Free Crochet Winter Hat Pattern – Herringbone Stitch Beanie

This free crochet winter hat pattern uses a herringbone crochet moss stitch and a simple bottom up method from the band to create a stunning, textured beanie in sizes for the whole family.

With gentle decreasing to shape and gather the top of the hat, you can add a pom pom or just leave it plain.

In sizes newborn baby to large adult with a full video tutorial and step by step images of the stitch pattern you can create this crochet hat that looks like it’s from a store in no time!

Scroll down for the free textured crochet hat pattern, or purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version here:

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure and privacy policy for details.

About this free winter crochet hat pattern

I think that crochet hats for winter are just the best quick gift that you can make. I love the fact that they can use up a good bit of yarn stash, be for any gender or age and also sell really well at craft fairs too!

When it comes to how to crochet a hat and what construction to choose I often work from the bottom band up and this works perfectly for this design.

You begin by working a long, thin strip for the band which then gets joined to form a circular ring.

The hat is then worked in rounds directly into the band and closed at the top. So only two ends to weave in and super easy to crochet the hat in lots of sizes for the whole family!

Do crochet hats keep you warm?

I often get asked if crochet hats keep you warm and my answer is always yes!

It seems a mystery to me that just because they aren’t knitted or bought from a store there is an assumption that they don’t have the same kind of warmth for your head.

Of course, how warm the crochet hat keeps your head depends on a few factors including the type of yarn fibre you choose, the style of stitch used and whether you crochet it to the correct tension to make it fit you well.

The great thing about crochet hats is that you can easily adapt them and there are so many styles and designs out there to choose from!

I have a quick round up of crochet hats for all the family that might be a good read to see some options.

Moss Stitch Crochet Hat Video Tutorial

If you’d like to follow a full video tutorial for the hat then you can find it here: Crochet hat video tutorial.

Yarn

I made four versions of the crochet hat pattern myself – the newborn baby, child, small and large with various different yarns from my stash.

The great thing about crochet hat patterns like this one is that it doesn’t use all that much yarn so you can almost certainly find something in your collection.

To make the child and adult crochet hats I used Swish DK from WeCrochet (100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool , 123yds/50g).

You will need for the following sizes: Newborn (Baby, Child, Teen/Small, Large), 1 (1, 2, 3, 3) balls of yarn.

For the cream coloured newborn crochet hat I used Along Avec Anna Merino in Colombe. It’s a beautiful fingering weight yarn that I held doubled to create a double knit weight.

I often get asked about ideas for alternative yarns and for this one it’s particularly important I think. Crochet hats need to be comfortable to wear, have a good amount of stretch in them and the herringbone moss stitch works best with a yarn that has good definition to make the texture really pop!

Here are some that I think would work really well for this textured crochet hat pattern in various price ranges:

• Paintbox Yarns Simply DK – 100% acrylic, 276m/100g
• Stylecraft Bellisima – 100% acrylic, 268m/100g
• Lion Brand Heartland #3 yarn, 100% acrylic
• Alpaca Cloud DK #3 yarn, 100% Baby Alpaca

Here’s a picture to show you just how important it is to find a yarn that gives you really good stitch definition for this pattern. I’m also tempted to crochet more hats without pom poms because this one looks so cute!

Tension and Sizing

The free winter crochet hat pattern is for sizes Newborn (Baby, Child, Teen/Small, Large).

To fit head circumferences: 12-15 (15-18, 18-21, 21-24, 24+) inches.

18 sts and 20 rounds of Hhdc moss stitch = 4in by 4in  / 10 cm x 10 cm. using a 4.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Materials

Along with your yarn, you will need the following:

• A 4.5mm(G+) crochet hook- my favourites are Furls Streamline Swirl crochet hooks or Clover Amour crochet hooks.
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle

Pattern Options

Get this herringbone moss stitch crochet hat pattern free in this blog post in US terms – just scroll down to find it! You can also purchase an ad-free, printable PDF with added extras in my pattern stores: 

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this free winter crochet hat pattern to your crochet Pinterest board!

Glossary and Abbreviations

ch(s) – chain(s)

sp – space

ss – slip stitch

RS – right side

WS – wrong side

sk – skip

rep – repeat

yoh – yarn over hook

blo – back loop only

Crochet Stitches

UK Crochet Terminology	US Crochet Terminology
dc – double crochet	sc – single crochet
htr – half treble crochet	hdc – half double crochet

Special Stitches

If the herringbone moss stitch is new to you then make sure to check out my video tutorial or herringbone half double crochet moss stitch step by step tutorial.

The moss stitch (often known as the granite or linen stitch too) is by far one of my favourites. It has such a lovely texture, delicate drape and works so well for all sorts of designs.

I love working with this stitch and have used it to create matching mittens and a headband too!

The herringbone moss stitch crochet mittens pattern use exactly the same style of construction as this hat and so would be the perfect set to make!

If you’re looking for a quicker make then the herringbone moss stitch chunky crochet headband pattern is the one for you. It’s worked in the round too but without a cuff to make and with chunky yarn.

Or if you fancy having a go at the stitch in rows then you can with my herringbone crochet dickie pattern. And adding to this collection of herringbone stitch makes, I have a crochet backpack pattern as well so now you can choose from all sorts of accessories to make!

Here are the written instruction for each of the special stitches you’ll need for the winter crochet hat pattern –

Herringbone half double crochet: Hhdc

Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Pull first loop straight through the second loop (similar to a slip stitch to leave 2 loops on the hook). Yarn over, pull through two remaining loops on hook.

Back loop only herringbone half double crochet moss stitch: Hhdc-moss

Work as for Hhdc but insert hook into back loop only of unworked stitch 2 rounds below. Work over the chain 1 space on the previous round.

Back loop only herringbone half double crochet moss stitch 2 together : Hhdc-moss2tog

Yarn over, insert hook into back loop only of next stitch 2 rounds below (working over the ch1 on round below), yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Pull first loop straight through the second loop (similar to a slip stitch to leave 2 loops on the hook). Yarn over, skip next st on previous round, insert hook into back loop only of next stitch 2 rounds below (working over the ch1 on round below), yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook). Pull first loop straight through the second loop (similar to a slip stitch to leave 3 loops on the hook). Yarn over, pull through three remaining loops on hook.

If you love the look of the moss stitch then you might also like to have a go at the double crochet moss stitch – I have a tutorial and lots of patterns featuring that too!

Pattern Notes

A ch1 at the beginning of a round does not count as a stitch.

A ch2 at the beginning of a round counts as a ch1-sp in stitch count.

Work in back loops only throughout.

Turn the Band after each row.

Work the Main Hat Section in rounds without turning.

The pattern is written in standard US crochet terms.

Crochet Hat Pattern Construction

The Cuff is worked in rows then joined to make the band for the hat.

Continue with the same yarn to now work in rounds into the sides of the Cuff rows.

This creates the Main Hat Section.

Once you complete the Main Hat Section you are ready to decrease and close the top of the hat.

The final rounds decrease to gather the top of the hat.

Crochet Winter Hat Pattern

US Crochet Terminology

Decrease Section

Round 1: ch1, *Hhdc-moss2tog, ch1, skip next st, Hhdc-moss in skipped st below next ch-1 sp, ch1, skip next st; rep from * around ss in 1st Hhdc-moss2tog to join. [40, (52, 60, 72, 80)]

Round 2: ch2 (counts as ch1-sp), Hhdc-moss in next skipped st below ch-1 sp, *ch1, skip next st, Hhdc-moss in next skipped st below ch-1 sp; rep from * around, ss in 1st ch of beginning ch2 to join.

Round 3: ch1, *Hhdc-moss2tog, ch1, skip next st; rep from * around ss in 1st Hhdc-moss2tog to join. [20, (26, 30, 36, 40)]

Round 4: (sc in next st and Hhdcmoss in next st together) around. [10, (13, 15, 18, 20)]

Break yarn leaving a long tail to use for seaming and finishing.

Seaming and Finishing

Using your long tail, thread through the final round of the hat and pull secure to close the top.

If you are choosing to add a pom pom you can use the same tail to secure it/add the popper/button now.

Weave in ends securely to finish.

Join HanJan and Share Your Crochet!

It’s an honour to be able to create and share my free crochet patterns with you. I’d love to stay connected and send you regular discount codes and free patterns! Please sign up for my subscriber list to get a free gift right now! 

I look forward to seeing your finished crochet projects, especially this easy crochet pattern, so please share them with me in the HanJan Crochet Facebook group or on Instagram and tag #hanjancrochet.

More Crochet Hat Patterns You Might Enjoy

If you enjoy making warm and cosy winter crochet hat patterns here are a few more of my designs you might enjoy crocheting!