The Reba Beanie: My Crochet Cancer Challenge Hat

The Reba Beanie is my hat for the Crochet Cancer Challenge, hosted by Christine of Sweet Potato 3. Every October, designers share a free hat pattern so crocheters everywhere can make a hat and donate it to someone going through cancer treatment.

This beanie is named after Reba, a dear friend of our family who has faced breast cancer. I made it in pink to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness, and with so many people we love who have walked this road in my heart. 💗

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Why You’ll Love This Pattern

• Beautiful texture — the half double crochet slip stitch makes a warm, solid fabric
• Snug ribbed brim — front and back post stitches keep it in place
• Worked top down in the round — easy to check the fit as you go
• Made to give — a cozy hat for someone going through treatment, or a gift for someone you love

Pattern Details

Skill Level: Easy (Confident Beginner)

Terms: US crochet terms

Yarn: Worsted weight (#4), about 45–150 yards depending on size. The sample is Caron One Pound, about 115 yards for the Teen/Adult Small.

Hook & Notions

• Size Hook: I (5.5 mm)
• Scissors
• Stitch marker
• Blunt yarn needle (to weave in ends)
• Measuring tape

Finished Size: 9 sizes, from Newborn (6¼” wide × 5¾” tall) to Adult X-Large (11⅜” × 9⅛”). The Teen/Adult Small (fits a 21–22″ head) is 9½” wide × 8″ tall. The size chart in the PDF lists every size.

Gauge: 13 hdc sl sts = 4″. The circle should measure 3½” across after Round 4, 4¼” after Round 5, and 5″ after Round 6.

Abbreviations

• MR = magic ring
• Ch = chain
• Sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• Rnd(s) = round(s)
• Rep = repeat
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• hdc sl st = half double crochet slip stitch
• FPhdc = front post half double crochet
• BPhdc = back post half double crochet

Special Stitches

• Hdc in 3rd loop: With the front of the stitch facing you, look at the top of the stitch and find the sideways “V”. Next, bend the stitch to look at the back, and you should see another “V”. You’ll be working into the back loop of that “V” — this is called the 3rd loop.
• Hdc sl st (half double crochet slip stitch): Yarn over, insert hook in the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Pull the first loop on the hook through the other 2 loops (1 loop remains).

Pattern Notes

• Sample shown in: Caron One Pound in Dark Pink, size Adult Small.
• Working in rounds: the hat is worked in rounds, starting at the top and working down.
• Chain 1 at the beginning of a round does NOT count as a stitch.
• The first stitch of each round is made in the same stitch as the join.
• I use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round to help keep track of the beginning of the round.
• All rounds are joined with a slip stitch unless otherwise stated.
• I suggest making a gauge swatch before you start the hat. This will help you find the correct hook size.
• This beanie was designed for the Crochet Cancer Challenge 2026 in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

The Reba Beanie

Teen/Adult Small (21–22″ head)

Round 1: MR, ch 1, [dc, sc] 4 times into ring. Pull ring closed, join with a sl st. (8 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (16 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, (dc, sc) in first st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, *(dc, sc) in next st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (24 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in first st, sc in next st, dc in next st, *(sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (32 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1, (dc, sc) in first st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, *(dc, sc) in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (40 sts)

Round 6: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in first st, [sc in next st, dc in next st] 2 times, *(sc, dc) in next st, [sc in next st, dc in next st] 2 times; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (48 sts)

Round 7: Ch 1, (dc, sc) in first st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, *(dc, sc) in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, (sc, dc) in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st, dc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (56 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1, *(sc, dc) in next st, [sc in next st, dc in next st] 6 times, sc in next st, (dc, sc) in next st, [dc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Round 9: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc. (60 sts)

Round 10: (Working in the 3rd loop) Ch 1, hdc sl st in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc sl st. (60 sts)

Round 11: (Working in the 3rd loop) Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Round 12: Ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, *sc in next st, hdc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Round 13: Ch 1, hdc in first st, sc in next st, *hdc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first hdc. (60 sts)

Rounds 14–20: Repeat Rounds 12–13 three more times, then repeat Round 12 once more.

Rounds 21–23: Repeat Rounds 9–11 one more time.

Rounds 24–26: Ch 1, FPhdc around first st, BPhdc around next st, *FPhdc around next st, BPhdc around next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first FPhdc. (60 sts)

Round 27: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

You can find more of my crochet hat patterns here.

The Crochet Cancer Challenge

Christine of Sweet Potato 3 has been bringing crocheters together for the Crochet Cancer Challenge since 2014. Every day in October a new free hat pattern is shared, and all it takes to join is one hat: download a pattern, crochet it, and donate it to someone going through cancer treatment. You can read more about why this challenge is close to my heart in my Crochet Cancer Challenge post, and see every hat on Christine’s page: