Basic Beanie with a Single Horse Motif

A clean, classic beanie knitted in worsted weight yarn with a single pixel-style horse silhouette on the front. The pattern includes three methods to get the motif: easiest — duplicate stitch after you finish the hat; intarsia flat (seam or graft); or stranded/float-style in the round for experienced colourworkers. Choose the method you prefer — instructions for all three are included.

Sizes (finished circumference / depth)

Newborn: 14" / 5.5" (36 cm / 14 cm)
Baby: 16" / 6" (41 cm / 15 cm)
Toddler: 18" / 6.5" (46 cm / 16.5 cm)
Child: 20" / 7" (51 cm / 18 cm)
Teen / Small Adult: 21" / 8" (53 cm / 20 cm)
Adult Medium: 22" / 8.5" (56 cm / 21.5 cm)
Adult Large: 24" / 9.5" (61 cm / 24 cm)

Materials

Yarn: Worsted / Aran / US 4 weight
- Main Color (MC): per size
  - Newborn: 80 yds / 73 m
  - Baby: 100 yds / 91 m
  - Toddler: 125 yds / 114 m
  - Child: 150 yds / 137 m
  - Teen / Small Adult: 160 yds / 146 m
  - Adult Medium: 180 yds / 165 m
  - Adult Large: 210 yds / 192 m
- Contrast Color (CC) for horse motif (small amount):
  - Newborn: 10 yds / 9 m
  - Baby: 15 yds / 14 m
  - Child: 20 yds / 18 m
  - Adult sizes: 25-30 yds / 23-27 m
- Suggested yarn example: 180 yds (165 m) per 100 g skein (adjust quantity by size). Specify your skein label yards/meters and weight to check.
Needles (pick your preferred method: magic loop, 16" circular + DPNs, or knit flat then seam):
- Main needle for body: US 8 / UK 6 (old) / 5.0 mm
- Smaller needle for ribbing: US 6 / UK 8 (old) / 4.0 mm
- If using DPNs: set of 5 DPNs in same sizes (US 8 / 5.0 mm and US 6 / 4.0 mm)
Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, scrap yarn for provisional cast-on (optional), darning needle for duplicate stitch, stitch holders or waste yarn (if knitting flat for intarsia).

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rounds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5.0 mm after blocking. Adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Abbreviations

CO = cast on
k = knit
p = purl
st(s) = stitch(es)
k2tog = knit 2 together
ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
rnd(s) = round(s)
RS = right side
MC = main color
CC = contrast color

Notes

This beanie is worked in the round from the bottom up unless you choose to work the chart flat for intarsia.
Placement: when using the provided chart, place the center of the 21-stitch-wide chart at the front center of the hat. That is, count stitches around and position the chart so it sits over the forehead area. The instructions tell you when to begin the chart (after ribbing plus a small number of rounds).
Duplicate stitch is the simplest way to add the motif: knit the hat entirely in MC, then embroider the horse with CC following the chart. This avoids intarsia or complex floats and gives a crisp, neat motif.

Chart (21 stitches wide x 20 rows tall)

Legend: 'X' = CC (horse), '.' = MC (background). Read the chart from bottom to top; if you duplicate-stitch, stitch the bottom row first. If you choose intarsia flat, row 1 of the chart is the first chart row after ribbing.

.....................
.....................
............XX.......
...........XXXX......
...........XXXX.X....
..........XXXXXX.X...
.........XXXXXXX.XX..
.........XXXXXX..XX..
.......XXXXXXXX...XX.
......XXXXXXXXX...XX.
.....XXXX.XXXXX...XX.
....XXXX..XXXXXX..XX.
...XXXX...XXXXXXX.XX.
..XXXXX...XXXXXXXXX..
..XXXXX....XXXXXXX...
...XXXX.....XXXXX....
....XXX......XXX.....
.....XX.......X......
......X..............
.....................

Where to start the chart

Place the chart centered on the front. For adult sizes: after the 1x1 ribbing (approx 1.5–2" / 4–5 cm), knit 14 rounds in MC, then start the chart so the top of the horse ends about 1" (2.5 cm) below the crown decreases. For smaller sizes reduce the number of plain rounds before the chart by 1–3 rounds so motif sits centered vertically.

Method A — Easiest: Duplicate Stitch (recommended for beginners)

Work the entire hat in MC following the body and crown directions below — no colorwork while knitting.
Weave in ends and block the hat if you prefer slightly relaxed fabric.
Using the chart and a tapestry needle, embroider each 'X' on the finished hat using duplicate stitch with CC. Work bottom row of chart first, center chart horizontally (21 stitches) and vertically where you planned.
Weave ends securely on the inside.

Method B — Intarsia (knit flat, then seam or graft)

If you prefer true intarsia, you will need to knit the beanie flat to work the chart left to right. You will then seam the back with mattress stitch or graft the brim. Intarsia in the round is not recommended for this single large motif unless you are comfortable with bobbins and twisting yarns on each color change.

Method C — Stranded / Fair Isle (advanced)

You can work the chart in the round using stranded technique. Because the motif has large single-colour blocks, catch floats every 3-4 stitches to avoid long floats behind the horse. This method is more fiddly but keeps the hat seamless.

Pattern — worked in the round

Adjust cast-on to the size you want; strive for a multiple that will center the 21-stitch chart at front. The chart is 21 sts wide; place it centered. Counts below are worked as total stitches around.

Newborn: CO 72 sts (US 6/4.0 mm), join for working in the round, place marker for beg of rnd.
Baby: CO 80 sts
Toddler: CO 88 sts
Child: CO 96 sts
Teen/Small Adult: CO 100 sts
Adult Medium: CO 104 sts
Adult Large: CO 112 sts

Ribbing

Using smaller needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm): CO stitches as above. Join carefully, place marker.
Rnd 1–12 (adjust length for size): *k1, p1* around for 1.5–2" / 4–5 cm (12 rounds is a guideline — shorter for newborns, longer for adults if you prefer a slouchy rib).

Body & motif

Switch to main needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm).
Knit in MC in the round the number of rounds needed to reach motif start (see 'Where to start the chart' above). For adult medium, that is about 14 rounds after ribbing.
If using duplicate stitch method: knit plain in MC for entire motif height (20 rows of chart = 20 rounds if worked in round orientation) plus the rounds to reach the crown decreases. Then add the motif by duplicate stitch after finishing hat.
If working chart in the round as stranded: work chart rounds in the round, reading chart right-to-left on every round. If working the chart flat for intarsia, work chart rows back and forth as instructed in Method B.

Crown decreases (example for 104 sts; adjust for your CO using the same decrease rhythm)

When hat measures the chosen depth (see sizes), begin decreases:

Round 1: *k10, k2tog* repeat to end. (If your stitch multiple differs, divide evenly — the goal is to maintain roughly shaped decreases.)
Round 2: knit all sts.
Round 3: *k9, k2tog* repeat.
Round 4: knit all sts.
Continue in this manner, reducing the number of knit sts between decreases by 1 every other round until you have about 8–12 sts remaining.
Cut yarn leaving a 6" / 15 cm tail. Thread tail through remaining sts with tapestry needle and pull tight to close the crown. Secure and weave in end on inside.

Finishing

Weave in ends.
If you used duplicate stitch, embroider the chart now, working bottom row of the chart first and following the grid. When stitching, use the same gauge as your knitting — don't pull too tight.
Block lightly if desired to even stitches and relax the fabric. For best motif definition after duplicate stitch, steam-block lightly from the wrong side or gently wet-block and lay flat to dry.
Trim loose ends and tidy inside seams if you seamed the hat.

Care

Check your yarn label. Generally, hand wash cold and lay flat to dry for worsted wool. For superwash yarns, you can follow machine wash instructions on the label.

Sizing adjustments & tips

To make the hat slouchier, add extra rounds before crown decreases (2–6 rounds).
To center the chart, place a lifeline at the start of the chart and count stitches to ensure the chart begins where you expect.
If you want a larger/deeper motif, scale the chart by repeating rows of the chart or using duplicate stitch to enlarge after knitting.

Chart key & technique notes

Duplicate stitch: Use a blunt tapestry needle and CC yarn. For each 'X' on the chart, follow the top of the knit stitch and stitch over it to create a small knit stitch of CC. This maintains the hat stretch and keeps floats out of the inside of the hat.
Intarsia flat: Use bobbins or short lengths of yarn for CC. Twist yarns at each color change to avoid holes and use a provisional CO if you plan to graft the brim closed.
Stranded in the round: Carry floats loosely and catch them every 3–4 stitches. Because the horse motif includes large CC blocks, stranded will create floats that need regular tacking to avoid long floats and puckering.

Enjoy your hat! For pattern support and permission to sell items made from this pattern, please visit https://purljam.verde.uk or email team@verde.uk. Share finished projects with the tag #purljam on socials.

Pattern author: Purljam — support: team@verde.uk — website: https://purljam.verde.uk — socials: #purljam

purlJam

The knitting and crochet AI pattern pixie