Corrugated Short-Row Ribbed Crochet Hat Pattern Free: Sideways Super Bulky Beanie

Standard rectangle-seamed crochet beanies are fast, but gathering 40+ super bulky stitches at the top of the head can leave a thick, puckered knot at the crown. Designed by Julia Madill, the Corrugated Short-Row Ribbed Crochet Hat eliminates crown bulk by working sideways in back-loop single crochet (scbl) across four 12-row short-row wedges on a Size U.S. K/10.5 (6.5 mm) hook. Each wedge steps down gradually from 41 stitches to 33 stitches at the crown before uniting all 41 stitches again—creating a smooth, knit-look watch cap from a single ball of yarn.

How the 12-Row Short-Row Crown Wedge Works

Every 12-row wedge shapes one quarter of the hat circumference. On even rows (Rows 2, 4, 6, 8) you crochet up toward the crown and leave the last stitch unworked before turning. On odd return rows (Rows 3, 5, 7, 9) you start at the crown edge with a slip stitch in the back loop only (sl st in blo) of the first stitch and work `scbl` down to the brim—stepping the crown down by 1 stitch per row from 41 sts down to 33 sts. Then on Row 10, you crochet all the way up to the top of the crown across all 8 stair-steps to restore your full 41 stitches!

Materials & Custom Hat Sizing Table

• Yarn: 1 ball of Patons® Norse™ (#6 Super Bulky) in Emerald (91011) (or 190 yds of any #5 bulky or #6 light super-bulky roving yarn).
• Crochet Hook: Size U.S. K/10.5 (6.5 mm) crochet hook.
• Notions: Stitch marker (to mark the crown edge), blunt yarn needle, and scissors.

Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms)

• Ch = Chain(s)
• Pat = Pattern
• Rep = Repeat
• RS = Right side
• Sc = Single crochet
• Scbl = Single crochet in back loop only
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Tog = Together

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Part 1: Crocheting the 4 Short-Row Crown Wedges

1. Foundation Chain: Ch 42.
2. Row 1 (RS – Brim to Crown): Work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Work 1 sc in each ch across to the end of the chain. Turn. (41 sc)
3. Row 2 (Crown Step-Back 1): Ch 1. Work 1 scbl in first sc and in each sc across to the last sc; leave last sc unworked. Turn. (40 sts)
4. Row 3 (Crown Step-Back 2): Work 1 sl st in back loop only of first sc. Work 1 scbl in next sc and in each sc to the end of the row (brim edge). Turn. (39 sts)
5. Row 4 (Crown Step-Back 3): Ch 1. Work 1 scbl in first sc and in each sc to the last st; leave last st unworked. Turn. (38 sts)
6. Row 5 (Crown Step-Back 4): Work 1 sl st in back loop only of first sc. Work 1 scbl in next sc and in each sc to the end of the row. Turn. (37 sts)
7. Rows 6 to 9 (Crown Step-Backs 5–8): Repeat Rows 4 and 5 twice more (stepping down to 36, 35, 34, and finally 33 sts on Row 9).
8. Row 10 (Unite All 41 Stitches): Ch 1. Work 1 scbl in each st to the end of the row, working into the 33 stitches of Row 9 and then continuing up across the 8 skipped stitches and slip stitches of the previous short rows. Turn. (41 scbl)
9. Rows 11 to 13 (Full-Length Rib Rows): Ch 1. Work 1 scbl in each st across all 41 stitches to the end of the row. Turn.
10. Repeat for Remaining 3 Wedges: Repeat Rows 2 to 13 three times more (4 complete wedges = 49 rows total). Break yarn leaving a long tail for seaming.

Part 2: Closing the Crown & Back Seam

1. Cinch Top Crown: Thread the long yarn tail onto your yarn needle, weave through the row-ends along the shaped top edge of the hat, and pull tightly to cinch the crown closed.
2. Seam Side Edges: Whipstitch or mattress-stitch the foundation chain and Row 49 together through the back loops so the seam blends invisibly into the vertical ribbing. Weave in ends and fold up a 3″ [7.5 cm] cuff around the brim.