UPDATED! The Best Free Knit Ponytail Hat Patterns (aka Messy Bun Beanies)

For more messy bun patterns and tutorials — both knit and crochet — see the collection of links at the end of this post.

Update February 2021: Although this post is updated often, please note that it’s now five years old and therefore some patterns may no longer be free. If you see a pattern listed here that’s no longer free, kindly leave a comment below and I’ll update the listing. I would also like to add some patterns for knitting machines. If you have a free pattern or know of a free pattern for machine knitting, please leave a comment below.

Enjoy!

2018 Update: The Best Free Knit Ponytail Hat Patterns (aka Messy Bun Beanies) – Still a Popular Trend This Year!

Knit Wrist Warmers and Matching Messy Bun Beanie Pattern By Knit Paint Sew

The Best Free Knit Ponytail Hat Patterns (aka Messy Bun Beanies) – a Popular Trend This Year!

Shiny Messy Bun Hat by 4Elli

“Bell” hat by Olivia Craftox

Messy Bun Knit Hat by Caron Design Team

Messy Bun in 15 Meter by Laura Jeanne Ruppert

Keanna’s Chunky Messy Bun Hat by Jocelyn Jones

Messy Bun Hat by Sarah Patterson

Messy Bun Knit Hat – by Laura Bain

Messy Bun Hat – free pattern by Kristen McDonnell

free knit messy bun – pattern by Nicole Tsou

Holey Hat by SplitStitch Designs

Ponytail Beanie by Adriana Hernandez-Bergstrom

The Goodie Bag Hat by Cheryl Oberle

Rowan Pony Tail Hat by Patons Australia – this is a classic!

Ponytail Pi Hat by Katherine Lane Hughes

Piggle by Rebecca Dovi

Loom Knit Pony Tail Hat via Authentic Knitting Board

Ponytail Hat by Claudia Olson – FREE Knit Pattern via Ravelry

Knit Tea Cozy Hat by Woolly Wormhead – FREE Knit Pattern via Ravelry

Here are some more messy bun patterns:

* This post may contain affiliate links.

17 Comments

Diana pishotti on December 13, 2016 at 5:30 pm

How do I get the patterns

knithack on December 14, 2016 at 12:07 pm

Hi Daina, here are several patterns here – click on the picture of the one you like and you’ll be taken to the pattern.

Diana pishotti on December 13, 2016 at 5:31 pm

how do I get patterns

Karen Frizzell on December 13, 2016 at 11:12 pm

Go to Ravelry and search for messy bun hat.

knithack on December 14, 2016 at 12:08 pm

OR click on the picture of the one you like and you’ll be taken to the pattern.

Melissa on December 15, 2016 at 11:11 pm

Where are the knitting messy bun patterns? They are crochet patterns I see.

knithack on December 16, 2016 at 10:22 am

Hi Melissa, all the patterns in this post are knit.

Jane on December 20, 2016 at 2:55 am

Is the first hat knit on circular needles? The ponytail hat?
TIA

knithack on December 21, 2016 at 8:56 am

She uses the magic loop but you could use circulars.

Jean Cocuzzo on January 2, 2017 at 4:20 pm

My 9 year old daughter likes to wear her ponytail down low closer to the neck.

Could you suggest a knitting pattern?

Thanks, Jean

knithack on January 2, 2017 at 4:54 pm

Hi Jean, do you like this one? http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ponytail-hat-3
- jean roberts on August 14, 2018 at 2:18 pm
  
  I would like a pattern for ponytail hat knitted
  - Danielle on August 15, 2018 at 5:24 pm
    
    Terrific, which one? Click on the picture for the one you like and if that still doesn’t help you, give me more details and I will try to help!

Jean Cocuzzo on January 2, 2017 at 4:58 pm

Thank you. This will work.

Than you also for such a fast reply.

Jean

knithack on January 3, 2017 at 11:12 am

Sure, let me know if I can help with anything else!

Nicole on February 28, 2018 at 6:22 pm

I don’t get this website, it says that there are free patterns yet I click on the third one and it says free too (the basket weave) and it comes up 2.95 US dollars

Danielle on March 4, 2018 at 10:18 pm

Nicole, often pattern designers will release their pattern for free initially and then charge if/when it becomes popular or after a promotional period. I have taken the pattern down from this page since it’s no longer free. I have no way of knowing when this happens unless folks like you let me know. Thanks!

Diana pishotti on December 13, 2016 at 5:30 pm

How do I get the patterns
- knithack on December 14, 2016 at 12:07 pm
  
  Hi Daina, here are several patterns here – click on the picture of the one you like and you’ll be taken to the pattern.
Diana pishotti on December 13, 2016 at 5:31 pm

how do I get patterns
Karen Frizzell on December 13, 2016 at 11:12 pm

Go to Ravelry and search for messy bun hat.
- knithack on December 14, 2016 at 12:08 pm
  
  OR click on the picture of the one you like and you’ll be taken to the pattern.
Melissa on December 15, 2016 at 11:11 pm

Where are the knitting messy bun patterns? They are crochet patterns I see.
- knithack on December 16, 2016 at 10:22 am
  
  Hi Melissa, all the patterns in this post are knit.
Jane on December 20, 2016 at 2:55 am

Is the first hat knit on circular needles? The ponytail hat?
TIA
- knithack on December 21, 2016 at 8:56 am
  
  She uses the magic loop but you could use circulars.
Jean Cocuzzo on January 2, 2017 at 4:20 pm

My 9 year old daughter likes to wear her ponytail down low closer to the neck.

Could you suggest a knitting pattern?

Thanks, Jean
- knithack on January 2, 2017 at 4:54 pm
  
  Hi Jean, do you like this one? http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ponytail-hat-3
  - jean roberts on August 14, 2018 at 2:18 pm
    
    I would like a pattern for ponytail hat knitted
    - Danielle on August 15, 2018 at 5:24 pm
      
      Terrific, which one? Click on the picture for the one you like and if that still doesn’t help you, give me more details and I will try to help!
Jean Cocuzzo on January 2, 2017 at 4:58 pm

Thank you. This will work.

Than you also for such a fast reply.

Jean
- knithack on January 3, 2017 at 11:12 am
  
  Sure, let me know if I can help with anything else!
Nicole on February 28, 2018 at 6:22 pm

I don’t get this website, it says that there are free patterns yet I click on the third one and it says free too (the basket weave) and it comes up 2.95 US dollars
- Danielle on March 4, 2018 at 10:18 pm
  
  Nicole, often pattern designers will release their pattern for free initially and then charge if/when it becomes popular or after a promotional period. I have taken the pattern down from this page since it’s no longer free. I have no way of knowing when this happens unless folks like you let me know. Thanks!