Get ready for your next big adventure – a Tunisian crochet hat! The Mesa Hat is the perfect project for adventurous makers looking to grow their skills.
Whether you’re picking up a Tunisian crochet hook for the first time or you’re looking for an easy project to gift, the Mesa Hat is perfect for you. The use of color-changing yarn makes this project look much more challenging than it actually is. Your new favorite hat will work up quickly with the use of this free pattern and tutorial video.
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Get the Mesa Hat pattern from TLYarnCrafts.com and Ravelry. The PDF printable version includes instructions to make the matching scarf!
You can now customize an all-in-one kit to make your Mesa Hat and Scarf!! Find the kit from Lion Brand HERE.
Keep scrolling for the free version of the Mesa Hat.
Beginner Crochet Hat
Some people learn to crochet with small projects like a washcloth or a granny square. Why not push yourself with something a bit more challenging?
Crochet hats are not only fun, but they’re rewarding too. The Mesa Hat is an interesting, unique beanie that allows you to practice several crochet techniques without getting overwhelmed.
Self Striping Yarn Patterns
If I’m being honest, I’ve always been a little nervous to crochet with self striping yarn. I’ve seen self striping yarn cakes and skeins for years and never took the leap. The Mesa Hat was the perfect time to try Lion Brand Landscapes, a 100% acrylic self striping yarn that feels like wool roving.
I paired Lion Brand Landscapes with Lion Brand Heartland, a 100% acrylic heathered yarn. By using a coordinating neutral, I was able to achieve a strong contrast in this Tunisian crochet hat, which lets the jewel tones of Landscapes really stand out.
The Mesa Hat and Scarf are available as an all-in-one kit from Lion Brand! Customize your kit now – Shop the Mesa Hat and Scarf kit.
Get the Mesa Hat and Scarf
- Get the Mesa Hat and Scarf printable pattern HERE.
- Customize your project kit from Lion Brand HERE.
- Shop the yarn for this pattern HERE and HERE.
- Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.
- Pin this pattern to your Pinterest board HERE.
Mesa Hat Details
MATERIALS
- A – Lion Brand Heartland in the color Grand Canyon, 1 ball
- B – Lion Brand Landscapes in the color Desert Spring, 1 ball
- 4mm crochet hook
- 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 16″ cord [THIS is a great set]
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Pom Pom maker or faux fur pom pom
FINISHED SIZE
9″ tall x 9″ wide at the widest point. Sized for an adult head, male or female
GAUGE
4″ = 14 stitches x 12 rows in Tunisian crochet pattern
ABBREVIATIONS
BLO = back loop only
Cc = change color
Ch = chain
Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)
Rep = repeat
RetP = Return Pass (see Special Stitches)
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip
St(s) = stitch(es)
Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
Tss2tog = Tunisian simple stitch 2 together
XLTfpdc = Extra Long Tunisian front post double crochet (see Special Stitches)
SPECIAL STITCHES
Extra Long Tunisian Front Post Double Crochet (XLTfpdc): yarn over, insert hook under the front and back vertical bars of the stitch 3 rows below, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 1 loop on hook, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook
Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tunisian simple stitch
Return Pass (RetP): chain 1, (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops on hook) until 1 loop remains on hook.
Need a little help along the way? Make the Mesa Hat with me from start to finish in this tutorial video:
Mesa Hat Pattern
NOTE: Carry yarn not in use up the side of the work when changing colors. Do not fasten off A or B until instructed.
BRIM
Start with the 4mm hook and A and leave a 6ā tail when making your skipknot.
ROW 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across row, turn. (6 sts)
ROWS 2-67: Ch 1, sc BLO across row, turn.
Rotate to work along row ends. Change to 6.5mm corded Tunisian crochet hook.
BODY
ROW 1: Pull up a loop in the end of each row, RetP. Cc to B. (67 sts)
ROWS 2-3: Tss across row to last st, Lts, RetP. Cc to A after Row 3.
ROW 4: Tss 2, (XLTfpdc 1, tss 3) across row, inserting in last st as for Lts, RetP. Cc to B.
ROWS 5-19: Rep Rows 2-4.
ROW 20: Rep Row 2.
ROW 21: Tss2tog, (tss 2, tss2tog) 15 times, tss 1, tss2tog, Lts, RetP. Cc to A. (50 sts)
ROW 22: Tss 1, (XLTfpdc 1, tss 2) across row, inserting in last st as for Lts, RetP. Cc to B and fasten off A.
ROW 23: Sk 1, (tss 1, tss2tog) to last 3 sts, tss 1, sk 1, Lts, RetP. (33 sts)
ROW 24: Tss2tog 15 times, tss 1, Lts, RetP. (18 sts)
Sl st bind off loosely with B. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Thread tail through a tapestry needle. Weave the needle through the front loops of bind off stitches and pull gently to close. Without cutting the yarn, mattress stitch the seam closed from top to brim. Weave in tail.
Use 6ā tail from start of hat to mattress seam brim closed. Weave in all remaining ends. Make pom pom with B and attach to top of hat (or, attach faux fur pom pom to top of hat).
Looking for the Mesa Scarf pattern? Purchase the Mesa Set (includes scarf AND hat) printable patterns HERE.
Thanks for joining me to make the Mesa Hat! I’ve made three already and I just can’t stop. I really hope you enjoy the pattern.
Share your Tunisian crochet hat with me on Instagram using #TLYCMakers. Then pop into the TLYC Makers Facebook group and share there too ā we canāt wait to see it!
I love this pattern and purchased the Lion Brand kit, but I’m having some difficulty.
I made the brim with a 4mm hook and noticed it didn’t fit all the way around my head. I re-made it with a 5mm hook and it’s still too small (about 8in when folded in half, compared to the 9in it should be). Should I go up yet another hook size, or would it be ok to add three stitches (and add a corresponding “block” as I work up the hat)?
Hi! I’d recommend adding three rows to your brim until you get to the size you need. Keep in mind, though, that the brim is stretchy and the body of the hat will be wider than the brim. But, either way, you’ll have plenty of yarn leftover to make the hat larger if you need to š
Hi Tony, I am writing because I need your help. I purchase the kit for this project from Lion Brand Yarns and I also got the pattern doesn’t seem to have all the information. Is that the way you wrote the instructions? Thank you very much.
Hello – please email me your question and I’ll be happy to help.
Hi Toni, I purchase the kit the Lion Brand Kit and reading the pattern for the scarf is there a border included because the pictures show a border on the ends??
Thank you for your help
Hi! There is no border on the scarf, in the photos or in the pattern. You can add a border, though. There is plenty of yarn left in the kit to add a border if you like.
Hi, Toni. Beautiful … good job. I love tunisian and a pattern has not caught my attention like this one. Do you think it is possible for me to figure out how to do it in the round? If so, I am going to get started. If not, I will think about making it flat.
Thank you for your time and expertise. Take care and be safe.
Dot
Hi! I’m so glad you like this pattern š To maintain the symmetry of the columns, I’d recommend doing it flat (though there likely is a way that you can make this in joined rounds instead of continuous rounds, but I haven’t tried that). Hope you find a solution that works!
Hello! I am going to try my hand at this hat soon, but I’m extremely new to crochet and the pattern doesn’t mention exactly how much yardage/skeins of each color I’ll need. If you could help out, that would be lovely! Thank you!
Hi! If you’d like exact yardage, you can find that in the paid version of the pattern š
Hi Tony! Iām loving this pattern ever since I saw @Chibbey.wee making it on TikTok, I had to try it. Iām encountering a problem though.I seem to be dropping stitches somewhere. After you do the TSS post stitch, are you supposed to skip the stitch behind the post stitch? I was on row 16 when I discovered my fabric was buckling at the brim and I only had 48 sts on my hook & cable before doing a return pass. Any advice would be wonderful!
Hi! So glad you’re trying out this pattern – it’s one of my favorites. Yes, you are meant to skip the stitch behind the post. I’d recommend counting your stitches as you go for the first few rows, then every couple rows, just to make sure you’re on track. There should always be three stitches between your posts š
Hi Toni,
I would like to make a Baby size and a child size.How would I figure out the math for that? Is it a multiple of 4?
Thanks,
Merry
Hi! To adjust this pattern, add or remove stitches in multiples of 4 + 3. Hope that helps š
Good Golly Miss Molly! I made it and it looks perfect. If possible I might have worn out your YouTube video rewinding and rewinding it, but that’s the way I learn.
Thank you so much,
Bonnie
Is there a good way to size down I would
Love to do mommy and me hats with this pattern