🌟 Introduction
Looking for the perfect go-to hat that’s warm, stylish, and looks deceptively complicated? The Urban Ribbed Fold-Over Beanie is it! This hat achieves its signature knit-look ribbing by simply working Half Double Crochet (HDC) stitches into the Back Loop Only (BLO). It’s worked flat as a rectangle and then seamed together, making it a straightforward project, even for confident beginners. The resulting fabric is wonderfully stretchy and cozy, ideal for a cuffed beanie.
Skill Level: Easy/Beginner-Friendly
Finished Size: Adult Medium (Approx. 20-22 inches head circumference, with plenty of stretch)
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn: Approximately 150-180 yards of Worsted Weight (Aran/10-ply) yarn. Acrylic or a wool blend is recommended for warmth and good stretch. (The sample image suggests a vibrant royal blue.)
- Hook: Size I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Yarn needle for seaming and weaving ends, and scissors.
📏 Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!)
- Before Seaming: A 4-inch x 4-inch square should be 14 rows wide (counting the ridges) and 13 stitches tall (along the long edge).
- Finished Rectangle Dimensions: Approximately 14 inches wide (width of the hat) by 16-17 inches long (height of the hat, before seaming).
Note: The width of the rectangle corresponds to the height of the hat; the length of the rectangle (the rows) corresponds to the head circumference.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | sc | single crochet | | BLO | Back Loop Only | | hdc | half double crochet | | FO | Fasten Off | | dc | double crochet | | CC | Cinch Closed |
⭐ Special Stitch (The Ribbing)
- HDC BLO: Yarn over, insert hook into only the back loop of the specified stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops. This is the main stitch used for the body of the hat.
🧶 The Pattern: The Urban Ribbed Fold-Over Beanie
Part 1: The Ribbed Rectangle
We will create a rectangle that measures approximately 14 inches (the hat’s height) by 16-17 inches (the hat’s circumference).
Foundation Chain: Ch 47 (adjust for height: 35 sts for the main body, 11 sts for the cuff, 1 ch for the turning chain).
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, and hdc in each ch across. (You should have 46 hdc). Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), turn. (46 hdc)
Row 2: Hdc in the BLO of the first st and in the BLO of each st across until the last stitch. Hdc in BOTH loops of the last st (This helps create a neater, less stretchy edge for seaming). Ch 1, turn. (46 hdc)
Rows 3 – 60 (or until desired length): Rep Row 2.
Measurement Check: The finished rectangle should measure approximately 16-17 inches long (the row edge) and 14 inches wide (the stitch edge/height). The number of rows needed (approx. 60) may vary based on your personal gauge and yarn thickness. Make sure the length stretches comfortably around your head.
Part 2: Seaming the Body
Now we will turn the flat rectangle into the hat shape.
Joining Row: Fold the rectangle in half, bringing Row 60 and Row 1 edges together. You can use one of two seaming methods:
- Method 1: Slip Stitch Seam (Creates a slightly raised seam): Ch 1, then working through the back loop of the last row and the foundation loop (the unused loop) of the first row, sl st across all 46 stitches to join the edges. FO, leaving a very long tail (approx. 20 inches) for closing the crown.
- Method 2: Mattress Stitch Seam (Creates an invisible seam, recommended): Thread your yarn needle with the long tail. Using the mattress stitch or whipstitch technique, sew the two vertical edges together. Ensure your seam is tight but does not pucker. Leave the long tail attached.
Part 3: Closing the Crown
This forms the top of the hat.
Cinching the Top:
- Keep the working yarn (the long tail) attached to the top edge of the hat.
- With your yarn needle, weave the tail in and out through the tops of the rows, placing the needle approximately every other row end all the way around the top opening of the cylinder.
- Once the needle has gone all the way around, pull the tail tightly to cinch the top opening closed.
- Reinforce the closure by stitching back and forth across the small remaining hole a few times to ensure it’s secure.
- Knot the yarn and weave the tail securely into the inside of the hat.
Part 4: Finishing Touches
- Cuff: Fold the bottom edge of the hat up to create the cuff (approximately 2.5 to 3 inches). The ribbing is designed to fold perfectly!
- Weaving: Weave in any remaining yarn tails on the inside of the hat.
- Optional Pom-Pom: Attach a matching or contrasting yarn pom-pom to the crown for extra flair.
Video Tutorial:
✨ Tips & Customization
📏 Sizing Adjustments
- For a Tighter Fit (Smaller Head): Work fewer rows in Part 1 (try stopping around Row 55, or when the rectangle measures 15 inches long).
- For a Taller Hat (Slouchy): Add more stitches to the starting chain (e.g., ch 55 instead of ch 47).
- For a Shorter Hat (No Cuff): Subtract stitches from the starting chain (e.g., ch 35 for a hat with no fold-over cuff).
🧺 Care and Blocking
- Washing: Most worsted weight acrylic yarns are machine washable, but always check your yarn label. Hand washing and laying flat to dry is safest.
- Blocking (Optional but helpful): While not always necessary for ribbing, lightly steam blocking the hat over a head-shaped object (like a bowl or balloon) can help even out the stitches and define the shape beautifully.
You’ve now created a stylish, squishy, and wonderfully warm Urban Ribbed Fold-Over Beanie! Enjoy wearing your handmade masterpiece!
