There's something deeply satisfying about a matching set.
Maybe it's the visual coherence. Maybe it's the efficiency of using the same stitch pattern and the same yarn for two pieces that complement each other perfectly. Or maybe it's just that when someone compliments your gloves, you can point to your head and say "the hat matches" and watch their eyes light up.
This set uses the camel stitch—a modification of half double crochet worked into the third loop rather than the top two loops. The result is a fabric with horizontal ridges that look almost identical to knitted garter stitch.
The beanie uses slip stitches at the crown end to eliminate bunching. The gloves are simple rectangles with a gap left in the seaming for the thumb. Both pieces work up quickly and use the same yarn and hook.
Why You'll Love This Beanie and Gloves Set
The camel stitch texture is the defining feature here.
Working into that third loop—the horizontal bar behind the back loop—creates a chain-like ridge across the surface of the fabric. The ridges align row after row, building a fabric that looks knit from any reasonable distance.
The beanie uses the same no-bunch crown technique as my other ribbed beanie patterns. Slip stitches replace half double crochets near the crown edge, so there's less fabric to gather when you cinch the top closed.
The gloves are genuinely just rectangles with strategic seaming.
You crochet a flat panel, fold it, and sew the top and bottom portions closed, leaving a gap in the middle. Your thumb passes through the gap. No gussets. No picking up stitches around an opening. It's the most beginner-friendly glove construction possible.
The tweed yarn does some of the visual heavy lifting for you. The flecks of contrasting color in the yarn add depth and visual interest that a solid-colored yarn wouldn't, without requiring any color work on your part.
Materials Needed
- 120 grams / 290 yards of worsted weight (#4) tweed or heathered yarn (85 grams for beanie, 35 grams for gloves)
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
The yarn shown is Loops & Threads Luxe Merino in Pine Tweed. It's a wool-acrylic blend with a soft hand and visible tweed flecks. At about $5.99 per skein, the set uses approximately two skeins.
For a similar look, Lion Brand Wool-Ease in a heather or tweed colorway ($5.99 per 197 yards) gives you the tweed effect with machine washability. You'll need about two skeins for the full set.
The 4.0 mm hook works with the camel stitch to create dense, warm fabric without gaps.
Best Yarn Choices for a Matching Set
Tweed and heather yarns look particularly good in the camel stitch.
The horizontal ridges of the stitch catch light differently on the flecked fibers, creating subtle variations that make the fabric look more complex than it actually is.
Wool blends offer the best warmth-to-weight ratio. A beanie and gloves set is meant for cold weather, and wool insulates even when damp. Loops & Threads Luxe Merino or Lion Brand Wool-Ease are both good mid-range options.
Acrylic is the budget route. Red Heart Super Saver in a heather shade mimics the tweed look for about $4.49 per skein. The set would cost roughly $9 in yarn.
Avoid smooth, solid-colored yarns for this pattern unless you want a very minimalist look. The camel stitch benefits visually from the color variation in tweeds and heathers.
Gauge, Size Guide & Must-Have Tools
Gauge is more important for the beanie than the gloves, since it determines fit around the head.
With worsted weight yarn and a 4.0 mm hook in camel stitch, expect about 16 stitches and 14 rows per 4 inches.
Beanie dimensions (adjustable):
- Fits head circumference: about 20–22 inches
- Rectangle width: about 14 inches at brim, tapering to about 11 inches at crown
Glove dimensions (adjustable):
- Rectangle: about 7.5 inches wide x 8.5 inches tall before seaming
- Fits average adult hand
Must-have tools:
- 4.0 mm hook: Comfortable grip for long flat rows.
- Tapestry needle: For seaming and weaving ends.
- Stitch markers: Helpful for marking thumb opening on gloves.
Pattern Notes & Tips Before You Start
The camel stitch requires you to identify the third loop of a half double crochet.
When you complete a hdc, look at the stitch from the top. You'll see the standard V (front and back loops). Behind the back loop, there's a horizontal bar—the third loop. Insert your hook under that bar from top to bottom, yarn over, and complete the stitch as normal.
This third loop is easiest to see when the fabric is turned with the wrong side facing you. When working camel stitch in rows, you're typically looking at the side where the third loop is most prominent.
The beanie uses slip stitches at the crown end. These are worked into the front loop only for a smooth look. Keep slip stitch tension relaxed to avoid puckering.
Leave long tails at the beginning and end of each glove piece. These tails become your sewing yarn for the seams, eliminating the need to attach separate yarn for seaming.
Abbreviations Explained
- blo – back loop only: Insert hook under only the back loop.
- ch – chain: Yarn over, pull through loop.
- flo – front loop only: Insert hook under only the front loop.
- hdc – half double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops.
- sl st – slip stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop.
- st – stitch: The V at the top of a completed stitch.
Step-by-Step Camel Stitch Beanie and Gloves
Beanie
Foundation: Make a slipknot. Chain 61.
The length should span from your eyebrows to your crown plus the brim fold.
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd chain from hook and in the next 49 chains. Slip stitch in the last 10 chains. (60 stitches)
The 50 hdc form the body. The 10 slip stitches form the crown section.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Working in front loops only, slip stitch in the first 10 stitches. Hdc in the third loop of the next 50 stitches. (60 stitches)
Row 3: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in the third loop of the first 50 stitches. Slip stitch in the front loop only of the last 10 stitches. (60 stitches)
Rows 4–72: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately until the rectangle wraps around your head with a slight stretch. Stop after an even-numbered row.
Seaming: Chain 1, turn. Fold the piece in half. Slip stitch the ends together through the outer loops.
Crown: Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread onto a needle and gather the slip stitch end by weaving under every other row. Pull tight, close the hole, and knot securely.
Fingerless Gloves (Make 2)
Foundation: Make a slipknot with an extra-long tail (about 12 inches). Chain 35.
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. (34 stitches)
Rows 2–24: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in the third loop of each stitch across. (34 stitches)
Fasten off, leaving an extra-long tail (about 12 inches).
Seaming: Fold the rectangle in half. Using the long tails at each end, sew the top portion (about 8 stitches from the finger edge) and the bottom portion (about 16 stitches from the wrist edge). The unsewn middle forms the thumbhole.
Try the glove on. Adjust the thumbhole size by moving the seam stitches. Tie knots with each tail when the fit is right.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Turn the beanie right side out and fold up the brim. Turn the gloves right side out.
Easy Variations & Custom Ideas
Longer gloves: Add 6 chains to the foundation and 6 rows to the body for gloves that extend further up the forearm.
Solid stitch beanie: Replace slip stitches with single crochets for a slightly thicker crown section.
Color-blocked set: Use a contrasting color for the cuff and brim sections. Change colors at the fold lines for a clean transition.
Scarf addition: Use the same yarn and camel stitch to make a matching scarf for a full winter set.
Common Troubleshooting and Fixes
Camel stitch not forming ridges: You may be working into the back loop instead of the third loop. The third loop is the horizontal bar behind the back loop. Feel for it with your fingers before inserting the hook.
Glove thumbhole too tight: Reduce the number of stitches sewn at the top or bottom seam to create a larger gap.
Beanie crown puckers: Slip stitch tension may be too tight. Try loosening on the slip stitch rows or swapping to single crochets.
Stitch count drifting: Count stitches every few rows. The first and last stitches of rows are the most commonly missed.
Final Thoughts
A matching set feels more intentional than two separate accessories.
When you pull on the gloves and the beanie together, you look put together even if the rest of your outfit is whatever was clean. That's the power of coordinated handmade accessories.
Make the set in a neutral tweed for maximum wearability, or go bold with a bright heathered color that perks up dreary winter days.
Tag me if you make the set. I love seeing the full pairing on real people.
