How to Crochet a Granny Stitch Beanie Free Pattern & Video Tutorial

Catherine wearing a crochet granny stitch beanie with faux fur pom pom

Granny Stitch Beanie Free Crochet Pattern

If you love the granny stitch as much as I do, this granny stitch beanie is just the thing. Using the classic granny stitch, this beanie works up quickly, looks gorgeous in any colour combo, and is perfect for gifts or keeping cosy yourself.

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to crochet a granny stitch beanie, from choosing your yarn to adding those finishing touches.

Prefer a Printable PDF?

The adult size of this beanie pattern is free here on the blog, so you can get started right away. If you’d like access to all the other sizes (from newborn through to large adult) in a fully ad-free format, the PDF version is available in my shop.

excerpts from the granny stitch beanie pdf pattern

The PDF also comes with printable project planner pages, making it easy to keep track of your yarn, hooks, and notes in your crochet journal or project folder.

Why You’ll Love This Project

This Granny Stitch Beanie is such a simple and cosy project, made even more special with the beautiful colour-changing yarn that gives each beanie a unique look. If you love the granny stitch this will become your new favourite and the faux fur pom pom on top adds a super cute finishing touch and we also have a matching scarf pattern to finish the look.

Catherine modelling the granny stitch beanie and scarf

Is This Beginner Friendly?

Yes! If you’re comfortable with basic stitches like double crochet (US terms) and working in rounds, you’ll have no problem. It’s a great next step if you’ve already made a granny square and want to try your hand at wearables.

What Inspired This Design

I love how versatile the granny stitch is — it works for blankets, scarves, and now hats too. I wanted to create something that had that nostalgic granny square feel but with a modern twist, and this beanie was the perfect fit.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use or trust.

Choosing Your Yarn

The granny stitch really shines when you play with colour. Use a solid shade for a classic look or mix and match your stash yarns for a striped effect.

For this pattern, I used Yarnsmiths Nirvana Aran, a soft and versatile 100% acrylic yarn with 375 metres per 150g ball. It comes in 10 stunning shades, and the sample beanie was made in the colour Mellow Dreams.

If you’re not able to source Nirvana Aran, here are some great alternatives that work beautifully with this pattern:

When choosing substitutes, use the yardage as a guide and check the size chart to make sure you have enough for your chosen size.

Hook and Tools You’ll Need

Granny Stitch Guide

If you’re new to the granny stitch, it’s simply clusters of three double crochet stitches, usually worked into spaces rather than stitch tops. It gives that distinctive, open texture we all love.

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Size Guide

This free version of the pattern includes the Small Adult size, which fits a head circumference of approximately 55–60 cm (21.5–23.5 in).

Check the chart for yarn quantities. I’ve included the yardage so you can easily substitute yarns if you prefer something different to the suggested options.

If you’d like to make the beanie in other sizes — from newborn right up to large adult — you’ll find the complete size guide and instructions included in the ad-free PDF pattern. The PDF also contains printable project planner pages to help you keep track of your materials and progress.

a size chart for the granny stitch beanie

Video Tutorial

Prefer to watch and crochet along? I’ve made a step-by-step video tutorial showing you exactly how to crochet a granny stitch beanie from start to finish. You can follow along at your own pace before diving into the written pattern.

Granny Stitch Beanie

Catherine wearing a granny stitch crochet beanie with faux fur pom pom

PATTERN DETAILS

HOOK

4.00 mm hook

5.00 mm hook

YARN

Yarnsmiths Nirvana Aran

OTHER ITEMS

Yarn needle

Scissors

Faux fur pom pom

ABBREVIATIONS US TERMS (UK TERMS)

ch - chain

sl st - slip stitch

st - stitch

sp - space

sc - single crochet (double crochet)

dc - double crochet (treble crochet)

dc2tog - double crochet 2 sts together (treble crochet 2 together)

gcl - granny cluster (granny stitch)

blo - back loop only

st st - stacked st

SIZES

S adult (sizes newborn to L adult available in the pdf version of this pattern)

GAUGE

12sts x 7.5 rows in Granny Stitch = 10cm (4 in)

PATTERN NOTES:

Read pattern carefully in its entirety before starting.
ch1 starting chain is replaced by slightly elongating the loop on your hook. This gives your ribbing a neater edge.
A stacked stitch is worked by placing a single crochet with another single crochet on top of it.
A stacked stitch counts as a double crochet in this pattern.
The ribbing is worked first, with the body of that hat worked from the ribbing up and a round of decreases at the end.

RIBBING

With 4mm hook, chain 23.

Row 1 Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn.

Row 2 Sc in 1st st, sc blo in each st across to last st, sc in last st, turn.

Repeat row two, 67 times, for a total of 69 rows of ribbing.

JOIN RIBBING

Fold ribbing over and join to foundation row.

Working through back loops and foundation edge, sl st through both joining together.

Work a sl st across for each st of the ribbing.

Do not fasten off.

BODY OF HAT

Round 1 Ch1 working across edge of ribbing, sc in top of each row (total number of sc should be the same as for rows ribbing), join with st st to 1st sc, turn.

With 5mm hook

Round 2 St st, 2dc in same st, [sk2, gcl in next st] repeat around ending with a sl st in top st st, turn.

Round 3 Working in spaces between clusters, st st, 2dc in same sp, gcl in next sp and in each sp around, join with sl st to top st st, turn.

Repeat round three 11 times, for a total of 13 rounds in granny stitch, turn.

DECREASES

Round 1 St st, [dc2tog over this sp and next, dc in same sp] repeat around ending with gcl in last sp, join with sl st to top st st. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

CINCH CROWN

Thread yarn tail onto darning needle and work your way through the front loops of each stitch and pull to close top of hat, go through each stitch a second time, then fasten off and weave in end on the inside of hat.

a baby size granny stitch crochet hat with a faux fur pom pom

ADDING POM POM

Sew a button on the inside of the hat, close where you fastened off. The faux fur pom pom may be attached to the button by pulling the elastic loop through the top of the hat with a crochet hook and looping over the button.

Finishing Touches

You can leave your beanie simple, add a fluffy pom pom, or even a leather tag to give it a professional look.

More Granny Stitch Projects

If you enjoyed this, you might also like my other granny stitch patterns. Once you know how to crochet a granny stitch beanie, you’ll find it easy to branch out into scarves, cowls, and blankets.