Free Knitting Pattern – Halloween Skull Beanie

If you’ve been looking for a fun, bold, and slightly cheeky knitting project, this skull hat might just be your new favorite. Perfect for Halloween, winter walks, or for anyone who likes a little edge in their wardrobe, this hat combines cozy warmth with playful skull motifs. The best part? It’s worked up in super bulky yarn, so it knits quickly – making it ideal for gift-giving or last-minute costume ideas.

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What you need

• 9mm 16″ circular knitting needles 
• 9mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) 
• Level 6 super bulky yarn in 2 colors: 
  • Main Colour (MC) for the body 
  • Contrasting Colour (CC) for the skulls 
• Stitch markers 

Yarn suggestion: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick works beautifully.

Instructions

When my kids were younger, I made versions of this hat for trick-or-treating, and I can tell you – nothing keeps a kid warmer (or more excited about wearing a hat!) than one with cool skulls stitched right in. This design works beautifully for teens and adults alike, and since there’s no pom-pom on top, it’s a versatile unisex piece that looks just as good on a winter hike as it does on a chilly October evening.

 

Gauge

2.25 stitches per inch × 3.5 rounds per inch (4″ square in stockinette stitch)

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Abbreviations

• k = knit
• p = purl
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• MC = main colour
• CC = contrasting colour
• • = repeat instructions between asterisks to end of round
• DPN = double-pointed needles

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Pattern – Adult Size

Brim

Cast on 50 stitches with MC using 9mm circular needles. Join in the round.

Rounds 1–7: k1, p1 ribbing

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Body

Rounds 8–9: MC knit

Round 10: CC knit

Rounds 11–12: MC knit

Round 13: MC k1, CC k1, MC k1, CC k1, MC k1, CC k1, MC k5, CC k1, MC k1, CC k1, MC k1, CC k1 repeat 4 times, MC k4

Round 14: MC k1, CC k5, MC k5, CC k5 repeat 4 times, MC k4 (corrected — was missing the asterisk placement, resulting in 55 stitches)

Round 15: CC k3, MC k1, CC k3, MC k3 repeat 5 times

Round 16: CC k1, MC k2, CC k1, MC k2, CC k1, MC k3 repeat 5 times

Round 17: Repeat Round 16

Round 18: CC k7, MC k3 repeat 5 times

Round 19: Repeat Round 18

Round 20: MC k1, CC k5, MC k5, CC k5 repeat 4 times, MC k4

Rounds 21–22: MC knit

Round 23: CC knit

Rounds 24–26: MC knit

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Crown Shaping

Round 27: k2, k2tog repeat to last 2 stitches, k2 — 38 stitches

Round 28: Knit

Switch to 9mm DPNs.

Round 29: k1, k2tog repeat to last 2 stitches, k2 — 26 stitches

Round 30: k2tog around — 13 stitches

Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining 13 stitches, pull tight, and weave in ends.

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Finishing

Block lightly to smooth the skulls and give the hat a polished look.