The Checkerboard Beanie! A Free Crochet Pattern

This checkerboard beanie is an eye catcher & easier to make than it looks! The colors are measured perfectly so the brim doesn’t compromise the checkerboard effect or become too “busy”. I love how unique this checkerboard pattern is 🩷

I have seen a lot of checkerboard crochet beanies, especially since checkerboard starting trending a couple years ago. However, I haven’t seen one using larger squares, so I decided to create my own! It took a little extra care and attention to detail to get the sequence right. I am really proud of this design!

You may sell the finished product as long as I am credited for the pattern. Do not copy and publish this pattern as your own.

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To purchase the inexpensive ad-free PDF download of this pattern, you can do so here! You can also get the Beanie Bundle here, that includes this pattern, the Plain Ribbed Beanie, Patchwork Beanie, and Patchwork with Accent Brim Beanie all in 1 PDF!

Measurements

This pattern is one size and will fit most adults. 😁 The finished size of this beanie using my gauge is 22 inch head circumference (28 inches stretched) and 9.5 inches from top to bottom. Note that the bottom couple inches will then flip up for the brim. Using a larger hook might help you meet the gauge if you are a tight crocheter. When I use a hook size of 5.5 or 6 mm instead this added an extra 2 inches to the circumference and .5 inches to the height.

For a longer/taller beanie you can add an additional 10 chains to your starting chain, split evenly between the colors. Your stitch count will be 50 instead of 40.

• For example, chain 30 in color A then 20 + 1 in color B.

Gauge

17 sts and 8 rows of hdc blo measure 4 x 4 inch using a 5 mm crochet hook.

Materials

• YARN | about 90 grams of any weight 4 yarn per beanie. I like worsted acrylic or wool for mine. I recommend “I Love This Yarn” by Hobby Lobby for a good soft and stretchy value acrylic yarn with a big selection of colors!
• Color A – about 45 grams weight 4 yarn
• Color B – about 45 grams weight 4 yarn
• 5 mm hook (size H) (or 5.5 mm or 6 mm for a larger sized beanie)
• tapestry needle to weave in the ends
• scissors to cut your yarn
• Pom-Pom (optional) I linked the ones I used & loved!

Abbreviations

Sl st = Slip Stitch

Ch = Chain

Hdc = half double crochet

Blo = back loop only

St = stitch

Pattern Notes

• This pattern uses US crochet terms.
• The turning chain does not count as a stitch.
• This pattern is worked side to side to form a rectangle shape. You’ll then sew up the side seamlessly and cinch the top.
• You can leave your yarns connected while working through a section. Keep your carried yarns on the same one side, so they will be easily hidden inside your beanie.
• If you are a tight crocheter, I recommend to go up a hook size to 5.5 mm or 6 mm.
• You will work a regular hdc immediately after each color change instead of a hdc blo. This makes the color change look seamless. The only time you will do a hdc blo immediately after a color change is when you are starting a new color “section.”
• Have fun experimenting with different colors!

How to Change Color

For the checkerboard design, you will change color in your starting chain. To do this, chain the full complete amount of chains listed in the pattern before switching colors.

For this example below, the pattern would read “In color A, chain 6. Then switch to color B and chain 6 more”. Don’t stress if this is difficult, if you are off count by 1 chain in yours it won’t make a huge difference. 🙂

During the regular rows, while you are finishing your last stitch of the first color, pick up the next color and pull through the last loops of your stitch. For example, for a hdc you will yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through the stitch, yarn over with the new color and pull through all loops. Keep carried colors all on the same side. This is the “wrong side.” I also recommend working over the carried yarns.

Let’s get started!

Pattern

Row 1: With color A, chain 25. Join color B and chain 15 + 1. Turn. Don’t chain too tightly.

Row 2: Work each stitch in this row in the back bumps of the chain. Starting with the second chain from hook, sl st 5, Hdc 10. Switch to color A and Hdc 25. Keep carried yarns on the side away from you at this point, this will be your “wrong” side. Ch 1 and turn. (40)

Row 3: Hdc blo in the first 25 stitches. Pick up color B, hdc in the next stitch, hdc blo in the next 9. Sl st blo 5. Ch 1 and turn. (40)

Row 4: Sl st blo 5, Hdc blo 10. Pick up color A, hdc in the first stitch, hdc blo in next 24. Ch 1 and turn. (40)

Row 5: Hdc blo in the first 25 stitches. Pick up color B, hdc in the next stitch, hdc blo in the next 9. Sl st blo 5. Ch 1 and turn. (40)

Rows 6-13: Repeat making Row 4 & Row 5 for four more times. You should have 12 rows (not including row 1/the starting chain) and end after the 5 sl st blo. (40)

Tie off both colors. I recommend leaving a long tail (about 10 inches) of color B at the top that you can use to cinch the beanie closed at the end. Join color A to where you just tied off, ch 1 and turn.

Row 14: Sl st blo 5, Hdc blo 10. Pick up color B, hdc blo in next 25. Ch 1 and turn. (40) (Note that we didn’t do a regular hdc at the color change for this row, because we are starting a new color “section.” This makes the color changes seamless.)

Row 15: Hdc blo in the first 25 stitches. Pick up color A, hdc in the next stitch, hdc blo in the next 9. Sl st blo 5. Ch 1 and turn. (40)

Row 16-25: Repeat Row 4 & Row 5 for 5 more times, but now your 2 colors are switched. This gives the checkerboard effect. You should have 12 rows total of this section and end after the 5 Sl st blo. After row 25, tie off yarns and join color B. (40)

Row 26-37: Repeat Rows 14-25, but now your 2 colors are switched back to the original pattern. You should have another 12 rows total of this section and end after the 5 sl st blo. After row 37, tie off yarns and join color A. (40)

Row 38-49: Repeat Rows 14-25 again but now your 2 colors are switched again to finish off the checker board sequence. After completing this 12 row section, tie off yarns with long tails that we will use to seam the side. (40)

Seaming the Sides

I will share with you my favorite way to seamlessly join the beanie so that you can’t even see it! My crochet pet peeve is being able to see the seams on beanies, so I Iove this method the most!

Start with your tail at the top of the beanie, at the end of the 5 Sl st blo. Fold the beanie over so the wrong sides are facing out and the beginning and end sides are on top of each other.

Take your darning needle with the tail, and go through the front loop only of the top edge, and then go through both loops on the other edge. Pull through. Repeat this process going through the same top edge and continue going down until you reach your next color & tail. With the next color on your needle, continue to seam by going through the front loop on the top panel, and both loops on the bottom panel.

Tie off ends and weave in.

Note: Remember that the brim will be flipped up, so take that into account while you’re weaving in your ends so you can hide them well.

Cinching the Top

With the beanie still inside out, take your longest tail at the top of your beanie and use your darning needle to weave the tail in and out along the top stitches of your beanie. Go around the whole top and pull very tightly to close. If you need to cut a new piece of yarn to use to cinch the top, that’s fine, just make sure to tie it tight & weave in the ends!

Weave in all ends, flip your beanie right side out, add a pom-pom to the top if you want, and you’re done! I like to use the furry pom-poms or make my own using the Clover brand pom-pom maker 🙂

All done!

I would LOVE to see your creation! If you crochet this Patchwork Beanie please tag or DM @woolymamacrochet on Instagram so I can like & share! 

If you have any questions or need help, PLEASE send me a message or leave a comment on this post.

If you enjoyed this pattern, please check out my other free beanie patterns! Like the Plain Ribbed Beanie, Patchwork Beanie, or Patchwork with Accent Brim Beanie! You can never have enough 🙂