Hand Warmer Beanie: Free Crochet Pattern

Do you spend a lot of time out of doors in the cold months? Whether you are watching football, hunting, or skiing etc, this Ear Warming Beanie is just that – an ear warming beanie with slots for hand warmers!! A Hand Warmer Beanie! Ahhh!!

Hand Warmer Beanie

Our younger son plays junior football. He plays corner position and sometimes wide reciever, and a couple of weeks ago on the way to his early (way too early for a Saturday!) morning football game I decided that I needed a green hat to match his team’s colors. While we were sitting in the stands, me finishing up said beanie, our older son went to the concessions and purchased a package of hand warmers.

As I sat crocheting, I thought of how cold my ears were, and how awesome it would be able to stick one of those hand warmers in my hat, one on each side of my head. BUT WAIT! Why COULDN’T I have one hand warmer over each of my ears?! And just like that, friends, the Hand Warmer Beanie pattern was born.

Even if you wear this beanie without the warmers in their pouches, it will still be warmer than the average beanie for the simple fact that we’ve doubled up the thickness of the brim – and for a good portion of it too, not just a short little cuff but a whopping 3+ inches!

It’s in there, you just can’t see it! 😀

Materials:

Worsted Weight/Size 4/Aran yarn
-approx 146 yards (Red Heart With Love in Platinum shown)
Crochet hook in size H/5mm
Yarn needle
Hand warmers (any brand should suffice)

I have noticed that when you use a different yarn (Red Heart Super Saver, for instance) that the hat turns out a bit larger. If this the case for you as well, or if you are making for a smaller head, try going down a hook size to a G/4mm hook.

Pattern Notes: 

Pattern written using US terms.

For this beanie we are using the yarn UNDER method of joining rows. Read more on that here.

I have been advised that the major brands of hand warmers are similar in size and shape. The hand warmers are rectangles approximately 3.75″ wide and 2.25” tall.

Obligatory disclaimer: Before placing hand warmers in the finished beanie, make sure to read the instructions on the package. I can not find anything that hints at this idea being unsafe, but as with anything else, read the directions and follow their instructions and guidelines for correct use. If the product gets too warm, remove from beanie. I myself find them to be perfectly, toasty warm!

Gauge:

Approximately 13 dc sts in 4″

Pattern:

Row 1: Magic Circle, 10 dc in circle. Join w/yarn under (here and throughout – see pattern notes) to top of first dc with sl st. (10)

Row 2: Ch-2, 2dc in each st around. Join w/yarn under to top of first dc with sl st. (20)

Row 3: Ch-2 *dc in next st, 2dc in next* repeat around. Join w/yarn under to top of first dc with sl st. (30)

Row 4: Ch-2 *dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next* repeat around. Join to w/yarn under top of first dc with sl st. (40)

Row 5: Ch-2 *dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next* repeat around. Join to w/yarn under top of first dc with sl st. (50)

Row 6: Ch-2 *dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next* repeat around. Join to w/yarn under top of first dc with sl st. (60)

Row 7: Ch-2 *dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next* repeat around. Join to w/yarn under top of first dc with sl st. (70)

Rows 8 – 16: Ch-2, dc in each st around. Join w/yarn under to top of first dc with sl st. (70)

Row 17: Ch-2, TURN, dc in each st around. Join w/yarn under to top of first dc with sl st. (70)

Rows 18 – 23: Ch-2, dc in each st around. Join w/yarn under to top of first dc with sl st. (70)

Row 24: Ch-1, sc in each st around. Fasten off using invisible join but do not clip yarn. Leave enough yarn to sew cuff around the hat – about a yard or so.

Pockets:

Fold the cuff up for the width of 6 double crochet rows. Sew the cuff to the hat as pictured, leaving openings for inserting the hand warmers, about 3.75″ wide or 13 sts when on gauge. Follow these numbers…

1. Sew brim to hat for 22 stitches.
2. Sew straight down to bottom edge going through both fabrics.
3. Feed yarn through next 13 stitches.
4. Sew straight up to top of brim going through both fabrics. (pocket made)
5. Sew brim to hat for 22 stitches.
6. Sew straight down to bottom edge going through both fabrics.
7. Feed yarn through next 13 stitches.
8. Sew straight up to top of brim going through both fabrics. (pocket made)

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Finishing:

Attach yarn in bottom of hat going through that row as pictured. Sc in between each stitch all the way around, fasten off using Invisible Join. This gives a nice, clean bottom edge.

To use your hand warmer beanie, you’ll simply activate the hand warmers and insert them into the slots. I think this would an excellent addition to your craft fair table this fall. Maybe even buy a bunch of the hand warmers in bulk and roll them into the price of the beanie. You can get two Hand Warmer Beanies out of one skein of Red Heart With Love, and I have some pricing tips for selling handmade items.

More free beanie patterns:

The Libby: Quick, Cute, Chunky Adult Beanie Pattern
The Cameron Beanie: Child Size Beanie Crochet Pattern
How to Size Crochet Beanies + Master Beanie Pattern
Team Spirit Beanie Free Crochet Pattern
Jack Sparrow Inspired Halloween Beanie Free Crochet Pattern
How to Make the Perfect Mohawk Beanie Using Pom Poms