How to Make a Crochet Hat with Herringbone Stitches – Free Pattern
Introducing the Snow Tracks Beanie – a cozy and stylish free crochet hat pattern for you to enjoy! Designed for the From Us to You Event 2025, this beanie is the perfect blend of simplicity and texture, making it an ideal project for both beginner and experienced crocheters.
Using primarily half double crochet stitches with striking stripes of herringbone double crochet, this hat works up quickly and adds just the right amount of visual interest. Made with #4 weight (aran) yarn and a 5mm hook, the Snow Tracks Beanie is warm, versatile, and easy to customize.
The inspiration behind the Snow Tracks Beanie comes from the way fresh snowfall highlights trails and footprints, leaving behind a textured pattern reminiscent of the herringbone stitch used in this design. As part of the From Us to You Event, each design features a white stripe, and in this beanie, you can choose to add one, two, or three stripes—or even create an entirely striped version! This makes it a great project for using up scrap yarn from previous projects while keeping the overall aesthetic clean and modern. The pattern is available in adult small, medium, and large sizes and is completely free below, so grab your hook and let’s get started!
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Why You’ll Love the Snow Tracks Beanie
The Snow Tracks Beanie is a perfect combination of simplicity, texture, and customization, making it a great project for crocheters of all skill levels. Here’s why you’ll love making (and wearing) this cozy hat:
✅ Quick & Easy to Make – The beanie works up fast with half double crochet as the main stitch, making it a great option for last-minute gifts or market prep.
✅ Uses Common Materials – Designed with #4 weight (aran) yarn and a 5mm hook, both of which are easy to find in most yarn stashes or local craft stores.
✅ Beginner-Friendly with a Fun Twist – While the main stitch is simple, the herringbone double crochet sections add a bit of variety without being overwhelming. Perfect if you want to try a new stitch!
✅ Customizable Design – Choose how many stripes to add—one, two, or three—or go bold and make the entire hat striped!
✅ Great for Scrap Yarn – The striped sections are a perfect way to use up leftover yarn from previous projects, making this an eco-friendly and stash-busting design.
✅ Part of the From Us to You Event 2025 – Features a signature white stripe as a fun, unifying detail across all event designs.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and cozy winter project or a chance to mix up your stitches, the Snow Tracks Beanie is sure to become a favorite in your crochet collection!
Construction of the design
The Snow Tracks Beanie is a beginner-friendly free crochet beanie pattern that is worked side to side in rows, creating a stretchy and comfortable fit. Using primarily half double crochet stitches, this design is easy to follow and works up quickly. Stripes of herringbone double crochet add subtle texture, making this hat both stylish and fun to crochet.
With a super simple repeat, it’s also effortless to customize—adjust the height, width, or number of stripes to create a unique look.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, this free crochet hat pattern is a must-make winter essential!
More free crochet hat patterns:
If you like this pattern you may also like some of these crochet hat patterns that are free on the blog posts:
Pomander Beanie – worked side to side and written for teen / adult small to adult large this hat has some great texture.
Gentle Kisses Beanie – this one is free on the blog for 8 sizes, yet is one of my most popular hat patterns in my shops too! It’s a great top down beanie for all sizes from newborn to men’s large.
The Little Dots Preemie Beanie is written for 4 preemie sizes from 2-6lbs. The texture on this one is designed to flatten so it will not be uncomfortable on baby’s heat.
The Hannah Beanie is a great adult unisex pattern that is perfect for trying the double brim! It creates such a warm brim that really helps to protect your ears from the winds in the colder months. I have a video tutorial to help you with a double brim!
The Winterberry beanie is another adult sized hat that is unisex. I used feminine colours on my version, but one of my testers made this one more neutral and her husband wanted it!
Get the PDF pattern!
You can find the ad-free PDF Pattern for this one in all of my shops:
From Us to You Event:
This pattern is no longer available as a free pdf download in this event. However, all of the patterns featured are free on the blog posts. Check out which other patterns are available by clicking the button below!
The free crochet hat pattern specifics:
Materials:
| Any 4 weight yarn of your choosing – I used Paintbox simply aran in duck egg and white for mine. · 5mm (H) hook · Scissors · Tapestry Needle · Stitch Markers (optional) – at least 2 (1 to mark the start of the slip stitches and 1 to mark the start of the brim (sc BLO) ) plus 2 for the first and last st if you prefer to mark those also. |
Gauge:
| My gauge was 14 hdc and 12 rows in 4”. |
Sizing:
| Size | Approx. Hat length (inches) | Hat width (inches) | Approx Yardage |
| Teen / Adult small (head size 21-21.5”) | 8” | 20” | 170 |
| Adult medium (head size 21.5-22.5”) | 8.5” | 21” | 200 |
| Adult large (head size 23”) | 9” | 22” | 220 |
Abbreviations used:
| Ch(s) – chain(s) St(s) – stitch(es) Rep – repeat HDC – half double crochet Sc – single crochet BLO – back loop only Hbdc – herringbone double crochet Ss – slip stitch SM – stitch marker *to* – repeat between the * and * FO – fasten off YO – yarn over |
Other notes:
| Written in US terms. This pattern is worked from side to side. Row 1 will be your hat length. Work the width to the desired measurement before seaming it together. 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. To amend the length of your beanie, adjust your starting row by any number of stitches. There is no stitch multiple of this pattern! You may want to check the length of beanie once you have worked row 3. There is no right and wrong side to this pattern. However, check out your Hbdc sections and choose the side you prefer to be the outside of your hat. Where the pattern differs for size, this will be written as small / medium / large. |
Special Stitch: Herringbone Double Crochet (HBDC)
Herringbone Double Crochet – YO, insert hook into next st to be worked, YO and pull through (3 loops on hook). Pull the loop you have just made through the second loop on your hook (2 loops on hook). YO and pull through the first loop on your hook (2 loops on your hook). YO and pull through both loops on your hook. Hbdc completed.
Back loop: The photo below shows you which loop is the back loop.
** This is a free pattern on the SunflowerCottageCrochet.com blog. If you are reading this anywhere else it is stolen content. 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!**
Snow Tracks Beanie – Free Crochet Pattern:
Row 1 Ch 30 (33, 36). Sc in second ch from hook and each of the next 4 (5, 5) sts. HDC in next 21 (23, 26) sts, Sc in next 2 sts, SS in last st. (29, 32, 35 sts)
Row 2: Turn, SS in first st, Sc in next 2 sts, HDC in next 21 (23, 26) sts, Sc BLO in last 5 (6, 6) sts.
Row 3: Turn, Sc BLO in first 5 (6, 6) sts, HDC in next 21 (23, 26) sts, Sc in next 2 sts, SS in first st.
Rows 4-5 on: Rep rows 2 + 3 until work is approximately 9.5 (10, 10.5)” wide. End on row 2.
Row 6: Turn, Sc BLO in first 5 (6, 6) sts, Change to colour B, HDC in next st, Hbdc in next 19 (21, 24) sts, HDC in next st, Sc in next 2 sts, SS in first st.
Row 7: Turn, SS in first st, sc in next 2 sts, HDC in next st, Hbdc in next 19 (21, 24) sts, HDC in next st, Change to colour A, Sc BLO in last 5 (6, 6) sts
Row 8: Rep row 3.
Row 9: Rep row 2.
Row 10: Rep row 6.
Row 11: Rep row 7.
Rows 12-15: Rep rows 8-11.
Row 16: Rep row 3
Row 17: Rep row 2
Rows 18 on: Rep rows 16 and 17 until work measures 20 (21, 22)” wide
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 mattress stitch but you can use whatever stitch you are comfortable with.
FO and weave in ends.
Decide which side will be the inside of your hat and turn it inside out (so that the inside is facing you).
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.
As always, don’t forget to tag me in your free crochet hat pattern makes on Facebook or Instagram!
