I’m sharing a crochet beanie pattern for beginners that I designed for the thirteenth annual Crochet Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3. The Consuelo Beanie is all about solace, using gentle textures and repetitive stitch combinations to make a perfect mindful project where you can focus your positive intentions towards the recipient while crocheting. Although it makes a great “chemo cap,” I also made the pattern in 10 sizes and it’s a one-skein project in all sizes! The Consuelo Beanie is forever free on my blog, but the PDF version is available for free with a coupon code through 11:59pm Eastern time on October 31, 2025, so read on for details.
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.
I’m joining the thirteenth annual Crochet Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3. Each year, participating designers contribute free PDF versions of their patterns in exchange for your pledge to donate a hat to a person living with cancer. You can find out more about this year’s challenge and get links to the other included patterns here.
As I’ve mentioned before, when I design a hat for someone with cancer — who may or may not be experiencing traumatic hair loss — I keep a few things in mind:
- Warmth, because clinics and hospitals where you get treatment are usually cold, and if you’ve lost hair due to treatment, you’ll be losing way more heat from the top of your head than you’re used to.
- Comfort, because you’ll be wearing the hat indoors and potentially for a long time, and if your scalp is raw or dry, you don’t need an itchy hat, too.
- Style, because if you’re not feeling good, the least you can do is look good, right?
A very soft and warm yarn is a great start, and the Knots of Love approved yarn list is a great place to check. (Knots of Love is also a great place to donate your pledged hats for distribution!) I’m a huge fan of Lion Brand Heartland and it’s on the list, so that checks off warmth and comfort! It’s also easy for most crocheters to find since it’s available online at Lion Brand | Herrschners | Amazon.
Another thing to consider as far as warmth is the stitch pattern. For the Consuelo crochet beanie pattern for beginners, I used the combination of single crochet and double crochet for the hat band and then half double crochet in the third loop for the hat body. This makes a stretchy beanie with no holes to let a draft in. For the style factor, I went with a very neutral pattern that works for all genders and different ages. The hat band is a bit larger than typical, which adds a decorative touch to this otherwise pretty simple hat.
As for the color, I chose purple for pancreatic cancer in honor of my maternal grandmother. She is the person who taught me to crochet and she passed away after a short and painful battle with pancreatic cancer in 2008.
If you’re looking for more inspiration for chemo caps to donate, I have a sale going on in my Ravelry shop through 11:59pm Eastern on October 31, 2025. Use coupon code SP3CCC25 to get 80% off the PDF versions of patterns I’ve included in previous iterations of the Crochet Cancer Challenge:
- 2024: Amaya Slouch in 4 sizes (free blog version | Ravelry PDF version),
- 2023: Tri-Color Slouch Hat in 10 sizes (free blog version | Ravelry PDF version)
- 2022: Salvatore Slouch (free blog version | Ravelry PDF version)
- 2021: Triumphant Textures Beanie in 10 sizes (free blog version | Ravelry PDF version)
- 2019: 6 Hats for Healing, Volume 1 ebook (links to all 6 free blog patterns | Ravelry PDF version)
- 2018: Auntie Em Twister Hat in 6 sizes (free blog version | Ravelry PDF version)
You can grab all 11 patterns for less than $8! (If you’re wondering what happened to 2020, that year’s pattern is the Herringbone Slouchy Beanie in 9 sizes and it’s available as a free download exclusively for Underground Crafter newsletter subscribers.)
Scroll down for the free Consuelo crochet beanie pattern for beginners. The Consuelo Beanie is my contribution to the the thirteenth annual Crochet Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3. Throughout October 2025, the PDF version of new crochet hat patterns suitable for donation to a person living with cancer will be available for free for at least 24 hours. The Consuelo Beanie is the featured pattern in the Crochet Cancer Challenge for October 14, 2025. You can download the PDF version for free on Ravelry using coupon code CancerChallenge2025 through 11:59pm Eastern time on October 31, 2025 in exchange for your pledge to donate a hat to a cancer patient…or use the Crochet Cancer Challenge Download Pattern Here button below to add the pattern with coupon code to your cart. Check that your cart is set to zero before checking out as there will be no refunds for accidental purchases.
Don’t forget to head back to the Crochet Cancer Challenge Blog Hop post on Sweet Potato 3 to get the rest of the free patterns in the blog hop, and to support Christine for all the work she does to organize this event each year!
If you make your own Consuelo Beanie, 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!
Add the Consuelo Beanie to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.
Consuelo Beanie
Crochet Beanie Pattern for Beginners by Underground Crafter
This crochet beanie pattern for beginners is all about solace. Gentle textures and repetitive stitch combinations make this a perfect mindful crochet project where you focus your positive intentions towards the recipient. Designed for the Crochet Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3, the Conseulo Beanie makes a great “chemo cap.” This pattern uses just one skein and is available in 10 sizes from newborn through adult large.
Finished Sizes
- Newborn (0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-2 Years, 3-5 Years, 6-12 Years, Teen/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large). Photographed sample is Teen/Adult Small.
- Newborn: 13” (33 cm) hat circumference x 5.5” (14 cm) length.
- 0-3 Months: 15” (38 cm) hat circumference x 6” (15 cm) length.
- 3-6 Months: 16” (40.5 cm) hat circumference x 6.5” (16.5 cm) length.
- 6-12 Months: 17” (43 cm) hat circumference x 6.75” (17 cm) length.
- 1-2 Years: 18” (45.5 cm) hat circumference x 7” (18 cm) length.
- 3-5 Years: 19” (48.5 cm) hat circumference x 7.5” (19 cm) length.
- 6-12 Years: 20” (51 cm) hat circumference x 8” (20.5 cm) length.
- Teen/Adult Small: 21” (53.5 cm) hat circumference x 8.5” (21.5 cm) length.
- Adult Medium: 22” (56 cm) hat circumference x 9” (23 cm) length.
- Adult Large: 23” (58.5 cm) hat circumference x 9.5” (24 cm) length.
Materials
- Lion Brand Heartland yarn (100% acrylic, 5 oz/142 g, 251 yd/230 m) – 1 skein in 143T Kobuk Valley, or approximately 50 yd (60 yd, 70 yd, 75 yd, 85 yd, 95 yd, 105 yd, 120 yd, 130 yd, 150 yd)/45.5 m (55 m, 64 m, 68.5 m, 77.5 m, 87 m, 96 m, 109.5 m, 119 m, 137 m) in any medium weight acrylic yarn.
- Lion Brand Heartland is available online at Lion Brand | Herrschners | Amazon
- KnitPro Waves 2.0 (available online at LoveCrafts | Amazon) US Size H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- KnitPro Waves 2.0 US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Yarn needle.
- Stitch marker or scrap yarn.
Gauge
- 14 sts = 3” (7.5 cm) across with smaller hook in pattern for Hat Band. For best fit, always check your gauge.
- 14 hdc = 4” (10 cm) across with larger hook. For best fit, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- 3L – third loop only – A helpful video tutorial is available below.
- If you can’t see the video tutorial above for the third loop, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- BL – back loop only – Rich Textures Crochet has a helpful video demonstrating how to identify the back loop in crochet here.
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- Rnd(s) – Round(s)
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Note
- Hat begins with a Hat Band crocheted flat in rows. Then, stitches are worked along the edge and joined in the round. Hat is finished in the round, crocheting to the top, and then cinched closed.
Pattern Instructions
Beanie
Hat Band – All Sizes
- With smaller hook, ch 6 (6, 6, 6, 11, 11, 11, 15, 15, 15).
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, [dc in next ch, sc in next ch] across. – 5 (5, 5, 5, 10, 10, 10, 14, 14, 14) sts
- Row 2: Turn 1, ch 1, starting in first st [dcBL in next st, scBL in next st] across.
- This stitch combination is usually called the Lemon Peel Stitch, Pebble Stitch, or Crinkle Stitch. A helpful video tutorial is available below.
- If you can’t see the lemon peel stitch video above, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- Repeat Row 2 until Hat Band measures approximately 13” (15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”, 23”)/33 cm (38 cm, 40.5 cm, 43 cm, 45.5 cm, 48.5 cm, 51 cm, 53.5 cm, 56 cm, 58.5 cm) long, do not fasten off.
- Fold Hat Band so that short edges are together, being careful not to twist. Join with slip stitch seam (see video below), do not fasten off.
- If you can’t see the video above for the slip stitch seam, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
Hat Body – All Sizes
- Set Up Rnd: Ch 1, working along side (long edge) of Hat Band, evenly crochet (see video below) 54 (60, 64, 66, 70, 74, 78, 80, 84, 88) sc, join with sl st to first sc. – 54 (60, 64, 66, 70, 74, 78, 80, 84, 88) sts
- If you can’t see the video above for the crocheting around the side of your project, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- Rnd 1: Change to larger hook, ch 1, hdcBL in first st and each st around, do not join, place stitch marker and move up each Round.
- Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc3L in first st and each st around.
- Repeat Rnd 2 until hat measures 5.5” (6”, 6.5”, 6.75”, 7″, 7.5”, 8”, 8.5”, 9”)/14 cm (15 cm, 16.5 cm, 17 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20.5 cm, 21.5 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm) to crown, fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm long) for seaming.
Finishing – All Sizes
- Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from final Rnd of hat. Weave yarn needle through each stitch on finished edge. Slowly tighten yarn tail to cinch top of hat closed (see video below).
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating how to cinch a bottom-up crochet hat closed, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.