Learn How To Crochet The Most Popular Messy Bun Beanie Ever Free

This crochet messy bun beanie has been my best-selling design since 2016 and I am providing it to you guys here for free!

Free crochet pattern for the most popular messy bun beanie ever! Step by step tutorial with pics and video.

The very first pattern I ever wrote up and sold was the Claire Bun Beanie. I had no idea what I was doing, I didn’t even follow crochet patterns so I totally just made it up as I went!

At the end of 2018, I told my Instagram followers if we reached 10k followers before 2019 I would release one of my paid patterns as a free pattern on my blog.

Well, we hit 10k by the end of November 2018!! I took a poll on my A Crafty Concept Facebook page, and Claire Bun Beanie was the most voted for pattern. SO HERE IT IS YALL!!!

To those of you that purchased this pattern from my shop, it is because of you that I continued publishing crochet patterns, the reason I started this blog, and the reason, today, I am living my best life.

Don’t forget your freebie! Sign up to my email list and you’ll receive the Claire Bun Beanie Product Tags for absolutely free, and start receiving other handy freebies from me every week!

Your purchase has done more for me than I could ever describe, and I’m not talking about money.

I’m talking about all the positive feedback, 5-star reviews, tagged photos and encouragement from you guys is what got me excited about designing in the first place.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for purchasing the pattern and helping A Crafty Concept get off the ground!

That being said, the ad-free PDF version of the pattern will still be listed as 5.00 in my Shop. I just think that’s a good way to keep it fair for everyone.

Now that the Claire Bun Beanie is free for all to use, I can post more sizes and videos as well (since I won’t have to send out over 2,000 emails one at a time with an update!)

You if you prefer to watch the video tutorial, I have linked it here for you.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.

Claire Bun Beanie

This pattern is for an adult size messy bun beanie for heads with a circumference of 22 inches – 23 inches.

If you would like to make a beanie for a child’s size head with a circumference of 20-21 inches, you could always drop down a hook size. If you have tight tension you may want to jump up a hook size.

There is also instructions for the closed version near the end of the post, or you can find the full pattern here!

If you need a size that is currently unavailable, you can easily adjust the pattern by adding or taking away stitches/rows.

Materials
I (5.5mm) size hook. I used my beautiful ergonomic Volkswagen “I” hook created by Becki over at Chloe Rebecca Boutique on Etsy.

In the video, you will notice I use my Clover Amour size J hook. With Clover Amour hooks, my tension is much tighter, so I had to jump up a hook size.

This pattern is for an adult size but if you want to make a child-size I would suggest dropping down to a size H hook.

4-5oz of worsted weight yarn. I used “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby in the color Peacock.

If you are wondering which worsted weight yarn would be best for making a Claire Bun Beanie, I did a yarn experiment and posted all the results! Check it out for some yarny inspo.

Stitch Key (US Terms)

SC = Single Crochet
CH = Chain
PS = Puff Stitch (explained below)
PSDEC = Puff Stitch Decrease (explained below) BLO = Back Loop Only (explained below)
YO = Yarn Over
INC= Increase (explained below)
SL ST= Slip Stitch

GAUGE
3”x3” Square
10 stitches by 10 rows Single Crochet

Puff Stitch
YO, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop. Now you have 3 loops on your hook. YO insert hook into the same space and pull up another loop ( 5 loops) repeat two more times (for a total of 4 times) until you have 9 loops on your hook, YO then pull through all loops. Secure with a CH stitch.

Puff Stitch Decrease
YO, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop. Repeat two more times until you have 7 loops on your hook. YO, Insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop. Repeat two more times until you have 13 loops total on your hook. YO and pull through all 13 loops. Secure with a CH stitch.

Back Loop Only
When you are looking on top of your work you will see a SC stitch makes a V shape. Put your hook under only the loop furthest away from you, and make your SC there. Instead of under both loops with a normal SC. If you are still having trouble with this stitch you can search Youtube for “single crochet back loop only” and you will see lots of tutorials.

Increase
Put two stitches in the same space. In this case it will be two SC stitches.

Brim
Make a slip knot and CH 10

Row 1: skip the chain closest to your hook and SC in the next 9 stitches. CH 1 and turn work. Row 2-50: SCBLO in next 9 stitches. CH 1, turn.
GAUGE: ADULT BRIM SHOULD BE ABOUT 14 INCHES IN LENGTH

TIP: Be careful not to make your “CH 1’s” too tight. If you do your brim will not stretch enough to fit an adult head. When you finish your 50 rows and join the brim closed, you should be able to stretch it without being restricted from anything other than that’s as far as the yarn its self will stretch.

This will create the brim of your beanie. Now its time to join to the beginning of the brim so your work creates a circle.

After finishing row 50 still do your CH and turn as normal. Fold the band in half, with the RS facing together.

Working through both loops on each end of the band, SL ST to join. CH 1, turn band right side out and turn your work 90 degrees to start working on the hat body. (9 SL STs, ch 1)

Now flip your brim inside out so that your join you just completed in on the inside of the beanie. This is the “good side” of your work. You never turn your work from here on out.

Hat Body

Row 1: SC 55 stitches around the brim by evenly spacing them out. Since you are working along the side of your brim you will need to make your own places to put your stitches. Join back into your first SC, then CH up 1.

Row 2: PS in the same space as the CH 1 (Don’t forget the CH for securing your puff stitch after you complete each one) Skip the next stitch, PS in the next stitch. Continue around until you have 28 PS total. Join into the top of your first PS and CH 1.

Row 3: PS in the first CH 1 space that was created after securing your PS in Row 2. Continue putting a PS in CH 1 space from Row 2 until you have 28 PS. Join into the top of your first PS. CH 1.

Row 4: PS around starting in the space RIGHT next to your CH 1. Join back into your first PS, CH 1. (28)

Rows 5-8: Alternate Row 3 and Row 4 until you have 7 total rows of PS. (28)

TO CLOSE YOUR CLARIE BUN BEANIE JUMP DOWN TO CLOSED ROW 9

Row 9: PS in the gap created by your CH 1 in Row 8. PSDEC over the next two CH 1 spaces. *PS in the next 3 CH 1 gaps then another PSDEC.* Repeat from * around ending with a final PSDEC. Join into your first PS, CH 1 (22)

Row 10: PS in the next 3 CH 1 gaps. PSDEC. *PS in the next two CH 1 gaps, PSDEC* Repeat from * around, omitting the last PS. (so will end with PSDEC, PS and join) (17)

Row 11: PS in the gap created by your CH 1 in Row 11. PSDEC over the next 2 gaps. Repeat around, for the very last stitch do a PS instead of a PSDEC. Join back into your first PS, CH 1. (12)

Row 12: SC in the same stitch as your CH 1. SC in each stitch around. Be sure to SC into the actual stitch and not into the gaps. (24)

Tie off, weave in your ends, and your all finished!! You can add a tag or cute button if you want to embellish you newly finished Claire Bun Beanie.

Closed Claire Bun Beanie

Closed Row 9: Repeat Row 3. Join into the top of your first PS. CH 1 (28)

Closed Row 10: PSDEC over the next two CH spaces, starting in the one closes to your CH 1.*PS in the next 3 CH 1 spaces then another PSDEC.* Repeat from * around. You will end with 1 PS (omitting the last 2). Join into your first PS, CH 1. (22 PS)

Closed Row 11: PS in the first CH 1 space that was created after securing your PSDEC in Row 10. PSDEC. *PS in the next two CH 1 spaces, PSDEC* Repeat from * around, ending with a 3 PS. Join back into your first PS. CH 1. (17)

Closed Row 12: PSDEC over the next two CH spaces, starting in the one closes to your CH 1. *PS, PSDEC* around, ending with a PSDEC. Join back into your first PS, CH 1. (11)

Closed Row 13: PSDEC over the next two CH spaces, starting in the CH 1 space that was created after securing you PSDEC in row 12. PSDEC around 5 more times, PS in the last CH 1 space. Join back into your first PSDEC, CH 1. (6)

Closed Row 14: SC in the same stitch as your CH 1. SC in each stitch around. Be sure to SC into the actual stitch and not into the spaces. Join back into your first SC. (12)