Mint Chocolate Chip Beanie Free Crochet Pattern

This mint chocolate chip beanie makes me smile every single time I see it. It looks exactly like a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, complete with dripping cream and little brown bobble “chips” scattered across the surface, and it is pure whimsy with practical construction underneath.

We will start with a flat ribbed rectangle for the cream brim, seam it into a ring, then pick up stitches along the top edge to work the mint body in joined rounds. The bobbles are worked directly into the fabric as we go, so there is no fiddly sewing on of chips later. The cream “drip” detail is crocheted separately and sewn on at the end, and a fluffy mint pom pom finishes the whole scoop.

If you have a mint chocolate chip enthusiast in your life, or you just want a hat that makes people smile, this is the one. You should be comfortable with single crochet, working in joined rounds, picking up stitches along an edge, and basic seaming. If you have never worked a bobble stitch before, do not worry, I will walk you through every step.

Materials

• Yarn A (cream/off-white): approximately 130 yards (119 m), worsted weight (category 4)
• Yarn B (mint green): approximately 180 yards (165 m), worsted weight (category 4), plus approximately 30 yards (27 m) additional mint green for the pom pom
• Yarn C (dark brown): approximately 15 yards (14 m), worsted weight (category 4)
• US size J-10 / 6.0 mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• Stitch markers (at least 4)
• Scissors
• Pom pom maker (3 inch / 7.5 cm diameter recommended) or two cardboard circles
• Pins for blocking and appliqué placement

Abbreviations

• BLO: back loop only
• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet
• dec: invisible decrease (insert hook in front loop of next st, then front loop of following st, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops)
• pm: place marker
• rep: repeat
• rnd: round
• RS: right side
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• WS: wrong side
• yo: yarn over

Special Stitches

• Bobble Stitch (the chocolate chips): This is a 5-double-crochet bobble worked into a single stitch. Step 1: Insert hook into indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops. You now have 1 incomplete dc. Step 2: Without removing hook, yo, insert hook into the same stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops. You now have 2 incomplete dc. Step 3: Repeat step 2 three more times until you have 6 loops on hook (5 incomplete dc total). Step 4: Yo, pull through all 6 loops on hook. Step 5: Ch 1 to close and secure the bobble. This ch 1 does not count as a stitch. The bobble will puff toward the right side of the work. If your bobble puffs inward, push it outward from the wrong side with your finger after completing it.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: adult medium head circumference of approximately 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 cm)
• Hat height from brim fold to crown (excluding pom pom): approximately 9.5 inches (24 cm)
• Brim folded height: approximately 2 inches (5 cm)
• The hat is designed with 1 to 2 inches of negative ease, so the unstretched circumference is slightly smaller than the head measurement and the fabric grips comfortably
• Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm), worked in the round in single crochet using US size J-10 / 6.0 mm hook, after blocking
• Construction: ribbed brim worked flat and seamed, body worked in joined rounds, drip appliqué sewn on, pom pom attached last
• Skill level: Intermediate

A few notes before we start. The hat body is worked in joined rounds, and the ch 1 at the beginning of each round does not count as a stitch. Begin each round in the first stitch, not in the turning chain, and use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to track the beginning. All body rounds are right side rounds, and bobbles will naturally puff outward. To change colors, complete the last stitch of the current color until 2 loops remain on hook, then draw the new color through both loops. For Yarn C (brown), cut and rejoin as needed rather than carrying long floats. Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns for the mint green body, because the bobble chocolate chips will not show clearly against a textured background.

The Brim

The brim is a ribbed rectangle worked flat, then seamed into a ring. With Yarn A, ch 13.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (12 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st across. Turn. (12 sc)

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 20.5 inches (52 cm) from beginning, ending after a WS row. This will be approximately 93 rows.

Checkpoint: Your brim strip should be 12 stitches wide and 20.5 inches long.

Seam: With yarn needle and Yarn A, use whipstitch or mattress stitch to join the first and last rows together, creating a ring. The seam should be neat and stretchy. Weave in ends. You now have a brim ring with two long edges. The bottom edge becomes the folded brim. The top edge is where you pick up stitches.

Hat Body Setup Round

Hold the brim ring with the seam at one side. You will work along the top edge. With Yarn B, join yarn at the seam with a sl st through one of the edge stitches.

Setup Round: Ch 1 (does not count as st), sc evenly around the top edge, working 82 sc evenly spaced. Skip approximately 1 row end every 11 stitches to reduce from 93 row ends to 82 stitches. Sl st to first sc to join. Pm in first st. (82 sc)

Hat Body

All body rounds begin with ch 1 (does not count as st) and are joined with sl st to first sc. Move marker up each round.

Rounds 1 to 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Round 5 (Bobble Round 1): Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, bobble in next st, (sc in next 10 sts, bobble in next st) 6 times, sc in next 5 sts. Sl st to join. (75 sc, 7 bobbles = 82 total)

Rounds 6 and 7: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Round 8 (Bobble Round 2): Ch 1, sc in next 10 sts, bobble in next st, (sc in next 10 sts, bobble in next st) 6 times, sc in remaining 5 sts. Sl st to join. (75 sc, 7 bobbles = 82 total)

Rounds 9 and 10: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Round 11 (Bobble Round 3): Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, bobble in next st, (sc in next 12 sts, bobble in next st) 5 times, sc in next 9 sts. Sl st to join. (76 sc, 6 bobbles = 82 total)

Rounds 12 and 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Round 14 (Bobble Round 4): Ch 1, sc in next 7 sts, bobble in next st, (sc in next 13 sts, bobble in next st) 5 times, sc in next 6 sts. Sl st to join. (76 sc, 6 bobbles = 82 total)

Rounds 15 and 16: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Round 17 (Bobble Round 5): Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, bobble in next st, (sc in next 11 sts, bobble in next st) 6 times, sc in next 7 sts. Sl st to join. (75 sc, 7 bobbles = 82 total)

Rounds 18 and 19: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Checkpoint: After Round 19, the body should measure approximately 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) tall.

Upper Body and Transition to Cream Top

Rounds 20 and 21: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

At the end of Round 21, change to Yarn A (cream) by completing the last sl st join with Yarn A. Cut Yarn B, leaving a 6 inch tail.

Rounds 22 and 23 (Yarn A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (82 sc each round)

Crown Shaping

The crown is shaped with evenly spaced decreases, creating a rounded dome.

Crown Round 1: Ch 1, (sc in next 11 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times, sc in remaining 4 sts. Sl st to join. (76 sc)

Crown Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (76 sc)

Crown Round 3: Ch 1, (sc in next 10 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times, sc in remaining 4 sts. Sl st to join. (70 sc)

Crown Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (70 sc)

Crown Round 5: Ch 1, (sc in next 9 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 5 times, sc in next 8 sts, dec over next 2 sts. Sl st to join. (64 sc)

Crown Round 6: Ch 1, (sc in next 8 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times, sc in remaining 4 sts. Sl st to join. (58 sc)

Crown Round 7: Ch 1, (sc in next 5 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 8 times, sc in remaining 2 sts. Sl st to join. (50 sc)

Crown Round 8: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 10 times. Sl st to join. (40 sc)

Crown Round 9: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 10 times. Sl st to join. (30 sc)

Crown Round 10: Ch 1, (sc in next 1 st, dec over next 2 sts) 10 times. Sl st to join. (20 sc)

Crown Round 11: Ch 1, (dec over next 2 sts) 10 times. Sl st to join. (10 sc)

Fasten off Yarn A, leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread tail onto yarn needle, insert through the front loop of each remaining 10 stitches, pull tight to close the crown, and secure with several stitches on the inside. Weave in end.

Ice Cream Drip Appliqué

The drip is worked flat, then sewn onto the hat. With Yarn A, ch 85.

Foundation Row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (84 sc)

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (84 sc)

Drip Row: Sc in first 6 sts. Work a drip extension: ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 5 ch, sl st back to the base stitch. Sc in next 13 sts, work a drip extension. Repeat from the beginning of this drip sequence 3 more times. Sc in remaining 6 sts. Fasten off.

Tip for natural variation: make some drips longer (ch 9 for 8 sc) and some shorter (ch 5 for 4 sc) to mimic real melting ice cream.

Pom Pom

Using Yarn B, make a large pom pom approximately 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) in diameter.

Step 1: Wrap yarn densely around your pom pom maker or cardboard circles until the center hole is nearly full (at least 100 wraps).

Step 2: Cut through the yarn loops around the outer circumference.

Step 3: Tie a 12 inch length of yarn tightly around the center before removing the cardboard.

Step 4: Remove cardboard. Fluff and trim into a round shape.

Step 5: Use the long tie ends to sew the pom pom securely to the crown.

Finishing & Assembly

Step 1: Weave in any remaining ends on the inside of the hat.

Step 2: Pin the drip appliqué strip around the hat, aligning the top straight edge with the color change line between rounds 21 and 22. Position the longer drips toward the front.

Step 3: With Yarn A and yarn needle, sew the top edge of the drip strip to the hat using small whipstitches.

Step 4: Attach the pom pom to the crown.

Step 5: Fold the brim up approximately 2 inches. Tack the fold in place at the seam if desired.

Tips

For a child size (19 to 20 inches / 48 to 51 cm): work the brim strip to 18.5 inches long, pick up 74 stitches instead of 82, space bobbles every 9 stitches, begin crown shaping after Round 17, and reduce the drip strip chain to 75.

For a large adult size (23 to 24 inches / 58 to 61 cm): work the brim strip to 22.5 inches long, pick up 90 stitches, add 3 to 4 plain body rounds before crown shaping, and increase the drip strip chain to 92.

General rule: for every 1 inch of additional circumference, add approximately 4 stitches to the pickup round.

Gauge matters here. The stitch count is calculated to produce a specific circumference, so work a swatch at least 20 sc wide and 20 rows tall, measure the center 4 inches, and adjust your hook size as needed.

Care: for acrylic yarn, machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low; do not iron directly. For wool yarn, hand wash in cool water with wool wash, press out water gently in a towel, and dry flat.