Last Updated on January 10, 2023 by Cyprianne Nolan
Make for toddler, child and adult.
This crochet messy bun hat pattern has been a really long time coming. It is an upgrade to my last messy bun hat which debuted on YouTube years ago.
Since then it has skyrocketed to be one of my most watched videos.
People have often asked how they can make the crochet messy bun for a child, and I thought it easier to rewrite the pattern and do a new video so that you can make it really easily without any guesswork.
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Crochet 1 hour messy bun beanie
I have changed the yarn to a super bulky number 6 yarn (Wool-Ease Thick N Quick is my favourite) making this crochet ponytail hat even quicker to make.
The last free messy bun hat pattern I wrote was made with Loops and Threads Charisma yarn. I think a lot of people ran into problems with sizing using a substitute regular bulky yarn which isn’t quite as thick. Very easy to do when not all bulky yarns run the same size.
My hope with this new design is that you will end up with a perfectly sized hat every single time and if you know how to crochet you can easily make this in 1 hour.
Child size messy bun hat free pattern
This new crochet messy bun hat pattern includes four sizes. Sometimes I forget that even young kids even toddlers can have lots of hair. My kids well… they didn’t have much till they were about four or five.
Size is included in this pattern are toddler, child, adult and adult extra large.
Crochet Messy bun hat with elastic
Just like my last pattern this crochet messy bun hat is made with elastic. I believe it is still the best and easiest design.
It is so easy to open up the top and pull even this thickest of ponytails through. Then the elastic nicely goes back into shape and holds the bun securely in place.
I have tried other styles but find the hole remains quite large.
Single crochet messy bun hat pattern
What makes this crochet messy bun hat pattern perfect for beginners? The entire hat is made from single crochet this is the only skill that you need to have success with this pattern.
I also believe because the yarn is larger and the hat takes far fewer stitches than a smaller yarn it will be easier to stick with the pattern all the way to the end.
If you are a beginner be sure to scroll down and watch the messy bun video tutorial.
All you need is some super bulky yarn a stitch marker your hooks and somewhere to watch the video and within an hour or so you will have this beanie done.
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Top down messy bun hat pattern
Even though I do my best to get the sizing perfect depending on the amount of hair you have you may need to add a few rounds to this hat.
I designed this pattern working the stitches top down making it really easy to adjust the length of the hat.
You can either make less rounds for a shorter one or just add more rounds to make it longer and cover more of your ears.
Resizing this messy bun hat pattern couldn’t be easier.
Check out more FREE CROCHET HAT PATTERNS here
Designers Notes
💕 Skill Level is Beginner
💕 Skills Needed single crochet
💕 Sizes Included Toddler, Child, Adult and Adult XL
💕 Made with super bulky yarn
💕 All sizes written individually
💕 Unisex crochet hat pattern
💕 Written in Standard American terms
Yarn Chosen for This Messy Bun Hat
For this crochet messy bun hat I decided to use Wool-Ease Thick N Quick yarn by Lion Brand. Below are just some of the reasons I love this yarn so much!
- The Wool-Ease Thick N Quick has the look of 100% wool but is super soft and easy to take care of.
- Most of the colours they have are a combination of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. Depending on which colour you choose it may have a few different fibres.
- The completed messy bun hat made from this yarn can be machine washed and machine dried. I have done this many times with great results.
- This is a fantastic yarn for beginners. It is very easy to work with it glides nicely on your hook and does not come apart when you work with it.
- And last but not least they have an amazing assortment of colours both solid variegated striped metallic and speckled.
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Easiest crochet messy bun hat free pattern below
Be sure to scroll down to watch video.
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner
ABBREVIATION
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- st – stitch
- sts – stitches
- slst – slip stitch
- rpt – repeat
GAUGE
4″ x 4″ square – 8 single crochet and 9 rows
Looking to make just a regular beanie for everyday wear that is perfect for men too? Check out this crochet beanie pattern here.
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MATERIALS (affiliate links below)
- 9.0 mm hook (finishing band of hat)
- 10 mm hook (main part of hat)
- Tapestry Needle
- Stitch Markers
- Super Bulky Yarn I used Wool Ease ThickNQuick by Lion Brand
- One skein will make any size hat
- Hair Elastic
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS FOR CROCHET MESSY BUN HAT
- 1 – 3 Years 16.5” x 6”
- 3-10 Years 18” x 6.75”
- Adult 19.5” x 7.5”
- Adult XL 21” x 8.25”
More free patterns chosen just for you! Click on the photo below.
Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern for Toddler 1 – 3 Years
*Hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join.
Use a stitch marker at the beginning of round for easier counting
Rnd 1: Using 10 mm hook work 18 sc around a hair elastic.
Rnd 2: 1 sc in 1st 2 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (24)
Rnd 3: 1 sc in 1st 3 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (30)
Rnd 4: 1 sc in 1st 9 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 9 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (33)
Rnds 5 – 11: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (33)
CONTRAST BAND
Fasten off and join red yarn with slst at fasten-off point.
Change to 9.00 mm hook and continue below
Rnd 12: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (33)
Fasten off and join cream yarn with slst.
Rnds 13-14: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (33).
Fasten off weave in ends and keep cozy!
Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern for Child 3 – 10 Years
*Hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join.
Use a stitch marker at the beginning of round for easier counting
Rnd 1: Using 10 mm hook work 18 sc around a hair elastic.
Rnd 2: 1 sc in 1st 2 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (24)
Rnd 3: 1 sc in 1st 3 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (30)
Rnd 4: 1 sc in 1st 4 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (36)
Rnds 5-12: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (36)
CONTRAST BAND
Fasten off and join red yarn with slst at fasten-off point.
Change to 9.00 mm hook and continue below
Rnd 13: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (36)
Fasten off and join cream yarn with slst.
Rnds 14-15: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (36)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern for Adult
*Hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join.
Use a stitch marker at the beginning of round for easier counting
Rnd 1: Using 10 mm hook work 18 sc around a hair elastic.
Rnd 2: 1 sc in 1st 2 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (24)
Rnd 3: 1 sc in 1st 3 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (30)
Rnd 4: 1 sc in 1st 4 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (36)
Rnd 5: 1 sc in 1st 11 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 11 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (39)
Rnds 6-14: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (39)
CONTRAST BAND
Fasten off and join red yarn with slst at fasten-off point.
Change to 9.00 mm hook and continue below.
Rnd 15: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (39)
Fasten off and join cream yarn with slst.
Rnds 16-17: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (39)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Adult XL
*Hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join. Use a stitch marker at the beginning of round for easier counting
Rnd 1: Using 10 mm hook work 18 sc around a hair elastic.
Rnd 2: 1 sc in 1st 2 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (24)
Rnd 3: 1 sc in 1st 3 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (30)
Rnd 4: 1 sc in 1st 4 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (36)
Rnd 5: 1 sc in 1st 5 sts *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts* rpt from * to * till end of rnd (42)
Rnds 6-15: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (42)
Fasten off and join red yarn with slst at fasten-off point.
Change to 9.00 mm hook and continue below
Rnd 16: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (42)
Fasten off and join cream yarn with slst.
Rnds 17-19: Sc in 1st st and each st around. (42)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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I hope you had lots of fun making this pattern and that you find it extra sizes helpful! Let me know in the comments what colours you made and who you made it for.
You can find me on Instagram @prettydarnadorable if you’re on there and wanna share a picture I would love to see them.
As always stay cosy my friends and thanks for making me part of your day XO
Hello!
I posted a comment but it does not show please bear with me.
I am a beginner and I have redone the second row 9 times but still only have 22 and not 24 stitches.
Could the number in the pattern be posted incorrectly?
Please let me know ASAP as I m trying to make this as a Christmas present.
Thanks so much for your quick response.
Cynthia
Hello! I am a beginner and after redoing the second row “9” times, I still only get 22 stitches.
By any chance , is the pattern reading the wrong number of 24?
Please help as I am trying to do this as a Christmas gift.
Thanks so much for your quick response…
Denise!!! You are so right!! Thanks so much for letting me know I will fix that now 🙂
Hope you are enjoying the pattern otherwise xo
In you adult XL Row 15 is 42 stitches; then row 16 is 39 stitches; row 17-19 is 42 stitches. Might need a correction there.