Looking for an easy crochet bonnet pattern you can wear and not worry about hat hair?? Seriously, this beret or tam or bonnet can be worn over your up-do and not leave you with crushed hair. This simple on-the-go pattern for beginner crocheters is made with less than one ball of Caron Cakes and works up super quickly! Pair it up with the easy crochet scarf/cowl pattern to get a crochet accessory set!

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When I was asked to be a part of the #ScarfofTheMonth hosted by Oombawka Design Crochet and The Stitchin Mommy I quickly said SURE! I felt confident I could get a new crochet design complete in the time I had.
Well, time is a funny thing and it completely sneaks up on you. Before I knew it, my scarf was due in less than a week and I was getting ready to leave for a trip to Florida. You can read all about that here.
I managed to get that pattern completed in time but then it was time to get a hat done for the #HatofTheMonth! I knew I wanted the hat and scarf to look somewhat alike so I chose the same yarn and colorway.
Is this a Bonnet or a Beret or a Tam?
Well, to answer that, let’s have an understanding of the subtle difference between all of them. A crochet bonnet can be a voluminous head covering that typically covers the top and sides of the head, it can have a brim that can be turned up or down.
A beret is a type of hat that is typically a soft, visorless cap with a close-fitting headband and a wide, round top often with a tab at its center.
A tam is a type of beret that is typically made with a more voluminous top, giving it a slightly taller and rounder shape, and a tighter fit around the head. Tams are often made with a thicker, more substantial fabric than traditional berets, and they may have an additional band or ribbon around the base of the crown to help keep the tam securely in place on the head.
As you can see, this can be called anything you want. To me, it looks like a bonnet so I am calling it that.
What Makes This Crochet Bonnet Easy?
The pattern itself is not hard to follow, and it is super simple to memorize. It uses mainly one stitch, the half double crochet. As long as you keep track of the number of stitches you have when you are working each round, it’ll be smooth sailing on this Riverside crochet bonnet.
This hat is made from the top to the bottom. Increased are worked through the entire crown then decreases are worked to bring the circumference of the piece into a wearable size.
The only finishing on this easy crochet bonnet is to weave in the beginning and ending tail. That’s it!
See, EASY!

Hat of the Month Crochet-Along 2023 || Guest Designer Easy Crochet Bonnet Pattern January
The Riverside Crochet Bonnet is a free pattern here on the Marly Bird blog. This could easily be referred to as a beret or a tam but to me, it is a bonnet.
As mentioned, this is part of the Hat of the Month Crochet-Along 2023.
For the entire year of 2023, on the 4th Sunday of every month, you will get 4 new hat patterns. One from Amy, one from Rhondda, and one from a guest designer (this month it’s ME).
As you are working on your hats, be sure to add them to your projects on Ravelry. I’ve already listed this pattern there for your convenience. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/riverside-9

Easy Crochet Bonnet Pattern || Riverside

RIVERSIDE EASY CROCHET BONNET
Designed by Marly Bird
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
MEASUREMENTS
To Fit
One Size to fit Adult
Finished Measurements
20” circumference
Gauge
31 dc = 9” [23 cm]; use any size ho13.25 hdc sts and 10 hdc rounds = 4” [10 cm]; use any size hook to obtain the gauge.ok to obtain the gauge.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Blackberry Jelly 1 ball
Hook
Size H/8 [5.0 mm]
Notions
Tapestry needle
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch – Chain(s)
Cont – Continue
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Hdc2tog – Half Double Crochet Two Together (review modified stitch in special stitches)
RS – Right Side
Sc – Single Crochet
Sp(s) – Space(s)
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Stacked Dc – Stacked Double Crochet
Tch – Turning Chain
WS – Wrong Side
SPECIAL STITCHES
⭐️ Adjustable Ring: Make a large loop with the yarn leaving a 4” tail. With the hook, draw the working yarn through the loop; Ch 1, follow the pattern instructions from here. Once the first rnd of sts is complete, pull the tail snugly to close the ring.
⭐️ Half Double Crochet: Yarn over hook, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.
⭐️ Half Double Crochet Two Together: worked over two stitches total – [Yarn over, insert hook in next st or ch, yarn over and draw up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook.
⭐️ Half Double Crochet Two Together modified: worked over two stitches total – Yarn over hook, insert hook into next st or ch, yarn over and pull up a loop, do not yarn over hook before working into next stitch, insert hook into next st or ch, yarn over pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook.
NOTES
- Crocheted from top to bottom.
- Crocheted in joined rounds throughout.
- Let the color change as it may.
VIDEO
- How to Make an Adjustable Ring >> Click for Video Help <<
- How to Weave in Tail of Adjustable Ring >> Click for Video Help <<
- How to Half Double Crochet >> Click for Video Help <<
- How to Add Faux Fur Pom >> Click for Video Help <<

RIVERSIDE EASY CROCHET BONNET
CROWN
Make an adjustable ring
10 sc in ring, join with a slip stitch to first sc to begin working in the round. Ch 1. Do not turn now and throughout.
Round 1: *Hdc in sc, (starting chain does NOT count as st), ch 1; repeat from * round, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 10 hdc, 10 ch-1 sp’s.
Round 2: *Hdc in hdc, hdc in ch-1 space, ch 1; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 20 hdc, 10 ch-1 sp’s.
Round 3: *Hdc in 2 hdc, hdc in ch-1 space, ch 1; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 30 hdc, 10 ch-1 sp’s.
Round 4: *Hdc in 3 hdc, hdc in ch-1 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 40 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 5: *Hdc in 4 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 50 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 6: *Hdc in 5 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 60 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 7: *Hdc in 6 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 70 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 8: *Hdc in 7 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 80 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 9: *Hdc in 8 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 90 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 10: *Hdc in 9 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 100 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 11: *Hdc in 10 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 110 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 12: *Hdc in 11 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 120 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.
Round 13: *Hdc in 12 hdc, hdc in ch-2 space, ch 2; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 130 hdc, 10 ch-2 sp’s.

BODY
Rounds 14 & 15: *Hdc in 13 hdc, ch 1; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 130 hdc, 10 ch-1 sp’s.
Treat all ch-1 spaces as a stitch to be worked with a hdc or part of the hdc2tog continue to round 16.
Round 16: *Hdc in 2 sts, hdc2tog next two sts; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 105 hdc.
Round 17: *Hdc in 3 sts, hdc2tog next two sts; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 84 hdc.
Rounds 18 & 19: Hdc in each st around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1.
BRIM
Round 20: *Hdc in 2 sts, hdc2tog next two sts; repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1 — 63 hdc.
Rounds 21- 23: Hdc in each st around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc, ch 1.
Round 24: Hdc in each st around, join with a slip stitch in first hdc.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Add optional Pom Pom
Link to the free pdf is not working.
the link works now (1-23-23 at 2:10 pm) I downloaded the Word doc file. Have fun.