Mackinac Beanie: Free Crochet Pattern

I was inspired to make this hat by a few knit hats I had seen floating about the Instagram space plus I had a skein of Caron Simply Soft Tweeds begging me to turn it into something. So of course because I am a sucker for texture (see here or here for proof) I decided my hubby needed yet another hat.

I decided to start off with a post stitch ribbed brim for two reasons. One, its a lot faster than working the brim flat and I was anxious to try out these stitches. Two, I always feel like this style brim is a little tighter around the head. Since this hat is for my hubby I wanted something that would stay on well no matter what he was doing.

Once I got going on the pattern I kept thinking it reminded me of the Mackinac Bridge! If you’ve never seen the Mighty Mac, it is currently one of the world’s longest suspension bridges and spans 5 miles connecting Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas. The straight post stitches reminded me of the pillars and the diagonal post stitches of the cables between.

I actually enjoyed making this so much I am working on a hot pink slouchy version for myself. Hopefully my hubby won’t mind that we’re matchy-matchy, haha.

You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free version of this pattern on Ravelry.

Materials

• 1 skein of Caron Simply Soft (5oz/250 yds per skein) or similar #4 worsted weight yarn
• 5mm/H crochet hook
• Needle to weave in ends
• Scissors

Gauge and Sizing

• Gauge: 7 double crochets x 4 rows = 2 in
• Finished hat measures: 8.5 in tall x 9.5 in wide while laying flat.
• Adult size

 Abbreviations

• I use US Terminology
• Ch(s): chain(s)
• Dc: double crochet
• FpDc: front post double crochet
• BpDc: back post double crochet
• FpDtr: front post double treble crochet
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Sl st: slip stitch
• Hdc: half double crochet
• Hdc2tog: half double crochet 2 together, half double crochet decrease

Notes

Special stitch: front post double treble crochet: yo 3 times, under stitch as indicated from front to back to front, yo and pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] x4.

Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

If you want to make a slouchy version of this hat repeat round 5 until it’s the desired height keeping in mind the decreasing rounds will add 2 inches.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here!

Pattern

Band

Rnd 1: Ch 72, join to form ring. Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), dc in same ch as ch 2 and in each ch around. Join to top of 1^st dc with sl st. (72)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1, FpDc around next, Bpdc around next, * FpDc around next 2 sts, BpDc around next, repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (72)

Rnd 3: Repeat round 2 (72)

Body

Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2 and in each st around. Join to top of 1^st dc with sl st. (72)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1 and around next. Dc in next. Skip 3 st. FpDtr around next. Working behind FpDtr just made, leave 1^st skipped st open and dc in next 6. Working in front of the dc sts just made, FpDtr around stitch immediately to the left of last FpDtr 3 stitches back. Skip 1 st, Dc in next. * FpDc around next 2 sts. Dc in next. Skip 3 st. FpDtr around next. Working behind FpDtr just made, leave 1 skipped st and dc in next 6. Working in front of the dc sts just made, FpDtr around stitch immediately to the left of last FpDtr. Skip 1 st, Dc in next. Repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (72)

Rnd 6-14: repeat round 5. (72)

Decreasing rounds

Rnd 15: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1 and next. Hdc in next 10, FpDc around next 2 sts. *hdc in next 10 sts, FpDc around next 2. Repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (72)

Rnd 16: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1 and next. [Hdc2tog over next 2 sts. Hdc in next 3] x2 * FpDc around next 2. [Hdc2tog over next 2 sts. Hdc in next 3] x2. Repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (60)

Rnd 17: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1 and next. [Hdc2tog over next 2 sts. Hdc in next 2] x2 * FpDc around next 2. [Hdc2tog over next 2 sts. Hdc in next 2] x2. Repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (48)

Rnd 18: Ch 1, FpDc around same st as ch 1 and next. 3 Hdc2Tog over next 6 sts. *FpDc around next 2 sts. 3 Hdc2Tog over next 6 sts. Repeat from * around. Join to top of 1^st FpDc with sl st. (30)

Rnd 19-20: Ch 1, Hdc2tog around. Join to top of 1^st hdc2tog with sl st. Counts are not important for these last 2 rounds so if it doesn’t work out perfectly just fudge it and move on. On last round, finish off leaving a long tail. Weave tail in and out around small hole in top of hat and pull to cinch closed. Weave in ends.

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