🌟 Introduction
Looking for a modern take on a classic winter essential? The Retro Contrast Ribbed Beanie combines the incredible stretch and texture of Back Loop Only (BLO) ribbing with a stylish two-tone color block design. This hat is worked flat as a rectangle, making it a straightforward project perfect for confident beginners, and then easily seamed and cinched to create a beautifully contoured crown. The thick folded cuff adds extra warmth and a trendy retro look!
Skill Level: Easy/Beginner-Friendly
Finished Size: Adult Medium (Approx. 21-23 inches head circumference, with plenty of stretch)
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn: Approximately 170-200 yards total of Worsted Weight (Aran/10-ply) yarn. Choose a soft acrylic, wool, or blend for warmth and stretch.
- Color A (Cuff): Approx. 60-70 yards (Light Pink/Beige in sample).
- Color B (Body): Approx. 110-130 yards (Orange/Terracotta in sample).
- Hook: Size I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Yarn needle for color changes, seaming, and weaving ends, and scissors.
📏 Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!)
- Ribbing (in HDC BLO): A 4-inch square should be 14 rows wide (counting the ridges) and 13 stitches tall (along the long edge/height).
- Finished Rectangle Dimensions: The total finished rectangle (before seaming) should be approximately 14 inches wide (width of the hat) by 18-19 inches long (circumference of the hat).
Note: The width of the rectangle (stitch count) determines the height of your finished hat, and the length of the rectangle (row count) determines the circumference.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | hdc | half double crochet | | BLO | Back Loop Only | | C A | Color A (Cuff Color) | | C B | Color B (Body Color) | | FO | Fasten Off | | 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 entire hat.
- Seam Stitch: Work the final stitch of each row into BOTH loops of the final stitch of the previous row. This creates a sturdier, cleaner edge for seaming.
🧶 The Pattern: Retro Contrast Ribbed Beanie
Part 1: The Fold-Over Cuff (Color A)
The cuff section should be long enough to fold up (approx. 3.5 inches).
Foundation Chain (C A): Ch 50 (adjust for total hat height: 14 sts for the cuff, 35 sts for the body, 1 ch for the turning chain).
Row 1 (C A): Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, and hdc in each ch across. (49 hdc). Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn.
Rows 2 – 14 (C A): HDC BLO in the first 48 sts. Work a standard HDC in BOTH loops of the last st (the seaming stitch). Ch 1, turn. (49 hdc)
Color Change: At the end of Row 14, change to Color B on the last yarn over of the final hdc. Do not fasten off C A; simply drop it and let it hang.
Part 2: The Body (Color B)
The body section will be worked from the end of the cuff to the crown. The ribbing continues.
Rows 15 – 30 (C B): Hdc in the BLO of the first 48 sts. Work a standard HDC in BOTH loops of the last st. Ch 1, turn. (49 hdc)
Switching Back to Cuff Color (Optional): If you want the hat body to be taller, add more rows here. At the end of Row 30, change to Color A on the last yarn over of the final hdc.
Rows 31 – 44 (C A – Finishing the Body): Rep Row 2 (HDC BLO, HDC in last st).
Note: The total length of your rectangle should be around 18-19 inches after these rows. (44 total rows). You should end on a row where the working yarn is at the crown edge (the opposite side of the initial foundation chain).
Part 3: Seaming and Crown Shaping
We will turn the flat rectangle into the hat shape.
Joining Row: Fold the rectangle in half, bringing Row 44 and Row 1 edges together. Since the fabric is reversible, it doesn’t matter which side is facing you.
- Seaming Method (Recommended): Use the working yarn (C A) and a yarn needle to whipstitch or mattress stitch the two vertical edges together. Work through both loops of the stitches along the seaming edges for a sturdy seam. FO, leaving a very long tail (approx. 25 inches) for closing the crown.
Cinching the Top (Crown Closure):
- Thread your yarn needle with the long tail.
- Weave the needle in and out through the tops of the rows along the open crown edge, placing the needle approximately every other row end (about 22 times) 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 completely closed.
- Reinforce the closure by stitching back and forth across the small remaining hole a few times.
- Knot the yarn securely and weave the tail into the inside of the hat.
Video Tutorial:
✂️ Finishing & Styling
✨ Weaving & Cuffing
- Weave in all remaining yarn tails securely on the inside of the hat, including the join where you changed colors.
- Cuff: Fold the bottom edge of the hat up to create the cuff (approximately 3.5 inches). The contrast color should show prominently!
🧺 Blocking (Optional)
- While this hat is extremely stretchy and wearable immediately, a light steam block can help settle the stitches and ensure the fold line is crisp. Place the hat over a head-shaped object (like a bowl or balloon) and gently steam the fabric (avoid direct heat contact, especially with acrylic yarn).
You have now created a stylish and exceptionally warm Retro Contrast Ribbed Beanie! This two-tone technique is a great way to use up stash yarn and add a pop of color to your wardrobe.
