Big Merino Beanie

8 října, 2025

From two skeins of soft DROPS Big Merino, I crocheted a cozy beanie with a brand-new pattern — this year’s must-have for the winter season.

We unpacked the DROPS BIG MERINO skeins from a lovely package sent by the e-shop ProHáčkování.cz. Coincidentally, these yarns were part of a 30% off sale — a seasonal offer that DROPS announces every year so every crocheter and knitter can stock up before winter begins. Each Big Merino skein weighs 50 g and measures 75 m. It’s a soft 100% merino wool, certified safe for children under three years old. The yarn is warm, fluffy, and ideal for headbands (1 skein), beanies (2 skeins), slouchy hats (just under 3 skeins), neck warmers, or oversized vests and sweaters. It was my first time working with this yarn, and I must say — it was love at first touch.

The fiber is pleasantly stretchy, wonderfully warm, tightly spun, and a real joy to crochet with.

VIDEO TUTORIAL PREMIERE – Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 19:00 AM with ENGLISH SUBTITLES

The beanie is crocheted from the bottom edge up. Start by making a chain, measure it around your head, and join with a slip stitch. You’ll need an even number of chain stitches for the foundation. Then crochet single crochet stitches, and from the third round, start working the pattern I named “double chain loop.” I believe this is a unique design — I haven’t seen it anywhere else. Continue crocheting in rounds without joining. Thanks to the elasticity and yardage of Big Merino, I didn’t need to taper the crown. Crochet a tube to the desired height, then pull the top closed and sew on a pom-pom. Finish the bottom edge with a row of fishbone single crochets for a neat look.

As for the pattern, I originally wanted to recreate one described in the Nomotta book from 1935. I didn’t manage to make an exact copy, but my test swatch turned out so beautifully that I decided to use it for this beanie instead. The pattern works only when crocheted in the round and looks best with thicker yarns, which highlight its texture perfectly.

💡 TIP: If you crochet the beanie longer, you’ll get a fold-over brim. The new stitch pattern looks lovely on the reverse side too, and the double layer around the ears adds extra warmth. If your beanie turns out too short, simply add a few rows to the brim to adjust the length.

I hope your Big Merino Beanie turns out beautifully and that you’ll wear it with joy. I’m so curious to hear what you think about this new pattern! Do you feel inspired to share your own experience with crocheting or styling the Big Merino beanie? Feel free to post your photos in the Krampolinka Facebook group. On Instagram, please use the hashtag #kulichbigmerino for easy searching. If you tag me in your projects made with my patterns, I may reshare them in my InstaStories to inspire others.

BIG MERINO BEANIE
Yarn: DROPS Big Merino, color 22
Yarn used: 2 skeins from ProHáčkování.cz
Hook: 6 mm
Size: circumference 55–56 cm, height 24 cm, width 24 cm
Extras: yarn needle, decorative label, 20 cm pom-pom from Bambulky výhodně
Time: approx. 2 hours
Skill level: Beginner

Abbreviations (US terms)
CH – chain
SL ST – slip stitch
SC – single crochet
DCL – double chain loop (original stitch pattern)
FBSC – fishbone single crochet

Beanie – Hook 6 mm

Row 1: Crochet a chain of 62 stitches, join with a SL ST to form a ring.
Row 2: CH 1 (counts as first SC), crochet 1 SC in each stitch around. Continue to the next round following the pattern.

Row 3: Insert hook under the back loop, yarn over and make 1 chain, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over again and make another chain. You now have three loops on the hook – yarn over and pull through all three to create the first DCL (double chain loop). In this round, crochet four DCLs into every second stitch, then the fifth DCL into the adjacent stitch. You’ll have about 35 pattern columns. Continue to the next round in pattern.

Rows 4–21: Work DCL stitches into the back loop of each pattern column.
In the final round, work the last two stitches as SL STs. Leave a long tail for gathering and sewing the top closed.

Brim – Hook 4 mm

Row 1: Insert the hook into the first chain stitch and CH 1.
Insert the hook under the loop of the previous CH and into the next CH, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over and make 1 SC.
For the FBSC (fishbone single crochet), insert the hook under the loop of the previous stitch and into the next CH, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over and make 1 SC. Continue working FBSC around. Join with a SL ST at the end of the round.

Row 2: CH 1 (counts as SC) and work FBSC in the back loop around. Join with a SL ST.
Row 3: CH 1 (counts as SL ST) and work SL ST in the back loop around. Join with a SL ST.

Finishing

Use the long tail to sew through the last round of the beanie and pull tight to close the top.
Weave in all loose ends on the wrong side.
Sew on the pom-pom and attach the label for decoration.

Usage and Permissions

This pattern is intended for personal use only. If you would like to use it for commercial purposes, please contact me first. Always include the source link: www.krampolinka.cz when sharing your projects online. The pattern is specifically written for the yarn, hook size, and tension used in this sample. If you use a different yarn or hook, your final bag size and shape may vary.

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