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The Thimble Beanie – FREE Tunisian Crochet Pattern
Well hello there! I’m so excited to be featured on the Joy of Motion blog today, and even more jazzed to share with you my first Tunisian crochet beanie.
The Thimble Beanie was one of those designs that just kind of fell off my hook. It came together perfectly, and I cannot wait to see these adorning heads everywhere this winter!
I used Lion Brand’s Color Made Easy, and it has quickly become my favourite bulky weight yarn. I’m a sucker for good, solid colours, and there are over 20 choices with this one! For my samples, I used the colours Shade and Pomegranate. A solid colour is best for this pattern, to allow the texture of the stitches to really stand out.
Tunisian crochet creates a thicker fabric than most regular crochet stitches, so this beanie is going to be perfect for keeping heads warm all winter. It also uses a larger hook, so your hat works up quickly! The pattern is written for 2 sizes, approximately child and adult, with fitted or slouchy options. It is easily adjustable to suit your preferred fit! The brim is worked first, then the body is worked in rows. It is seamed up the back, cinched at the top, and topped with your favourite pom (or leave it as is if you’re not a pom person). The unique texture that Tunisian crochet creates makes this fashion forward hat stylish and warm!
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As I mentioned above, this pattern is written for convenient sizes, but is easily customizable. It also includes options for a fitted beanie or a slouchy style depending on the look you’re going for.
For this design, I chose Lion Brand Yarn Color Made Easy. It has a soft, squishy texture that is perfect for hats! I used Shade for the child size slouchy sample, and Pomegranate for the adult size beanie version.
The hat uses between approximately 100 yds for the child beanie, to approximately 160 yds for the adult slouchy. One skein will be enough, whatever size and fit you choose!
Yarn characteristics:
(5) Bulky
100% acrylic
Other Materials Needed
Needle, find one here (if you don’t already have one)!
This pattern is written for two sizes: Child (Adult), but you may adjust the width by adding or removing ribbing rows in multiple of 2, and the height by adding or omitting repeats of body rows 2 and 3.
The ribbing is done with a regular 9mm crochet hook, and then the body of the hat uses a 10mm hook with a cord to allow for the Tunisian stitches.
Slip Stitch ribbing can be difficult to track your rows, so I recommend using a row counter to keep track. Also remember that two rows form one rib.
The RetP for each body row will be the same: Ch 1, *yarn over and pull through 2 loops, repeat from * until 1 loop remains on the hook. This loop counts as the first stitch of your next row’s FwdP.
Size & Measurements
Hat Size Tip!
Learn more about crochet hat sizes & making the correct size on our detailed post: Crochet Hat Sizes!
The measurements below are taken with the hat laid flat, without pompom attached. These are approximate, and of course will vary if you make any adjustments.
The stitch pattern formed is called Diagonal Lattice Stitch. It is worked by alternating rows of staggered Tunisian Cross Stitch. CLICK HERE for a detailed demonstration of the technique (fast forward to 21:27 of the video). You should also be familiar with Tunisian Simple Stitch.
WORKING THE DECREASES:
For each dec st, you will be working under three bars to pull up two loops, decreasing by one st for each dec st worked. This keeps the lattice pattern intact in your decrease rounds. Refer to the picture below (picture 7) for the following instructions: [1] Insert your hook under the next three bars and pull up a loop. [2] Insert your hook under the first loop only, pull up a loop. [3] You will use these next three bars (marked with white dots) to work your next dec st.
Using a 9mm regular crochet hook, ch 8 and turn. Sl st into the back bumps of each ch st, ch 1 and turn. (7 sts)
Sl st into the back loop only of each st along the row. Ch 1 and turn. (7 sts)
Repeat row 2 until you have completed 57(63) rows. You may wish to use a row counter to keep track, or remember that each rib consists of 2 rows of sl sts. Turn your work and switch to a 10mm hook with cord attached.
Body
Skipping the first space, pull up 2 loops in the spaces between the ribs. Finish the FwdP with 57(63) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Work 27(30) cross sts, tss in the next st and tss in the edge st. Finish the FwdP with 57(63) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Tss in the first st, then work 27(30) cross sts, tss in the edge st. Finish the FwdP with 57(63) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternating, for a total row count as follows:
Child Beanie: 8 rows
Child Slouchy: 12 rows
Adult Beanie: 10 rows
Adult Slouchy: 16 rows
If you would like to adjust the height of your hat, remove or add rows here before carrying on to the Decreasing Rows in the next step.
Decreasing Rows
Dec across until 1 st remains. Tss in next st, tss in edge st, finishing the FwdP with 39(43) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Dec across until 1(2) st(s) remain. Tss(cross st) in the next st(s), tss in edge st, finishing the FwdP with 27(29) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Dec across until 1(0) st remains. Tss in the next st (child size only), tss in the edge st (both sizes). Finish the FwdP with 19(20) loops on your hook. RetP, finishing with one loop on your hook.
Finishing
Slip stitch bind off, working under 2 bars for each sl st. Fasten off and leave a long tail.
Fold your work in half, making sure to match the sides of the brim together evenly. It may help to secure your work with stitch markers to ensure it stays lined up. With your long tail, seam the edges together using your favourite seaming method, starting from the top of your hat and working down towards the brim. Make sure to use even tension so there’s no puckering along the seam.
Cut a 15” length of yarn and weave it through the sts in the bind off row at the top of your hat. From the inside, pull it tightly to cinch the hole closed and secure it with a knot.
Weave in all ends, and finish with a pom of your choice!
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My crochet patterns can be used to sell handmade pieces. You are required to credit Joy of Motion/Janne Kleivset as the designer by linking back to My website: https://joyofmotioncrochet.com. You can not use my pictures when selling your handmade items. Finally, you can not resell, reprint or share any parts of my patterns as your own.
Having learned to crochet from family members as a child, it was the birth of her daughter in 2014 that reignited her passion, leading her to online tutorials and pattern-following. Soon, she found herself modifying patterns, which naturally evolved into her own design journey.
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