Messy bun or closed top? Fitted “no brim” beanie or beanie with a brim? Pom pom or no pom pom? So many options, so little time. Good thing these gender neutral bulky weight beanies work up fast!
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Perfect for women, men, and kids alike, the Sandy Shores Beanie and Sandy Shores Messy Bun Beanie are so named for the stitch used in the pattern – the single crochet grit stitch. Being a beach girl myself, when I hear “grit”, I think “sand”, and so the beanie name was born. When I first started playing around with this stitch pattern though, I loved the look of it when it worked in a continuous round, but didn’t love it in turned rows….until I happened to see my gauge swatch turned on its side. Then, suddenly, I loved it (which is a good reminder that sometimes you just need a change in perspective!).
Because I wanted the stitch to be worked vertically, I knew I needed to make a panel style beanie, but I don’t personally love how they are traditionally made. Typically, you make a rectangle, seam it closed to make a tube, and then cinch the top closed. While it makes them really easy to make, and perfect for true beginners because they don’t have any shaping, they often leave a lot of bulk at the top and are hard to fully cinch closed, particularly for hats made with bulky yarn. This means they are often a bit slouchy because of the additional bulk and most people hide the bulk and “not fully closed” top with a pom pom. But I don’t always want to wear a pom pom on my beanies, without a pom pom this stitch pattern is wonderfully gender neutral, and I’m a stickler for making patterns that have clean lines and a good fit. So I kept working until I figured out the secret to reducing the bulk – short rows.
Because of the short row shaping, I’ve called this patten an Advanced Beginner/Intermediate level pattern, but I wouldn’t shy away if you are an adventurous beginner. The only stitches you need to know are a single crochet and slip stitch and as I do in all of my patterns, there are photos to help you see where to place your stitches in the tricky places (in this case, the short rows), and I include helpful hints throughout. So whether you are trying to find a beanie pattern for men, women, or kids, whether you want a closed top or to pull a messy bun through, whether you want a fitted “no brim” look, or one long enough to flip up the brim for extra warmth, these patterns have you covered!
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Get the Sandy Shores Messy Bun Beanie on Ravelry or Etsy!
Get the Sandy Shores Beanie on Ravelry or Etsy!
Get the pattern combo with BOTH patterns at a discount on Etsy!
The premium ad-free PDFs contains color coded stitch counts and instructional photos for tricky spots in the pattern!
Pattern Details
Each pattern contains instructions for 2 versions – a fitted/”no brim” version, and a “folded up brim” version. With the regular, closed top beanie, the “folded up brim” version can also be worn unfolded for a slouchy beanie look instead!
Pattern Difficulty: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Materials:
*Crochet Hook: L/8mm hook, or what is required to meet gauge
*Yarn Suggestions: I made my samples primarily using Premier Yarn Stitch Please Superwash Chunky. However, it also works well with hand dyed yarns, WeCrochet Brava Bulky, WeCrochet Swish Bulky, or Lion Brand Hue + Me.
*Yarn needle for weaving in ends
*Scissors
*Stitch markers (optional, but suggested)
*Pom pom (optional)
Sizes Included & Yardage Needed (Depending on Style):
NOTE: Baby size is included in the regular beanie version ONLY. All other sizes are available in both patterns.
*Baby (fits heads 16-17″ around): 65-85 yards
*Toddler (fits heads 17-18″ around): 80 – 100 yards
*Child (fits heads 19-20″ around): 90 – 115 yards
*Small Adult (fits heads 20-22″ around): 105 – 135 yards
*Large Adult (fits heads 22-24″ around): 125 – 165 yards
Stitches Used:
slst: slip stitch
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
For more color inspo, check out my testers versions on Instagram!
When you make one, share a photo of your finished beanie with me! When posting on social media, be sure to tag @fromnicolescreations and use hashtags #sandyshoresbeanie and #fromnicolescreations. I can’t wait to see what you make!
Happy stitching!
