Last winter, my niece announced that her favorite ice cream flavor was mint chocolate chip. Not just her favorite. Her only acceptable flavor. She wore a mint green sweater to school three days in a row and demanded everything in her lunch box be green.
I knew what I had to do. I grabbed my hook and some yarn, and this beanie was born. 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.
The best part? She wore it every single day until spring. If you have a mint chocolate chip enthusiast in your life, or you just want a hat that makes people smile, this crochet pattern is for you.
Why You Will Love This Mint Chocolate Chip Beanie Crochet Pattern
This beanie is pure whimsy with practical construction underneath. The design mimics a scoop of ice cream with a cream ribbed brim representing the cone or cup, a mint green body studded with chocolate chip bobbles, a cream "drip" applique that looks like melting ice cream, and a fluffy mint pom pom on top.
The construction is clever but approachable. You will start with a flat ribbed rectangle for the brim, seam it into a ring, then pick up stitches along the top edge to work the body in joined rounds. The bobbles are worked directly into the fabric as you go. The drip detail is crocheted separately and sewn on at the end.
Skill level: Intermediate. You should be comfortable with single crochet (sc), 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.
Time estimate: 6 to 9 hours including all finishing work.
Finished Measurements
This pattern is written for an 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. This means the unstretched circumference is slightly smaller than the head measurement, allowing the fabric to grip comfortably.
Size customization tips are included at the end of the pattern.
Materials Needed
Yarn:
Hook: US size J-10 / 6.0 mm
Notions:
Yarn Suggestions
Any smooth worsted weight yarn will work beautifully. Here are three options I recommend:
1. Lion Brand Pound of Love in Cream and Mint. Excellent stitch definition and machine washable.
2. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK held double in Vanilla Cream and Spearmint Green. Softer drape and budget friendly.
3. Cascade 220 Superwash in Natural and Mint. Beautiful stitch definition in 100% superwash merino wool.
Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns for the mint green body. The bobble chocolate chips will not show clearly against a textured background.
Gauge
16 single crochet 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.
Gauge matters here. The stitch count is calculated to produce a specific circumference. Work a swatch at least 20 sc wide and 20 rows tall, then measure the center 4 inches. Adjust your hook size up if your stitches are too tight, or down if too loose.
Abbreviations
Special Stitch: Bobble Stitch (Chocolate Chips)
This is a 5-double-crochet bobble worked into a single stitch. It creates a raised bump that looks like a chocolate chip.
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.
Pattern Notes
1. The brim is worked flat as a ribbed strip, then seamed into a ring. Stitches are picked up along one edge to begin the body.
2. The hat body is worked in joined rounds. 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.
3. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to track the beginning.
4. All body rounds are right side rounds. Bobbles will naturally puff outward.
5. The drip applique is worked flat and sewn on after the body is complete.
6. 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.
7. For Yarn C (brown), cut and rejoin as needed rather than carrying long floats.
Step by Step Crochet Tutorial
Section 1: 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.
Section 2: 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)
Section 3: 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.
Section 4: 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)
Section 5: 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.
Section 6: Ice Cream Drip Applique
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. Rep from to 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.
Section 7: 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.
Section 8: Finishing
Step 1: Weave in any remaining ends on the inside of the hat.
Step 2: Pin the drip applique 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.
Size Customization Tips
For a child size (19 to 20 inches / 48 to 51 cm):
For a large adult size (23 to 24 inches / 58 to 61 cm):
General rule: For every 1 inch of additional circumference, add approximately 4 stitches to the pickup round.
Care Instructions
Acrylic yarn: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low. Do not iron directly.
Wool yarn: Hand wash in cool water with wool wash. Do not wring. Press out water gently in a towel and dry flat.
Thank you so much for choosing this mint chocolate chip beanie crochet pattern. I hope you love making it as much as I loved designing it. If you finish one, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me on Instagram or share a photo on Facebook. Seeing your creations is the best part of my day.
If this pattern made you smile, save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it later. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I read every single comment and love hearing about your projects, whether it is for a niece, a nephew, or yourself. Happy hooking!
