Crochet Basics: How to Crochet in the Round and Make a Beanie!

Now that I’ve covered basic stitches in my first few Crochet Basics lessons, let’s take them for a spin!

…Or a round to be more precise.

And it’s easier than it looks. We aren’t learning any new stitches with this technique, only how to “increase.” To get the circular shape we need, we need to add stitches with each round (circular row) and we do this by working two stitches in the same space.

That simple technique opens up a world of crochet possibilities. Once you learn how to increase, you can make all sorts of shapes, like this triangle scarf, a hexagon, a granny square, shoe soles, etc.

But let’s stick with circles for now. (She caught me giving her bunny ears. Ha!)

To more fully illustrate how to work in the round, I have created three basic projects:

• How to make a basic beanie (this post).
• How to make a beret (which also includes decreasing).
• How to make a basket.

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They all start the same way and they are all worked in basic double crochet stitches, but the results are vastly different. Working in the round is so much fun!

You would be fine to start with any of the three projects, but I did create them somewhat in order, so that this beanie project is a little more instructive to a true beginner than the other two.

I also made it in a bulky weight yarn so that it would be quick and satisfying to make. Once you conquer this beanie, more tightly worked ones in thinner yarn, with ribbed brims, are going to seem totally doable!

Let’s get started!

Materials

• J/10 or 6 mm hook*
• Category 5 or Bulky Weight Yarn**

Notes:

*I have included a free pattern for this beanie for sizes baby through adult large. For some of the sizes, you will need an I/9 or 5.5 mm hook instead.

**I used Lion Brand Color Made Easy Yarn in Mineral Yellow. Yardage depends on the sizing. For the adult small/medium size featured in this video tutorial, you will need about 160 yards. For a child size, you need about 110 yards. These are approximates.

Abbreviations

• Ch = chain
• dc = double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch

Gauge

With J hook: 4 x 4 inch square = 8.5 dc x 6 rows*

With I hook: 4 x 4 inch square = 10 dc x 6 rows

*Even though the hats are worked in rounds, if you plan on making a test swatch, it is easier to do so in rows. For more information on gauge, see THIS POST.

Video Tutorial

Music credit: Pleasant Pictures Music Club.

Written Pattern

Baby

(Use J hook)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 9 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 10, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 8 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (20)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (30)

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in each stitch 29 times. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (30)

Rounds 5-8: Repeat Round 4.

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in back loops only 29 times. Sl st to ch 1. (30)

Round 10. Ch 1, sc in each stitch 29 times. Sl st to ch 1. (30)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Toddler

(Use I hook. Note: This is the same pattern as the child size but is worked with smaller hook)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 12, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 10 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (24)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 10 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (36)

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in each stitch 35 times. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (36)

Rounds 5 – 9: Repeat Round 4.

Round 10: Ch 1, sc in back loops only 35 times. Sl st to ch 1. (36)

Round 11. Ch 1, sc in each stitch 35 times. Sl st to ch 1. (36)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Child

(use J hook)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 12, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 10 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (24)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 10 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (36)

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in each stitch 35 times. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (36)

Rounds 5 – 9: Repeat Round 4.

Round 10: Ch 1, sc in back loops only 35 times. Sl st to ch 1. (36)

Round 11. Ch 1, sc in each stitch 35 times. Sl st to ch 1. (36)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Adult Small/Medium

(use J hook)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 9 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 10, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 8 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (20)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (30)

Round 4: Ch 2, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 8 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (40)

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in each stitch 39 times. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (40)

Rounds 6 – 11: Repeat Round 5.

Round 12: Ch 1, sc in back loops only 39 times. Sl st to ch 1. (40)

Round 13. Ch 1, sc in each stitch 39 times. Sl st to ch 1. (40)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Adult Medium/Large

(use I hook)

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 2, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch 2. (Total stitch count = 12, including ch 2).

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next 10 stitches, 1 dc at the base of ch 2, sl st to to the top of ch 2. (24)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 10 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (36)

Round 4: Ch 2, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 10 times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (48)

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in each stitch 47 times. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (48)

Rounds 6 – 12: Repeat Round 5.

Round 13: Ch 1, sc in back loops only 47 times. Sl st to ch 1. (48)

Round 14. Ch 1, sc in each stitch 47 times. Sl st to ch 1. (48)

Tie off and weave in ends.

That’s it! Add a pom if you like and then go tackle another in the round project HERE or HERE.