Easy 40 Minute Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern with Video

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The Ponytail or kNOT Hat (also known as a Messy Bun Hat Pattern) is a crazy easy 40 minute free crochet hat pattern which will take you approximately 40 minutes to complete, from start to finish (probably quicker!). You need 1 ball of super bulky yarn and a 12 mm hook. This hat can be crocheted as a beanie (repeat R3 once; rather than twice), a slouchy, or a messy bun hat / ponytail hat. Pick up the free crochet pattern below, pop over to the full video tutorial and crochet this hat along with me – or print or save your pdf copy and work on it in your own spare time 🙂

This hat matches the scarf which will be released as our first Scarf of the Month Club Pattern January 15, 2017!

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Easy 40 Minute Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

Easy 40 Minute Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

 Supplies

Difficulty Level

EASY

Finished Size

This hat is designed to fit:  Teen-Adult

Band: 16 inches unstretched
Hat Height: 10 inches height

NOTE: If you want a ‘beanie’ style instead (for a more fitted hat) stop repeat rounds after R4 and then complete R7. If you want it to be slouchier add additional repeat rounds before working R7; each repeat round adds approximately 1.25 inches in additional height.

Gauge

approximately:  1.5 inches tall (each double crochet stitch); each stitch set (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) is 2.5 inches wide at the top of the set and 2 inches wide at the base of the stitch.

Abbreviations

US Terminology used

ch – chain
ch1sp – chain 1 space
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
R – row/round
rem – remaining
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
st/sts – stitch/stitches
* – Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain of multiple instructions.
() – Repeat the instructions between the parentheses the number of times indicated.
[] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches

Helpful Photo Tutorials

Simple Closing Method for Hats

Whip Stitch Seam

Helpful Video Tutorials

Quick Stitch Guide 

Slip Knot and Starting Chain

Single Crochet

Half Double Crochet

Double Crochet

Watch the Ponytail or kNOT Hat Video on YouTube in 1080p HD HERE

Notes

I designed this hat to have the first round of single crochet stitches to have the ‘wrong side’ facing out because I think it provides more texture to the hat and works well with the band. If this bothers you and you want the ‘right side of that first round of single crochet stitches (on the main hat section) to be facing out instead, simply turn your work at the end of R2 and continue working the pattern in rounds. Before you close the hat, turn it right-side out and then weave it closed.

Easy 40 Minute Free Crochet Hat Pattern

Ponytail or Knot Hat

The Ponytail or Knot Hat is worked from the band to the crown of the hat in one piece. The band is worked in rows and after R2 the hat itself is worked in rounds. The band is whipstitched closed and the top of the hat is tapered and then closed with your yarn end and needle.

Easy 40 Minute Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

Pattern Instructions

Ponytail or Knot Hat: Make a beanie, slouchy, ponytail or messy bun hat. Time to complete 40 mins Click to Tweet

Beginning with the band:

R1: Ch 6, beg in 2nd ch from hook work 1 sl st in each st across, ch 1, turn [5]

R2: 1 sl st in the first st, 1 sl st in the bl of each of the next 3 sts, 1 sl st in the last st, ch 1, turn [5]

R3-41: Rep R2 (do not finish off at the end of R41)

R1: Rotate your work to work along the band, work 1 sc in each row end across, turn [41]

R2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in the same st (first st), *sk 4 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st**. Rep from * to ** across, sk 4 sts, work 2 dc in the next st, sl st to the top of the ch 3 to join (this counts as a ch 1). [32 dc, 8 ch1sp]

Ponytail or Knot Hat R2 Image 1

Ponytail or Knot Hat R2 Image 2

 

R3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), now work your first dc around that sl st (or the slip stitch space) you just made (I promise it will make sensesoon!). Skip all stitches in this round except the ch1sp. Work *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each ch1sp around. Work 2 dc around the initial sl st join. Sl st to the top of the ch 3 to join (this counts as a ch 1). [32 dc, 8 ch1sp]

 

Ponytail or Knot Hat R3 Image 1

Ponytail or Knot Hat R3 Image 2

Ponytail or Knot Hat R3 Image 3

Ponytail of Knot Hat R3 Image 4

R4-R5: Rep R3

At the beginning of the round:

Ponytail or Knot Hat R4 Image 1

Ponytail or Knot Hat R4 Image 2

At the end of the round:

Ponytail or Knot Hat R4 Image 3

R6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), 1 hdc around the sl st join. Skip all stitches in this round except the ch1sp. Work 2 hdc in each ch1sp around. Sl st to the top of the ch 2 to join. [16 hdc]

To finish, ch 1 and cut a long tail because you are going to weave it in and out between the sets of hdc you have left in the last round. To see how to close the hat please watch the video or view this photo tutorial.

Ponytail or Knot Hat Top Closed

Finish off and weave in ends.

To finish the band you need to choose whether you want this to be a regular hat or a ponytail (messy bun) hat. If you want a regular hat, whipstitch up all 5 stitches in the band to close them. If you want a ponytail hat, whipstitch up to 4 stitches in the band to close them – in the example I crocheted I did 3 stitches and then reinforced the third by whipstitching into it twice.

Ponytail or Knot Hat Seam 1

Ponytail or Knot Hat Finished

Ponytail or Knot Hat Back

Ponytail or Knot Hat Free Pattern Oombawka Design With Beanie and Slouchy AND regular hat options!

If you want your hat to fit tighter (like a beanie rather than a slouchy) only repeat round 3 once. After you complete R4 proceed to R6. Then you will have a lovely Ponytail or Knot Beanie Hat.

Video Tutorial

 

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Anna, I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Needlecraft-Amour-Crochet-Hook/dp/B00XKQUJP2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1512101469&sr=8-3&keywords=12+mm+crochet+hook&linkCode=ll1&tag=oomdescro-20&linkId=15d1d0f44630c152cef89fa7f490ff19 but you could try to use the 12.75 and then double check your gauge to make sure your stitches aren’t too large – if you are a tighter crocheter it might work to use the larger size hook 🙂 If you use the smaller hook you would need to make looser stitches which might be more difficult than make them a bit tighter. Hope this helps, Rhondda

  2. It says to use a size 12 mm needle. The sizes go from 10 to 12.75. Which one should I use? Thank you