How to Make a Top Down Alpine Stitch Hat | Grice Mountain Beanie

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If you’re looking for a top down alpine stitch hat that’s as practical as it is beautiful, the Grice Mountain Beanie is about to become a fast favorite.

Crocheted with super bulky yarn and worked from the crown down, this cozy winter hat features the richly textured alpine stitch for a dense, warm fabric that’s perfect for cold days and blustery walks.

Designed to coordinate seamlessly with the Grice Mountain Cowl, this beanie delivers timeless style, satisfying texture, and quick-finish gratification all in one project.

Introducing our Chunky Top Down Alpine Stitch Beanie

The Grice Mountain Beanie was designed as the natural companion to the Grice Mountain Cowl—because some textures and silhouettes are simply too good not to revisit. After finishing the cowl, I kept coming back to the alpine stitch: its depth, its structure, and the way it feels both rugged and refined at the same time.

Inspired by winter days spent outdoors—crisp air, quiet trails, and that deep sense of calm that comes from being surrounded by mountains—this hat was designed to be functional first, without sacrificing beauty. The dense alpine stitch creates a fabric that truly blocks the cold, while the super bulky yarn means this project works up quickly and feels incredibly satisfying from the very first round.

Worked top down, the Grice Mountain Beanie allows for easy customization and a comfortable fit, making it a go-to pattern whether you’re crocheting for yourself, gifting, or stocking your handmade shop with a reliable winter staple. It’s the kind of hat you reach for again and again—warm, sturdy, and quietly confident.

Skill Level

Advanced Beginner

Materials

• Lion Brand Hometown USA, super bulky weight #6 yarn. (100% acrylic, 81 yds/74 m per 5 oz/142 g skein)
  • 1 (1, 2, 2) skeins in color of your choice
• 10.00 mm (M/N) Crochet Hook
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Measuring Tape
• Optional Faux Fur Pom

Size Included

Child (3-6 years), Child (6-10 years), Teen/Adult, Adult Large

Finished measurements
Note: finished circumference is about 1″ smaller than actual head circumference to account for stretch.

Stitch Abbreviations

beg – Beginning
BLO – Work in the back loop only
CH – Chain
DC – Double Crochet
FPDC – Front Post Double Crochet
INC – Work 2 sts into a single st
RND – Round
SC – Single Crochet
st(s) – Stitch(es)

Gauge

Gauge: 7 DC x 4 rows = 4″ square

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
• US Terminology 
• Beg CH2 always counts as a DC st.
• Beg CH1 does not count as a st.
• Circle should measure 4″ after completing two rounds. (4.5″ for large)

Special Stitches

ALPINE STITCH

The Alpine Stitch is a pattern of stitches that contains alternating rows of repeating DC and FPDC in the st 2 rows below with rows of single crochet.

The rows that include FPDC are offset which creates a highly textured, dense fabric that is particularly warm for winter months.

Typically worked flat, turning each row, when working in the round, it is also a best practice to turn between rounds in order to keep the stitches aligned.

Looking for a video tutorial before you get started? I love this one from my friend, Christine, of Spotted Horse Design Co.: https://youtu.be/bulzr4ODyo8?si=5Kb1bhVtrL7RK3lR

Grice Mountain Beanie Pattern Instructions

CHILD SIZE (3 – 6 years)

With 9.00 mm hook and working into a Magic Ring or CH3 loop…

RND 1: CH2 (counts as first DC), DC 11, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (12 sts)

RND 2: CH2, DC in same st, DC 2 in each st around, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (24 sts)

RND 3: CH2, DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, *DC in each of next 2 sts, D SC in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (32 sts)

RND 4: CH2, *FPDC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from * until last st, FPDC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (32 sts).

RND 5: CH1, turn. SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (32 sts)

RND 6: CH1, turn. *FPDC in st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with SLST to beg FPDC. (32 sts)

RND 7: Repeat round 5.

RND 8: CH2, turn. *FPDC in next st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around to last st. FPDC in st from 2 rounds below. Join with SLST to beg DC. (32 sts)

RND 9: Repeat round 5.

RND 10: Repeat round 6.

RND 11: CH1, (working in BLO) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (32 sts)

RND 12: CH1, (working through both loops now) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (32 sts)

Finish off. Tuck ends. Add pom pom, as desired.

CHILD SIZE (6 – 10 years)

With 9.00 mm hook and working into a Magic Ring or CH3 loop…

RND 1: CH2 (counts as first DC), DC 11, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (12 sts)

RND 2: CH2, DC in same st, DC 2 in each st around, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (24 sts)

RND 3: CH2, DC in same st, *DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, DC in next 2 sts, 2 DC in next st. Repeat from * to last 3 sts. DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, DC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (34 sts)

RND 4: CH2, *FPDC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from * until last st, FPDC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (34 sts).

RND 5: CH1, turn. SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (34 sts)

RND 6: CH1, turn. *FPDC in st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with SLST to beg FPDC. (34 sts)

RND 7: Repeat round 5.

RND 8: CH2, turn. *FPDC in next st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around to last st. FPDC in st from 2 rounds below. Join with SLST to beg DC. (34 sts)

RND 9: Repeat round 5.

RND 10: Repeat round 6.

RND 11: Repeat round 5.

RND 12: CH1, turn. (Working in BLO) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (34 sts)

RND 13: CH1, (working through both loops now) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (34 sts)

Finish off. Tuck ends. Add pom pom, as desired.

TEEN/ADULT

With 9.00 mm hook and working into a Magic Ring or CH3 loop…

RND 1: CH2 (counts as first DC), DC 11, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (12 sts)

RND 2: CH2, DC in same st, DC 2 in each st around, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (24 sts)

RND 3: CH2, DC in same st, *DC in next st, 2 DC in next st. Repeat from * around to last st, DC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (36 sts)

RND 4: CH2, *FPDC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from * until last st, FPDC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (36 sts).

RND 5: CH1, turn. SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (36 sts)

RND 6: CH1, turn. *FPDC in st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with SLST to beg FPDC. (36 sts)

RND 7: Repeat round 5.

RND 8: CH2, turn. *FPDC in next st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around to last st. FPDC in st from 2 rounds below. Join with SLST to beg DC. (36 sts)

RND 9: Repeat round 5.

RND 10: Repeat round 6.

RND 11: Repeat round 5.

RND 12: Repeat round 8.

RND 13: Repeat round 5.

RND 14: CH1, turn. (Working in BLO) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (36 sts)

RND 15: CH1, (working through both loops now) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (36 sts)

Finish off. Tuck ends. Add pom pom, as desired.

ADULT LARGE

With 9.00 mm hook and working into a Magic Ring or CH3 loop…

RND 1: CH2 (counts as first DC), DC 12, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (13 sts)

RND 2: CH2, DC in same st, DC 2 in each st around, join with SLST to top of beg CH. (26 sts)

RND 3: CH2, DC in same st, *DC in next st, 2 DC in next st. Repeat from * around to last st, 2 DC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (40 sts)

RND 4: CH1, turn. SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (40 sts)

RND 5: CH2, turn *FPDC in st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * until last st, FPDC in last st. Join with SLST to top of beg CH. (40 sts).

RND 6: Repeat round 4.

RND 7: CH1, turn. *FPDC in st from 2 rounds below, DC in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with SLST to beg FPDC. (40 sts)

RND 8: Repeat round 4.

RND 9: Repeat round 5.

RND 10: Repeat round 4.

RND 11: Repeat round 7.

RND 12: Repeat round 4.

RND 13: Repeat round 5.

RND 14: Repeat round 4.

RND 15: Repeat round 7.

RND 16: CH1, turn. (Working in BLO) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (40 sts)

RND 17: CH1, (working through both loops now) SC in each st around. Join with SLST to beg SC. (40 sts)

Finish off. Tuck ends. Add pom pom, as desired.

How to Get the Ad-free PDF of this Design

The pattern instructions are available, above, but you can get the beautifully formatted, printable, ad-free PDF for just a few dollars in our Ravelry and Etsy shops. (edit links on buttons)

Copyright Notice

This pattern and its images are copyright protected and the sole property of Made with a Twist by Crochetpreneur®, a division of Montgomery Grice Enterprises, Inc. Please do not redistribute, transfer, or sell the pattern, or alter it to claim as your own  You may sell any products you create from this pattern. Please credit the designer by linking online listings to www.madewithatwist.com or tagging @madewithatwist.