Color Block Ribbed Family Crochet Hat Pattern Free: Side-to-Side Chunky Beanie

Want the crisp look of a knitted rib beanie with a bold contrasting fold-up cuff—without having to pick up stitches or sew a separate brim? The Color Block Ribbed Family Crochet Hat is worked flat from side to side using two colors of Bernat® Softee® Chunky™ on an 8.0 mm (US L/11) hook. By working half double crochet into the horizontal bar (third loop) across the main hat and switching to single crochet along the top 6 (7) crown stitches, the hat shapes its own tapered crown and two-tone cuff in a single piece.

How Side-to-Side Two-Color Crochet Ribbing Works

Instead of working in the round from the bottom up, you begin with a two-color foundation chain: 11 (13) chains in Contrast B for the fold-up cuff, followed immediately by 17 (20) chains in Contrast A for the upper hat body and crown. Where the two colors meet in the middle of each row, you simply twist the two yarn strands around each other on the Wrong Side (WS) so the color transition locks together without leaving a gap.

Materials & Family Hat Sizing Chart

Each hat requires only 1 ball of Contrast A and 1 ball of Contrast B:

• Contrast A (Crown & Upper Body): 1 ball (72 yds / 65.5 m for Child; 84 yds / 76.5 m for Adult) in True Gray (28044) or Emerald (28200).
• Contrast B (Folded Cuff & Pompom): 1 ball (72 yds / 65.5 m for Child; 84 yds / 76.5 m for Adult) in Berry Red (28705) or Pumpkin (28630).
• Hook & Notions: Size U.S. L/11 (8.0 mm) crochet hook, blunt yarn needle, and sharp scissors for trimming the pompom.

Abbreviations & Ribbing Stitch Guide (US Crochet Terms)

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain(s)
• Hdc = Half double crochet
• Hdc in Horizontal Bar (Third Loop) = Instead of inserting your hook under the top two loops of the hdc from the previous row, insert your hook into the horizontal bar created directly below the stitch on the side facing you. This pushes the top V-loops forward to create deep knit-like ribs.
• Rep = Repeat
• RS / WS = Right side / Wrong side
• Sc = Single crochet
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Yoh = Yarn over hook

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Instructions are written for Child 6/8 yrs with changes for (Adult) in parentheses. Note: Ch 2 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch. Always twist the two colors around each other on the WS where they meet.

Part 1: Crocheting the Side-to-Side Color-Block Panel

1. Two-Color Foundation Chain: With Contrast B, ch 11 (13); join Contrast A and with A, ch 17 (20). Total = 28 (33) chains.
2. Row 1 (RS): With Contrast A, work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Work 1 sc in each of next 5 (6) ch (6 [7] crown sc total). Work 1 hdc in each of next 10 (12) ch, joining Contrast B on the final yarn-over of the last stitch. With Contrast B, work 1 hdc in each of the last 11 (13) ch. Turn. (27 [32] sts total)
3. Row 2 (WS): With Contrast B, ch 2. *Work 1 hdc into the horizontal bar created below the stitch in the previous row. Repeat from * 10 (12) times more (11 [13] B hdc worked), joining Contrast A in the last stitch. With Contrast A, repeat from * across to the last 6 (7) sc (10 [12] A hdc worked). Working in front loops only (FLO), work 1 sc in each of the last 6 (7) sc. Turn. (27 [32] sts)
4. Row 3 (RS): With Contrast A, ch 1. Working in back loops only (BLO), work 1 sc in each of the first 6 (7) sc. *Work 1 hdc into the horizontal bar created below the stitch in the previous row. Repeat from * 9 (11) times more (10 [12] A hdc worked), joining Contrast B in the last stitch. With Contrast B, repeat from * in each stitch to the end of the row (11 [13] B hdc worked). Turn. (27 [32] sts)
5. Repeat for Hat Circumference: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until the hat (measured at its widest hdc section when slightly stretched) measures approximately 18″ (19½”) [45.5 (49.5) cm], ending on a WS row (Row 2). Fasten off, leaving a long tail of Contrast A for crown gathering and seaming.

Part 2: Seaming & Making the 4-Inch Pompom

1. Gather the Crown & Seam: Thread the long Contrast A yarn tail onto your yarn needle. Weave the needle in and out through the row ends along the short single crochet crown edge and pull tightly to gather the top of the hat closed. Secure with a few stitches, then whipstitch or mattress-stitch down the center back seam—switching to a Contrast B tail at the color change so both sides of the seam remain invisible when the cuff is folded up.
2. Make the Pompom: Wind Contrast B yarn around 4 fingers approximately 80 times. Carefully slide the bundle off your fingers and tie a separate length of Contrast B tightly around the center. Cut open all loops on both sides, fluff, and trim into a dense, smooth sphere measuring 4″ [10 cm] in diameter. Sew securely to the gathered crown tip and fold back the Contrast B cuff.