Are you looking for a crochet beanie pattern to make this weekend? I have just the right project for you! On the Right Tracks Beanie is a slightly slouchy hat with a wide, textured hat band… and you can make one for a good cause, too. This pattern is forever free on my blog, but as part of the Crochet to Donate Blog Hop with The Crochet Village, you can get the PDF version free with coupon code through 10am Eastern on September 12, 2026.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for this project was generously provided by Lion Brand. Camera and vinyl backdrop were generously provided by B&H Photo Video and Pro Audio.
This crochet beanie pattern was originally designed to meet the donation requirements of #HatNotHate, a campaign to increase awareness of the negative impact of bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month. They are no longer collecting hats but you can find a regularly updated list of charities accepting handmade donations in my Ultimate Guide to Crocheting for Charity for Beginners.
Let me tell you a bit more about this crochet beanie pattern. I love to crochet hats when I’m short on time since they work up so quickly. I wanted the hat band for this project to be more dramatic so I made it wider than usual and included a lot of texture. Since I know that kids and teens (at least in my neighborhood) prefer beanies and slouchies, I added a slightly slouchy touch to this hat. The pattern is available in one size (20″/51 cm hat circumference) but it should fit a variety of children, teens, and some adults comfortably.
Scroll down for the free On the Right Track Crochet Beanie pattern. I’m participating in the Crochet for Charity Blog Hop with The Crochet Village.
The Crochet for Charity Blog Hop with The Crochet Village includes 28 days of free crochet patterns that are perfect for donation, including hats, scarves, mittens, and blankets. Each day, the PDF version of a featured pattern is available to download for free for 24 hours.
The On the Right Track Beanie is the featured pattern for September 11, 2026. You can get the Ravelry PDF version free through September 12, 2026 at 10am Eastern. Get the coupon code in the Crochet for Charity Blog Hop page or click on the “Crochet for Charity Blog Hop Download the PDF Pattern” button below to add the pattern with coupon code to your cart. Be sure the cart is set to $0.00 as there will be no refunds for accidental purchases.
Don’t forget to head back to the Crochet for Charity Blog Hop by clicking on the “Crochet for Charity Blog Hop Return to Blog Hop” button below to get the rest of the free patterns.
If you make your own On the Right Track Beanie project, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Bluesky as @UndergroundCrafter, Facebook as @UndergroundCrafter, or on Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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On the Right Track Beanie
Crochet Beanie Pattern by Underground Crafter
This slightly slouchy beanie has a wide, textured hat band. This project was designed to meet the donation requirements for the #HatNotHate initiative to increase awareness of the negative impact of bullying. They are no longer accepting donations but you can find a regularly updated list of charities accepting handmade donations in my Ultimate Guide to Crocheting for Charity for Beginners.
Finished Size
- Teen/Adult Small: 20” (51 cm) hat circumference x 9.75” (25 cm) height.
Materials
- Lion Brand Jeans yarn (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 246 yd/225 m) – 1 skein each in 105 Faded (CA) and 108 Brand New (CB), or approximately 160 yd (146.5 m) in CA and 130 yd (119 m) in CB in any medium weight yarn.
- US Size H-8/5 mm and US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hooks, or any sizes needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- 20 sts = 4.5” (11.5 cm) in pattern for Hat Band with smaller hook. For best fit, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 stitches together (decrease) – [Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] twice, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook. A helpful video for this decrease is available below.
- If you can’t see the dc2tog video above, watch it on YouTube.
- FPdc – front post double crochet – front post double crochet = Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of indicated st, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops] twice. A helpful video for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the FPdc video above, watch it on YouTube.
- rep – repeat
- Rnd(s) – Round(s)
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease) – [Insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop] twice, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook. A helpful video for this decrease is available below.
- If you can’t see the sc2tog video above, watch it on YouTube.
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
- () Repeat instructions within parentheses into same stitch.
Pattern Notes
- When choosing colors, note that CA the color of the Hat Band and CB is the color of the rest of the Hat.
- Hat Band is worked flat in rows until it reaches the desired hat circumference length. Then, stitches are picked up along the long edge of seamed Hat Band. The rest of the hat is worked in the round and then decreased at crown.
- A helpful tutorial for joining with the mattress stitch seam is available below.
- If you can’t see the mattress stitch seam video above, watch it on YouTube.
- Ch 1 at beginning of Rows and Rounds does not count as a stitch.
Pattern Instructions
Hat Band
- With smaller hook and CA, ch 21.
- Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, sc in next 20 ch. (20 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in each st across.
- Row 3: Turn, ch 1, sc in first 6 sts, [FPdc around next 2 sts from Row 1, sc in next 4 sts] twice, sc in next 2 sts.
- Row 4: Rep Row 2.
- Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in first 6 sts, [FPdc around next 2 FPdc, sc in next 4 sts] twice, sc in next 2 sts.
- Rep Rows 4-5 until Hat Band measures approximately 20” (51 cm) long, or length of desired hat circumference.
- Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming. Fold Hat Band and seam short edges together with yarn needle threaded with long yarn tail using the mattress stitch (see Pattern Notes).
Pick Up Stitches Along Hat Band
- With larger hook and CB, begin working along long edge/joined circumference.
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 92 sc evenly along long edge, join with sl st to first sc.
Work Even
- Rnd 2: Ch 1, dc in same st and in each st around, join with sl st to first dc.
- Rnd 3: Ch 1, starting in same st, *(sc, dc) in next st, skip 1 st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc.
- Rep Rnds 2-3 until hat measures approximately 7” (18 cm) in height, or approximately 2.75” (7 cm) shorter than final desired height, ending after a rep of Rnd 2.
Decrease to Crown
- Rnd 4: Ch 1, starting in same st, *sc2tog, dc in next st, [(sc, dc) in next st] twice; rep from * around to last st, sc in last st, join with sl st to first sc. (79 sts)
- Rnd 5: Ch 1, starting in same st, *dc2tog, dc in next 4 sts; rep from * around to last st, dc in last st, join with sl st to first dc. (66 sts)
- Rnd 6: Ch 1, starting in same st, *sc2tog, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (44 sts)
- Rnd 7: Ch 1, starting in same st, *dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (33 sts)
- Rnd 8: Ch 1, starting in same st, *sc2tog, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (22 sts)
- Rnd 9: Ch 1, starting in same st, dc2tog around, join with sl st to first dc. (11 sts)
- Rnd 10: Ch 1, starting in same st, [sc2tog, dc in next st] 3 times, sc2tog. (7 sts)
- Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for closing top of hat.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, draw CB yarn tail through remaining stitches. Pull yarn tight and secure to close crown.
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.