Grandpa Beanie

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If you’ve been crocheting with me for several years, or if you found this site through one of my popular crochet chemo cap patterns, you’ve probably heard about the Crochet Cancer Hat Challenge I participate in almost every year.

Most, if not all of those crochet chemo hats are available online for free year round, but every year a group of designers get together and offer PDF copies for free in exchange for pledges to make and donate hats to cancer centers or people you know personally who are in chemo or other health treatments.

Find more Info about the 2023 Crochet Cancer Challenge Here!

This year has been tough for our family- with a really wild change of plans that required 2 military moves, an extended (3.5 months) stay in a hotel in between, a very tumultuous search for housing, and a switch from public schooling to home schooling.

I’ve barely crocheted at ALL due to the upheaval- but I couldn’t bear to skip this challenge. It’s too important to me, and to so many of you, who are dealing with health issues, or have family who are.

Both our grandfathers have had hospital stays this year, so I knew I wanted to dedicate my hat to a men’s health issue- so I’ve made my chemo cap in light blue, for prostate cancer.

This hat is far from perfect- I’ve only written it for one size, though I’ve given some general instructions on how you could try to resize it, and as always, I’m here to crochet along with you!

Get the PDF copy on Ravelry

Materials

H-8/5.0mm Crochet Hook

I-9/5.5mm Crochet Hook (or hooks to meet gauge)

I always recommend Furls crochet hooks- they’re so much easier on my wrists with carpal tunnel!

1 Skein Berroco Comfort, Worsted [4] weight, 50% Nylon 50% Acrylic yarn, 100g; 210 yds, shown in Color 9707 – I got mine at a local yarn shop, but you can purchase online at LoveCrafts!

Yarn Needle and Scissors

Abbreviations

Bpdc- back post double crochet; Ch- chain; Dc- double crochet; Dec- decrease; DS dec- double-single decrease; Fpdc- front post double crochet; Sc- single crochet; SD dec- single-double decrease; Sl- slip stitch; St- stitch;

Gauge / Finished Size

3 st and 3 rounds in 1” square in lemon peel stitch. Hat is sized for Adult S/M, with instructions given for adjustments.

Special Stitches

Double-Single Decrease (DS dec): yarn over, insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, insert hook into next st,  yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 3 loops to complete stitch.

Single-Double Decrease (SD dec): insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 3 loops to complete stitch.

Notes

This beanie begins at the brim and moves upward in joined rounds. 

Turning chains do NOT count as a stitch throughout.

Custom Sizing Instructions

To adjust the circumference of the hat, add/remove stitches in multiples of 6.

Suggested size chart:

To adjust the height of the hat, work fewer rounds before starting your decrease section. For baby and toddler sizes, omit round 4.

Grandpa Beanie Pattern

Brim

Round 1: With I-9 hook, ch 60 without twisting sl to join. Switch to H-8 hook, ch 2, dc in each ch around, sl to first st to join. [60]

Round 2: Ch 2, *fpdc, bpdc,* repeat from * to * around, sl to first st to join.

Rounds 3-4: Repeat round 2.

Round 5: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl to first st to join. 

Sides of Hat

Round 6: Switch to I-9 hook, ch 1, working in 3rd loop only, *sc, dc,* repeat from * to * around, sl to first st to join.

Note: for following rows you will work in both loops normally.

Round 7: Ch 2, *dc, sc,* repeat from * to * around, sl to first st to join.

Round 8: Ch 1, *sc, dc,* repeat from * to * around, sl to first st to join.

Rounds 9-20: Repeat Rounds 7 and 8.

Crown Decreases

Round 21: Ch 2, *(DS dec over next 2 sts) Two times, (dc, sc) Three times,* repeat * to * around, sl to first st to join. [48]

Round 22: Ch 1, *(SD dec over next 2 sts) Two times, (sc, dc) Two times,* repeat * to * around, sl to first st to join. [36]

Round 23: Ch 2, *(DS dec over next 2 sts) Two times, (dc, sc,)* repeat * to * around, sl to first st to join. [24]

Round 24: Ch 1, (SD dec over next 2 sts) around, sl to first st to join. [12]

Round 25: Repeat round 24. [6]

Finishing:

Break yarn, and pull through last stitch. With yarn needle, sew together the last few stitches on top of hat, then secure. Weave in all ends. Block as needed.

Looking for an alternate finish method?

Lemon peel stitch texture is pretty tricky to decrease and keep the pattern. If you’re not looking for a cap style, you could also just make the sides of the hat a bit longer, about 26 rounds for an adult size, and simply cinch them shut with a long yarn tail.

If you want more help with finishing off this hat, come check out my free Facebook group, the Salty Pearl Crochet Circle. I’m usually quicker to reply there than on blog comments or email!