Make yourself and your loved ones some Tunisian crochet beanies and contribute to a great cause in the process! Follow this easy step-by-step tutorial for free or buy the PDF version of pattern for color coded stitch counts and a chart.
What’s your menstrual story? Do you even have one?
Maybe some embarrassing moments in school, when you were caught unawares and got up from your chair to the chorus of laughter from fellow teenagers.
Or maybe a benevolent pharmacy sales assistant who gave you some pads and some pain medication because your cramps were so bad you couldn’t even walk.
Or maybe you were too young to know what menstruation even is because everyone assumed you were too young to know about “those matters” and never told you anything and you got scared witless when it first happened.
These are not all my stories. I’ll let you guess which one is mine.
But the point is that half of the world population has this in common and we should talk about this more often.
It should be something we do every day, as every day there are people around the world who are menstruating.
Unfortunately, having periods affects some people’s lives more than others’. Some don’t get to go to school for several days a month because they have no choice.
But there are great people out there trying to help as well. And I want to contribute, so I hope you will help me.
Half of the income from the sale of this Tunisian crochet beanie pattern goes to the African Girl Foundation that aims to equip young people who menstruate in Kenya with reusable menstrual pads and soap that should last them for a year.
You can donate to the project directly as well, by going to their website.
So go find some chunky yarn in your stash, an 8 mm hook, and get busy. Make a quick and easy and super customizable hat or beanie using this easy pattern. Pick your size and whip it up.
You can add cute embroidered motifs to the main section of the hat, or you could just skip the embroidery and use this as a regular hat.
You could even replace the simple stitches in the middle part of the hat with other stitch combinations that make a prettier fabric if you do not intend to embroider on it.
It is even possible to adapt this pattern to other yarn weights, by making more stitches in the main part and working more pattern repeats.
You can also turn this into a Tunisian crochet slouchy hat pattern by adding more chains in the beginning and adding more Tss in the flat section of the pattern.
Your imagination is the only limit.
You will find a PDF version of this pattern in my shop, on Etsy or on Ravelry (if Ravelry bothers you, but you want to use it, I came up with a workaround for the current themes that give people migraines).
Tunisian crochet beanie step by step video
You can also follow along with the video tutorial, if you prefer it. Click on the thumbnail to go to YouTube and follow along with the tutorial.
Notions for making a Tunisian crochet hat
- Yarn – bulky/ chunky yarn or size 5 yarn at 60-80 meters per 50 grams – between 30 and 80 grams per hat, depending on size (here are some yarns that would work with this pattern);
- 8 mm hook – either Tunisian crochet hook, straight or with cable, or regular hook with a stopper on the end;
- Tapestry needle;
- Scissors.
Sizes
This hat is very easy to size up or down. You begin with a number of chains that represents the height of the hat (from the brim to the top of the crown) and make as many pattern repeats as you need to get the hat wide enough.
In the following table, you’ll have measurements and numbers of stitches for several sizes – from toddler to adult. You can mix different numbers – if you want a slouchy beanie, start with more chains.
| Size | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
| Head (cm) | 40 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 52 | 54 | 57 | 61 | 64 |
| Head (“) | 15 3/4 | 17 | 18 1/8 | 19 1/4 | 20 1/2 | 21 1/4 | 22 1/2 | 24 | 25 1/4 |
| Hat (cm) | 36 | 39 | 42 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 52 | 56 | 59 |
| Hat (“) | 14 1/6 | 15 1/3 | 16 1/2 | 17 5/7 | 18 1/2 | 19 2/7 | 20 1/2 | 22 | 23 2/9 |
| Pattern repeats | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11.5* | 12 | 13 | 13.5* |
| Hat height (cm) | 15 | 17 | 18.5 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Hat height (“) | 6 | 6 2/3 | 7 2/7 | 7 7/8 | 8 2/3 | 9 | 9 4/9 | 9 5/6 | 10 1/4 |
| Beginning chain | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Brim | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Middle | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Crown | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Stitches and other abbreviations
- Ch – chain;
- R – return pass – Ch1, repeat [YO and pull through 2 stitches on hook] until you are left with only one loop on the hook;
- SRR – short row return – used for short rows: repeat [YO and pull through 2 stitches on hook] until you are left with only one loop on the hook;
- Tps – Tunisian purl stitch – bring yarn to the front of the hook, insert hook from right to left behind the next vertical bar and pull up a loop;
- Tss – Tunisian simple stitch – insert the hook behind the vertical post of the stitch, YO and pull up a loop;
- YO – yarn over.
Things to keep in mind when making this Tunisian crochet beanie
- This pattern is suitable for any gender or age, as long as you make the hat in the recipient’s size and favorite color combination.
- Make a gauge swatch before you begin. Adjust the hook size or yarn weight until you reach gauge.
- The pattern is written out for all sizes, so choose your size and fill out the “General instructions” section with your chosen counts.
- The number of loops on the hook at the end of the row is written after the dash at the end of each row.
- This pattern is made up of regular rows and short rows. Most rows are short rows and abbreviated with SR.
- This hat is constructed sideways, with a brim and crown shaping incorporated in the pattern repeat.
- To make the hat shorter or longer, adjust only the number of stitches in the main body of the hat – decrease or increase the number of stitches after the first 6 stitches on each row (the brim).
- You can use the provided chart to visualize the construction of this hat or follow along the video tutorial to see how it is made and seamed.
Gauge swatch for this Tunisian crochet hat
Make a gauge swatch using the following instructions and adapt your hook size to reach the recommended size.
The final square should measure 5 by 5 cm or 2 by 2 inches.
R1. Ch6, pick up loops in all back bumps of the chains, R (7)
Rows 2-5. 5Tss, Ls, R (7)
There is no need to bind off, just measure the width and height of your swatch. Change the hook size or yarn weight until you reach gauge.
Full instructions for this Tunisian crochet beanie
The following instructions are for all sizes, with the following layout: A, B, C (D, E, F) [G, H, I].
Start with a slip knot on your hook.
Row 1. Ch 15, 17, 18 (20, 22, 23) [24, 25, 26], pick up loops in all chains, R — 16, 18, 19 (21, 23, 24) [25, 26, 27]
Row 2. 4, 4, 5 (5, 6, 6) [6, 6, 7] Tps, 9, 11, 11 (13, 14, 15) [16, 17, 17] Tss, SRR — 14, 16, 17 (19, 21, 22) [23, 24, 25]
Row 3. 11, 13, 14 (16, 18, 19) [20, 21, 22] Tss, SRR — 12, 14, 15 (17, 19, 20) [21, 22, 23]
Row 4. 4, 4, 5 (5, 6, 6) [6, 6, 7] Tps, 5, 7, 7 (9, 10, 11) [12, 13, 13] Tss, SRR — 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 18) [19, 20, 21]
Row 5. 14, 16, 17 (19, 21, 22) [23, 24, 25] Tss, Ls, R — 15, 17, 18 (20, 22, 23) [24, 25, 26]
Row 6. 4, 4, 5 (5, 6, 6) [6, 6, 7] Tps, 9, 11, 11 (13, 14, 15) [16, 17, 17] Tss, SRR — 14, 16, 17 (19, 21, 22) [23, 24, 25]
Row 7. 11, 13, 14 (16, 18, 19) [20, 21, 22] Tss, SRR — 12, 14, 15 (17, 19, 20) [21, 22, 23]
Row 8. 4, 4, 5 (5, 6, 6) [6, 6, 7] Tps, 5, 7, 7 (9, 10, 11) [12, 13, 13] Tss, SRR — 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 18) [19, 20, 21]
Repeat Rows 5-8 another 8, 9, 10 (10, 11, 11.5*) [12, 13, 13.5*] times, to reach a total row count of 48.
Where you have half pattern repeats (marked with *), you should repeat only rows 1 and 2 at the end.
The PDF version includes color-coded stitch and loop counts, as well as a section that you can fill in with stitch counts for your chosen size.
If you need the hat to be wider, continue increasing the width with multiples of 2 rows, in pattern.
Seaming this sideways Tunisian crochet beanie
When you are done, do not bind off, but cut the yarn, leaving a long tail – long enough to seam up the gap (about 30-40 cm).
Pass the yarn end through the eye of the tapestry needle and first create an invisible stitch seam on the brim, like in the photos below.
Then use the same tail to seam up the gap, making sure that you pick up corresponding stitches on both sides.
Insert the needle on the left side and pick up some loops. Repeat on the right side. Continue going back and forth, working in a ladder.
Pull on the yarn end to close the gap with an invisible seam. At the end, pull the tail to close the gap, then give it some slack, so it is not completely taut, but has the same give as the rest of the hat.
You can now close the top of the hat, or leave it open for a messy bun version, or add a pompom.
To close the hat, use the same tail and go through the front loops of the 12 edge stitches, going in a spiral, from front to back, until you reach the first stitch. Pull on the tail to close this gap, then weave in the two ends.
Embroidery on Tunisian crochet hats
To create the embroidered motif, first cut a length of yarn and pass it through the eye of the tapestry needle.
Then weave in one end and start making diagonal stitches going from left to right across the stitches in the middle part.
To finish the cross stitches, return from the end of the row by working through the same spaces, but this time from right towards the left.
After the last stitch, bring the needle out at the beginning of a new row.
In the PDF pattern, you will find the pattern for the crimson drop embroidery pattern as well.
Final thoughts
If you like this Tunisian crochet beanie pattern and want to print the pattern or use the chart, please consider buying a PDF copy from the product page (or from Etsy or Ravelry).
If you use Ravelry, you can add it to your project queue or make a project page and link it with the pattern page, so I can see what you make.
Keep close and sign up to my emails if you haven’t already (you’ll get a nice pattern too).
If you want more Tunisian crochet patterns, check these out:
Forward pass short rows in Tunisian crochet
4 types of foundation rows in Tunisian crochet
Frilly summer top in Tunisian crochet – project diary
Tunisian crochet ribbing – 6 easy methods
Slate etching Tunisian crochet sweater – project diary
Free Tunisian crochet sweater pattern with 12 sizes
Tunisian crochet felted leaf pot holder pattern
Plumaria capelet – a new Tunisian crochet wing pattern
Diamond lace Tunisian crochet free bandana pattern
Beginner crochet bandana – free pattern
I’ll see you soon.
Hugs,
Andrea
