 5mm if you prefer.

Note: if you work too many rows your hat brim will be too wide. Too few and your hat brim will be too narrow. Keep an eye on the measurements of your brim to ensure you are spacing your slip stitch joins evenly.

Row 1:  CH 3 (3, 3, 5, 5, 8, 5, 8), SC in each CH across (including the first one!), [SS to next row along the edge of your hat] 2 times. 3 (3, 3, 5, 5, 8, 5, 8) sts

Row 2:  Turn, SC BLO in each st across (3 (3, 3, 5, 5, 8, 5, 8) sts)

Row 3:             CH1, turn, SC BLO in each st across, [SS to next st along the bottom of your hat] 2 times.

Rows 4 on:     

Rows 3 on: Rep rows 2 and 3 along the bottom of your hat until you have worked all of the way along.

Leave a long tail to sew the side of your hat together and FO.

Assembly:

Using the long tail, and with right sides together, thread your yarn through your tapestry needle and sew the sides of your hat together. I used a simple mattress stitch but you can use whatever stitch you are comfortable with.

FO and weave in ends.

Cut another piece of yarn approximately 12 inches long. Thread it through your tapestry needle.

Weave your yarn around the opening at the top of your hat just under the first stitch. Once you have gone all the way around, tie the yarn tight to close the hole and FO.

Note: Some of my testers found that they need to go around twice to get a tight closure on the bigger sizes.

And don’t forget to tag me on social when you finish your Hive Crochet Beanie pattern — I’d love to see what colors you pick and who you’re stitching for. You can find me on Facebook here and Instagram here!