Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

Looking for an easy and textured crochet messy bun hat pattern? Well, you’ve come to the right place!! Also known as the ponytail hat, this beanie is perfect for us girls that want to keep our ears warm during winter without having to tuck our hair into the beanie! Add the amazing textured detail of this pattern and you will wear your hair up in style!

I made this easy free crochet pattern using only half double crochets in two different ways. This messy bun beanie will go perfectly with my infinity scarf crochet pattern!

Let’s dive into the deeds:

Before you start with this easy crochet messy bun hat pattern, here are some important things to know and some background around this pattern.

The Detail in the body of the crochet beanie pattern

I love, love, love creating new and exciting beanie patterns. When I came across the messy bun hat, I knew I had to design a pattern that was fun and easy to make at the same time!

Luckily we have the HDC (Half double crochet) to do all the work for us! Using the HDC in two different ways simply adds texture to this messy bun hat without any hassle! If you are familiar with the Back Crossed Half Double Crochet (click on the link for the video tutorial) and working in the 3rd loop of a half double crochet, then you are all set!

If you aren’t, DON’T WORRY! Here is the link to the post with pictures, where I explain how you crochet both techniques. It’s super simple and easy to follow!

crochet messy bun beanie

You can also add any embellishments to your beanie like a crochet flower or a button! Here I added one of my background flowers as an example!

Adding flower to messy bun hat

Some FAQ and answers:

Can I adjust the size of the Messy Bun Hat?

The size of the messy bun hat is made for an adult head size. If you’d like a smaller version for this hat, please feel free to leave me a comment down below!

the sea inspired beanie, blue and sand colored

What size yarn and other materials do I need?

For this pattern I used Himalaya Anti-pilling Everyday Worsted yarn. You will need at least 100g/ 3.5oz (165m/ 180yards). If you don’t live in South Africa you can use yarn like Red Heart Soft or Patons Classic Wool

You will also need a thick hair tie, sizes 5.5mm (I-9) and 5mm (H-8) hooks, a tapestry needle, measuring tape, scissors and your trusty stitch marker!

Materials needed for crochet pattern

The Hair tie:

When buying the hair tie, I prefer getting a thicker one, to prevent breaking when you put it on. If you would like to use a thinner hair tie, I’d suggest that you use more than one, or make a chain that goes around the hair tie with some extra chains to help with the stretch of the hair tie.

the best messy bun beanie

Let me know if you have any other yarn or size related questions by leaving a comment down below!! 🙂

Let’s get started!

All righty then!! You better get stitching because I assure you, you will be making a lot of these!

Remember to follow me on Facebook and Instagram and share your creations with me on all my social platforms. Also pin this on your Pinterest boards if you want to make it again.

And go and subscribe to my YouTube channel!! Brand new addition to the blog where you will find videos of my patterns and tutorials!

Happy Crocheting!!! 🙂

~Nadine

blue and white crochet beanie

Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

This pattern is written in US Terms

Patten Level:

Easy / Skilled Beginner

Materials:

  • Number 4 worsted weight yarn (100g/ 3.5oz) (170m/ 186yards)
  • Size 5mm Hook (US H-8 )
  • Size 5.5mm Hook (US I-9)
  • Hair tie (preferably a thicker one to prevent breaking)
  • Measuring tape
  • Stitch Markers
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors

Abbreviations:

  • Ch = Chain
  • Sc = Single Crochet
  • Hdc = Half Double Crochet
  • Bcr Hdc = Back Crossed Half Double Crochet
  • Inc = Increase (adding 2 stitches into designated stitch)
  • Rnd *= Round *
  • Ss = Slip Stitch
  • St(s) = Stitch(s)
  • Rep = Repeat

Special Stitches:

Back crossed Half Double Crochet:

Skip 1 stitch and work a half double crochet into the next stitch. Yarn over and insert the hook around the back of the previous half double crochet into the skipped stitch (from front to back), yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on the hook|). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

For a step by step tutorial of the Back Crossed Half Double Crochet, Click Here!

3rd Loop of the Half double crochet:

When looking at the half double crochet, you will see that in this pattern the 3rd loop is in the back of your work. The loop is located just below the stitch where you would insert your hook for a normal half double crochet.

Gauge:

10cm x 10cm / 4in x 4in = 12 rows x 14hdc

Finished Size:

Width x Length laying flat: 23cm / 9in  x 20cm / 8in

Circumference: 46cm / 18in

Notes:

  • To make this messy bun hat pattern seamless, it is worked in continuous rounds. You can also connect the round with a slip stitch to make the rounds connect seamlessly.
  • When starting with the first rows of hdc around the hair tie, move and space the stitches evenly around the hair tie as you go. The hair tie might show, but this will be covered with your hair so don’t worry too much about that!
  • Use a stitch marker to indicate the first stitch of each round.
  • Number of stitches are shown in brackets () after each row.
  • For the increase rounds, the repeat pattern of the round is specified between brackets, meaning if the pattern calls for *3hdc, inc, 3hdc* rep from * to * until the end of rnd, you need to crochet 1hdc in the next 3 sts, 2hdc in the same st and then again 1hdc in the next 3 sts. Then start again with the same repeat pattern until you reach your stitch marker at the end of the round.
  • To see a step by step tutorial of the brim, click here!
Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern:

Using the larger hook (5.5mm):

Attach the yarn to the hook with a slip knot.

Insert the hook through the middle of the hair tie and slip stitch to connect.

Description of how to attach yarn to hair tie.

Rnd 1: 42hdc around the hair tie, place a stitch marker in your first st. (42hdc)

Starting round one of messy bun hat

Rnd 2: *3hdc, inc, 3hdc* rep from * to * until the end of the rnd. (48hdc)

Rnd 3: *7hdc, inc* rep from * to * until the end of the rnd. (54hdc)

Rnd 4: *4hdc, inc, 4hdc* rep from * to * until the end of the rnd. (60hdc)

Rnd 5: *9hdc, inc* rep from * to * until the end of the rnd. (66hdc)

Rnd 6: hdc into the 3rd loop in each st around. (66hdc)

Rnd 7: hdc into the 3rd loop in each st around. 66hdc)

Round 6 and 7 - 3rd loop half double crochet

Rnd 8: bcr hdc around until the last st. (33 bcr hdc, 66hdc sts)

8th round - Back crossed half double crochet
After round 8 is completed

Rnd 9: hdc in each st around. (66hdc)

After all rounds are complete on messy bun hat.
After round 9 is completed

Rnd 10-17: Repeat rnds 6 – 9 alternatively until you reach rnd 17.

Rnd 18 and 19: hdc into the 3rd loop in each st around. (66hdc)

At the end of round 19, bring up a loop and remove the 5.5mm hook.

Switch to the smaller hook (5mm) and continue with this hook until the end.

Brim:

Using the smaller hook (5mm)

You will now work in rows (R) around the messy bun hat.

With the right side facing you,

Chain 10

R1: sc in the second ch from the hook, 8sc, sl st in each of the nxt 2 sts (these sts are on the beanie itself), turn

R2: sk 2 sts (the 2 sl sts), 9sc in the BLO, ch1, turn

R3: 9sc in the BLO, sl st in each of the nxt 2 sts, turn

R4 – 66: rep row 2 and 3 until the end of row 66, at the end, sl st into the top of the brim an sl st in each st down the row to connect.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew in and secure ends.

Weave in all ends securely and you’re done!

Side view of hat
Please share this post on the socials 🙂

20 Comments

  1. Hi,
    I am having a problem starting the brim. I can’t figure out where the stiches attach to the beanie. Do you have pictures of starting the brim? I don’t know where I am messing up. Thanks for your help.

  2. hi, im trying to start the brim but i can’t figure out where the slip stitch is supposed to go. do you have pictures of the brim?

  3. Hi Nadine. I’m really excited about making this hat for a gift. Because of the continuous rounds the rows are offset where they start and end. It looks great when using just one color yarn. But with a contrast yarn it really shows the offset. Is it suppose to look offset? Your pictures don’t show that side of the hat. Is there a way to bring the end of the row even with the beginning? I do like the stitches.
    Thank you, Vickie

  4. I’m making this hat with a contrast yarn. Because it’s made in continuous rounds the rows don’t line up. Is it suppose to look offset where the rows begin and end? Your pictures don’t show that side of the hat.

    1. Hi Vickie! To answer your question, yes the colors will look offset when you change colors to the next rounds because this pattern is worked in continuous rounds . But if you don’t want it to end up that way, all you need to do is close off each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round, change to the next color and then chain one to start off the next round. Then continue to work the round as the pattern states. For example if you want to change colors at round 6 you would do the following:
      At the end of round 5, sl st to the 1st st of the round, insert your next color yarn in the 1st st, ch1, hdc in the 3rd loop of the same stitch and continue with the round. Bare in mind that you might be able to see the seam of slip stitches if you use this method.
      Remember to also count your stitches for each round, as that little slip stitch can cause some chaos if you count it as a stitch!
      Hope this helps!

  5. Hello there.
    Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong 🤔😕? So, I do the 42 HDC around hair tie✔. I’ve started next rows several times doing #hdc, inc, #hdc and my stitch counts are off everytime. I count my row I am working as well as one below and have everything correct 😩😤. Sigh!
    I hope this makes sense to you. I’ve not run into this before and am stumped.
    Thank you so much
    April

    1. Hey April! I see what you’re saying! Remember that the increases between the * needs to be repeated as is. For example on row 2,when you do the repeat you go *3hdc, inc, 3hdc* in the next 7 stitches. Then again *3hdc, inc, 3hdc* in the next 7 stitches. So you will actually have 6hdc between each increase. If you do it like this, you won’t have a problem with the stitch count! I really hope this helps! Please feel free to let me know if you are still unsure! 🙂 You got this!! 🙂

      1. I figured out what my dumbness was doing wrong 🤦🏼‍♀😂!!!!! Thank you! I’m finishing my project now. I love this pattern! This is a Christmas gift for my niece

      2. Same problem. I was doing *7 hdc, increase, 7hdc* then repeating as the notes say. Making 14 hdc between each Inc. 🤷🏼‍♀️

  6. Hi Nadine! I love this hat! Could you tell me which round you switch colors in the hat with grey, dark blue, and white? It’s beautiful!

    1. Hi Katrina! I’m so glad you like it and thank you for the compliment! 🙂 For the striped messy bun hat, I changed colors as follows: Round 1-9 in grey, Round 10-12 in dark blue (or navy), Round 13-16 in white, Round 17 in dark blue and then switched back to white for the brim portion. (I hope this makes sense!:) )

    1. Hi Barbara! Thanks for the comment! To make this messy bun hat smaller, you will need to crochet less increase rows. So, for the little one of 8 I would crochet the pattern form round 1 to 4 and then go straight to round 6. Then you will repeat the pattern from round 6 – 9 until you reach round 17 and continue to the brim. If this looks a little to big, you can just adjust the length of the hat by crocheting until round 11. You will do the same with the smaller hat, stopping to increase at round 3 and continue with the rest of the pattern until you reach the desired length. Keep in mind to leave space at the bottom for the brim!
      Hope this helps!

    2. On row 8 could you tell me how you come up with 66 hdc if you hdc in the last stitch? I have 67…..33 sets and that makes 66 hdc…..then I have the hdc in last stitch…I’m confused to say the least. Help! Thanks

      1. Hi Marcia, thank you for pointing this out. I’ve found that I put a hdc in the 1st st and then started with the bcrhdc, which will leave you with having to hdc into the last st. You don’t need to do that, you can continue on with the rest of the pattern as is, if you started to bcrhdc in the 1st two stitches. This has been corrected on the pattern. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *