Beanies worked in the round feel different than flat-construction beanies.
They grow from a center point on the crown outward in concentric circles, like a top-down hat in reverse. The shaping happens through evenly spaced increases that create a flat circle, then the body works even to the brim. There's no seaming. No gathering the crown. The round construction eliminates both.
This version adds stripes by changing colors at the end of rounds. The stripes run horizontally around the hat, creating clean color bands that look crisp and intentional. Carrying unused yarn up the inside eliminates cutting and rejoining for every stripe.
The brim is optional and simple. Add a few more even rounds at the bottom and fold up. The pattern includes both brim and no-brim versions with measurements for each.
Why You'll Love This Crochet Beanie
No seaming and no crown gathering eliminates the two most common beanie frustrations.
The crown is shaped from the beginning. By round 2, you can see the circular top forming. By round 5 or 6, the diameter matches your head and you simply stop increasing. The body grows straight down with no shaping math.
Stripes add visual interest without complexity.
The color changes happen at the slip stitch join at the end of each round. Pull the new color through on the final yarn-over, and the transition is nearly invisible. The pattern suggests specific rounds for color changes to create even stripes, but you can change whenever you want.
The beanie works up quickly in double crochet.
At roughly 8 rounds per 4 inches, an adult beanie takes about 20 rounds total. It's a one-evening project even for beginners.
Sizing is genuinely adjustable. Stop increasing when the crown circle matches your head diameter. The pattern gives specific measurements for small, medium, and large.
Materials Needed
- 70 grams / 130 yards of worsted weight (#4) yarn in two colors
- 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
Red Heart Super Saver Brushed in Cream and Lilac Dew are the colors shown. This brushed acrylic has a soft texture and subtle sheen. One skein of each is more than enough for a two-tone beanie.
Any worsted weight in two contrasting colors works. The stripe effect is strongest with a light and a dark or two distinct hues. Cream and navy, grey and mustard, white and burgundy all work well.
Best Yarn Choices for Striped Beanies
Smooth, plied yarns give the best stripe definition.
The color transition happens at a specific stitch. A yarn with clear plies shows that transition cleanly. Fuzzy or loosely plied yarns blur the boundary between stripes.
Acrylic is the practical choice. Machine washable, widely available, and affordable. Red Heart Super Saver Brushed adds a soft hand to the standard Super Saver line.
Wool blends add warmth and a more polished look. Lion Brand Wool-Ease in two colors creates a beanie with better stitch definition and genuine winter warmth.
Self-striping yarns create automatic stripes without changing colors. One skein of a long-color-repeat yarn like Lion Brand Mandala will stripe naturally as you work.
Gauge, Size Guide & Must-Have Tools
Gauge: 8.5 rounds of 13 double crochets = 4 inches square.
Finished dimensions (adjustable):
- Small: 60-stitch crown, about 20-inch circumference
- With brim: about 8.7 inches long
- Without brim: about 7.1 inches long
To change size, add or remove increase rounds. Each increase round adds roughly 10 stitches and about 1.5 inches to the crown diameter.
Must-have tools:
- 5.5 mm hook: Standard worsted weight hook.
- Stitch marker: Mark the first stitch of each round.
Pattern Notes & Tips Before You Start
The crown is a flat circle with evenly spaced increases. Each round adds 10 stitches. The circle should lie flat. If it's cupping, your increases are too few. If it's ruffling, they're too many.
Change colors at the end of the round on the final yarn-over of the slip stitch. Pull the new color through to complete the join. Carry unused yarn loosely up the inside of the work.
The chain-2 at the beginning of each round does not count as a stitch. Work your first double crochet into the same stitch where you slip stitched.
For a fold-up brim, add 4 rounds after the body reaches eyebrow level. The extra length folds up neatly. For a no-brim beanie, stop when the body reaches the eyebrow.
Abbreviations Explained
- ch – chain: Yarn over, pull through loop.
- dc – double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, (yarn over, pull through two loops) twice.
- inc – increase: 2 double crochets in the same stitch.
- rep – repeat: Work the instruction set again.
- sl st – slip stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop.
Step-by-Step Striped In-the-Round Beanie
Crown
Foundation: Make a magic ring or chain 4 and slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 2. Work 10 dc into the ring. Slip stitch to the first dc. (10 stitches)
Round 2: Chain 2. Inc in each stitch around. Slip stitch. (20 stitches)
Round 3: Chain 2. (Dc, inc) repeat around. Switch colors. Slip stitch. (30 stitches)
Round 4: Chain 2. (Dc in next 2 stitches, inc) repeat around. Slip stitch. (40 stitches)
Round 5: Chain 2. (Dc in next 3 stitches, inc) repeat around. Switch colors. Slip stitch. (50 stitches)
Round 6: Chain 2. (Dc in next 4 stitches, inc) repeat around. Slip stitch. (60 stitches)
Stop here for a small beanie. For larger sizes, continue adding rounds with one more dc between increases each time.
Body
Rounds 7–16: Chain 2. Dc around. Slip stitch. (60 stitches)
Switch colors at the end of rounds 8, 10, 13, 15, and 18 for even stripes. For a longer beanie, add rounds. For a cropped fit, stop earlier.
Brim (Optional)
For a fold-up brim, add 4 more rounds of dc. Fasten off. Fold the brim up to the desired width.
For a no-brim beanie, fasten off after the body.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. The carried yarn on the inside should lie flat against the fabric. Trim any loose strands.
Easy Variations & Custom Ideas
Wider brim: Add 6–8 rounds instead of 4 for a deeper folded brim.
Single color: Skip the color changes for a classic solid beanie.
Thin stripes: Change colors every 2 rounds instead of following the suggested stripe pattern.
Pom-pom: Attach a pom-pom to the crown center using the magic ring tail.
Common Troubleshooting and Fixes
Crown is ruffling: Too many increases. Check your stitch counts per round. Each round should increase by exactly 10 stitches.
Crown is cupping: Too few increases or your tension is too tight. Count your stitches and try a slightly larger hook.
Color change creates a visible step: Pull the new color through on the final yarn-over of the slip stitch join. This places the color change inside the join rather than at the first stitch of the new round.
Seam is drifting diagonally: Work your slip stitch join into the exact first stitch of the round. Turning at each round also prevents drift.
Final Thoughts
A striped beanie is one of those projects that looks like you planned it carefully even when you were just using up partial skeins.
The round construction is faster than flat construction, and the stripes break up the monotony of solid double crochet in a way that keeps the project engaging.
Make one in your favorite color pairing and wear it everywhere.
Tag me if you post yours. Striped beanies always look so cheerful in a feed.
