Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Hats 4 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Ribbed beanie pattern worked in double crochet back loop only
Flat-worked DC BLO beanie, 4 rows, 5mm hook, seamed into a ribbed tube.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 5 mm
- Rounds
- 4
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
4
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This beanie is not worked in the round. A foundation chain sets the cap's circumference, a single row of double crochet establishes the stitch base, and every row after that works into the back loop only, building the horizontal ribbing that gives the fabric its stretch. The rectangle grows in width, not height, until it matches a head's circumference, then seams into a tube. Have medium-weight yarn, a 5 mm hook, a yarn needle, and scissors on hand before starting.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Working into both loops by habit
- Check each stitch in Rows 3 and 4 for the back loop only; working through both loops cancels the ribbed effect and leaves a smooth, uneven patch.
- Miscounting the foundation chain length
- Measure the Row 1 chain flat against a tape before working Row 2, since this length fixes the cap's height and cannot be adjusted later.
- Forgetting the turning chain counts as a stitch
- Treat the chain-2 at the start of each row as the first double crochet so the stitch count stays consistent across Rows 2 through 4.
The materials list
- Medium-weight yarn (any soft acrylic or wool blend)
- 5 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 4 short forms
Main Pattern
Row 1
(Foundation Chain): Create a slip knot and chain until the length measures about 28 cm (11 inches); this determines the height of your cap.
Row 2
(Double Crochet Row): Chain 2 (counts as turning chain); work one Double Crochet into the third chain from the hook and in every chain across the row.
Row 3
(Begin Ribbing Pattern): Chain 2 and turn your work; work one Double Crochet into the Back Loop Only (BLO) of each stitch across the row.
Row 4
(Repeat Rows): Continue repeating the previous row until your piece measures approximately 46 cm (18 inches) wide or fits comfortably around the head.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Seaming the Cap: Fold the rectangle in half with the right sides facing each other; use slip stitches to join the two short ends together to form a tube.
Step 2Closing the Top: Cut a long tail of yarn and thread it onto a needle; weave the needle in and out along the open top edge of the cap; pull the yarn tightly to close the top and secure with extra stitches.
Step 3Finishing Touches: Weave in all loose ends; turn the cap right-side out; fold up the bottom edge for a neat brim; optionally, add a pompom, flower, or name tag for decoration.
Check these before you start
- The ribbed texture depends entirely on consistent BLO placement in Rows 3 and 4; missing the back loop even once creates a visible flat patch in the ribbing.
- Count chains carefully in Row 1 — this chain sets the cap's height permanently, and the fabric cannot be easily lengthened once Row 2 is worked.
- The turning chain of 2 at the start of Rows 2 through 4 counts as the first double crochet; treat it that way when working into the top of the row.
On one line
| Rounds | 4 |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 4-6 hours |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Chain to about 28 cm (11 inches) for Row 1 — this sets the finished cap's height, not its circumference, so measure the chain flat before working into it.
- Work a short test swatch in DC BLO to confirm your 5 mm hook gives a ribbed texture with enough stretch, since tension here determines final fit.
- Read Row 3 before starting it: every stitch goes into the back loop only, and skipping a loop by habit will flatten the ribbing.
- Decide in advance how you will measure 'around the head comfortably' for Row 4, since the piece is worked flat and sized by width, not by stitch count.
Finishing
- Weave in the starting tail and any yarn ends left from the foundation chain before seaming, since they are easiest to secure while the piece still lies flat.
- Fold the finished rectangle in half with right sides together and slip stitch the two short ends to form the tube, matching row for row along the seam.
- Thread a long tail through the open top edge, draw it tight to close the crown, secure with a few extra stitches, then turn the cap right-side out and fold up the brim.
Construction
The cap is built as a flat rectangle rather than worked in rounds from the crown down, which is what allows every row to be worked in DC BLO for ribbing — a texture that reads differently when worked circularly.
The single short seam at the two chain ends does double duty: it closes the rectangle into a tube and the horizontal ribbing rows become vertical ribs running from brim to crown once the piece is turned.
Time per section
| Foundation chain and first DC row | about 20-30 minutes because the chain must be measured to 28 cm before Row 2 begins |
|---|---|
| Ribbing rows (Rows 3-4 repeated) | about 2-3 hours because the piece is worked flat, row by row, until it reaches 46 cm wide |
| Seaming and finishing | about 30-45 minutes because closing the top with gathering stitches takes more care than the straight side seam |
Photographs of this one
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.