Crochet Patterns

Free crochet patterns for beginners to advanced crocheters. Easy step by step instructions. Photo tutorials and lots of help along the way. Printable PDF versions of patterns also available.

Northern Lights Beanie: Pattern - Part 2

Free crochet pattern with easy to follow instructions. Teaching you how to crochet the Northern Lights rainbow beanie hat pattern.

You are now starting the colour work section.

I have step-by-step photos to help you with this section. The technique I use for this colour work might be different from anything you’ve crocheted before. Once you get the hang of it, it will work up quite quickly.

Follow along step-by-step and let go of any pre-existing ideas of what you “should” do.


Things to know before getting started:

  • You are not hiding a colour strand inside your stitches as you work.

  • Do not break yarn until noted. When switching colours, drop your working colour and pick up the new colour.

  • Do NOT make your slip stitches too tight. It is easy to do and your hat will be too tight.

  • Make sure your slip stitches are the same tension as the rest of your stitches.

  • You will basically crochet each round twice. Accent colour in “A” rounds and filling in the gaps with main colour in all “B” rounds.

  • Each round is written out first, then following the written pattern instructions, there are photos and additional notes to help you understand each stitch. Always follow the steps in the written instructions.



The instructions for this section of the pattern are written with all sizes together.

Sizes: 17” (18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”, 23”, 24”)

Sizes: 43 (46, 48, 51, 53, 56, 58, 61) cm

The pdf version of this pattern will allow you to print out the pattern and highlight the size you are working on. Many people find that to be helpful. You can purchase the pdf pattern here.


A reminder of some relevant pattern notes from the beginning of the pattern:

  • The “first stitch” is the same stitch from where the chain stitch at the start of the round was made.

  • You will be using slip stitches at the end of each round to join the round. Do not count these joining stitches as stitches.

  • You will also be using chain stitches at the beginning of each round, do not count these chain stitches as stitches either.


Starting the colour work rounds.

Rnd 4A:

Drop main colour and switch to accent colour. (See photos and additional instructions below.)

Still using K (6.5 mm) hook: Ch 1, hdc in first st, ch 1, skip 1 st. (Hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st) repeat around.

Drop accent colour and switch to main colour before completing round.

Using main colour sl st to first sl st.

16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) hdc + 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) ch sts

Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…

This image shows where to crochet and which stitches to skip.

Following the pattern, you will;

Hdc in first st, ch 1, skip 1 st.

Hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st.


Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…

Switch to your accent colour at the start of this round.

Do NOT break your yarn for the main colour, or in any way carry your main coloured yarn.

Drop your main yarn, pick up your accent yarn and continue crocheting along with the pattern. Your main coloured yarn will be sitting there waiting for you to pick it up again.

Make sure you always drop and pick up your yarn from the inside of your work. That way your extra yarn stays hidden on the inside of your hat.


Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…

Chain 1 as your starting chain at the beginning of the round.

Work one hdc into the first stitch. Your “first stitch” is the same stitch where your chain 1 comes up from. It’s the first stitch you can work into of the round.

Remember you are not counting your starting chain as a stitch.

After each colour change, crochet a few stitches with your new colour then come back and tighten the dropped strand if you need too.


Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…

You will then chain 1, skip over the next stitch, and hdc into the following stitch as marked in this photo.

When the next round refers to crocheting into the “skipped stitch” it is referring to the stitches you are skipping over in this round.


Continue following the pattern and your piece should look like the 2 photos below.

In between each hdc stitch, there should be a chain 1 and a skipped stitch.

As you crochet the round, you are working into every other stitch.

Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…
Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…

To make the seam on the back of the hat less obvious, you will switch yarn colours before completing any of the round A’s.

Following along with the pattern, finish your stitch repeats until you’ve worked every stitch in the round. Now drop the accent yarn and pick up your main colour. Complete the round by slip stitching to the top of the first hdc using the main coloured yarn.

Free crochet pattern for crocheted rainbow hat with pom-pom. Easy to follow free tutorial for babies, kids, teens and adults. Crochet pattern designed with Color Made Easy Lion Brand yarn and Landscapes Lion Brand Yarn. Great homemade Christmas gift…



I’ve linked to certain products within this pattern. If you click and then purchase one of the products, I will earn a small commission. The awesome thing is, the commission doesn’t come out of your pocket, it’s paid to me by a big company. I would never recommend a product to you unless I think it is valuable. Every item I recommend in this tutorial is something I personally use.

Amanda Foster and This Crochet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Amanda Foster