Simple Knit Beanie (Worsted/Aran) - PurlJam

Sizes: Newborn (0-3m), Baby (6-12m), Child, Teen/Small Adult, Adult Medium, Adult Large.

Finished measurements

• Newborn: circumference approx 13-14" (33-36 cm); height 5" (12.5 cm)
• Baby: circumference approx 15-16" (38-41 cm); height 6" (15 cm)
• Child: circumference approx 17-18" (43-46 cm); height 7" (18 cm)
• Teen/Small Adult: circumference approx 19-20" (48-51 cm); height 8" (20 cm)
• Adult Medium: circumference approx 21-22" (53-56 cm); height 9" (23 cm)
• Adult Large: circumference approx 23-24" (58-61 cm); height 9.5" (24 cm)

Yarn

Worsted weight (Medium/4). Imperial: approx 60-200 yards (see per-size yardage below). Metric: approx 55-183 m. Typical 100 g skein = ~200-220 yd / 183-200 m so most sizes use under one skein.

• Yardage by size (approx): Newborn 60 yds (55 m); Baby 80 yds (73 m); Child 110 yds (100 m); Teen/S: 140 yds (128 m); Adult M: 165 yds (151 m); Adult L: 200 yds (183 m).

Needles

Ribbing (smaller): US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm. Body (main): US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm. Use 16" (40 cm) circular for magic loop or small circular + DPNs when crown decreases: 16" circular (40 cm) + set of DPNs or 32" (80 cm) longer circular for magic loop. Also optional smaller needle for tighter brim for more snug fit: US 6 / UK 8 / 4.0 mm.

Notions

• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Pompom maker or small scrap of cardboard (optional)

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette on US 8 / 5.0 mm. Adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• St(s) = stitch(es)
• Rnd(s) = round(s)
• PM = place marker
• SM = slip marker
• BO = bind off

Sizes & Cast-on

All patterns use k2, p2 brim (multiple of 4). Cast on and final stitch counts are multiples of 10 to make the crown decrease scheme simple.

• Newborn: CO 60 sts. Finished circ ~13-14"
• Baby: CO 70 sts. Finished circ ~15-16"
• Child: CO 80 sts. Finished circ ~17-18"
• Teen/Small Adult: CO 90 sts. Finished circ ~19-20"
• Adult Medium: CO 100 sts. Finished circ ~21-22"
• Adult Large: CO 110 sts. Finished circ ~23-24"

Brim

1. Using smaller needle (US 7 / 4.5 mm) CO required number of sts. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist. PM to mark beginning of round.
2. Work k2, p2 rib for 1.5-2.5" (newborn 1.5", baby 1.75", child 2", teen 2.25", adult 2.5"). For a fold-over brim, work 3-4" and fold up.

Body

1. Switch to larger needle (US 8 / 5.0 mm). Work in stockinette (knit every round) until the hat measures from cast-on edge to crown about: newborn 3.5" (9 cm), baby 4", child 5", teen 6", adult 7-7.5" depending on desired slouch. Total hat height includes brim.

Crown Decrease (universal scheme for cast-ons that are multiples of 10)

This pattern uses a progressive decrease scheme that works with the cast-on counts above. The general idea: perform a decrease round then a plain knit round and repeat, reducing the number of knit stitches between k2tog by one on each decrease round, until only k2tog repeats remain. The sequence uses 10 decrease points initially (because cast-ons are multiples of 10).

General formula for the first decrease round: on Rnd 1 do *kX, k2tog* repeat to end, where X = (CO/10) - 2. Work Rnd 2 knit. On Rnd 3 do *k(X-1), k2tog* repeat. Continue alternating a decrease round and a plain knit round, each decrease round reducing the X by 1, until you reach a round of only k2tog repeats. After the final decrease round you will have 10 sts remaining; cut yarn leaving a 6-8" tail and thread through remaining sts and pull tight to close crown. Weave in ends.

Example (Adult Medium CO 100 sts):

1. Rnd 1: *k8, k2tog* repeat to end. (100 -> 90 sts)
2. Rnd 2: knit
3. Rnd 3: *k7, k2tog* repeat to end. (90 -> 80 sts)
4. Rnd 4: knit
5. Rnd 5: *k6, k2tog* repeat to end. (80 -> 70 sts)
6. Rnd 6: knit
7. Rnd 7: *k5, k2tog* repeat to end. (70 -> 60 sts)
8. Rnd 8: knit
9. Rnd 9: *k4, k2tog* repeat to end. (60 -> 50 sts)
10. Rnd10: knit
11. Rnd11: *k3, k2tog* repeat to end. (50 -> 40 sts)
12. Rnd12: knit
13. Rnd13: *k2, k2tog* repeat to end. (40 -> 30 sts)
14. Rnd14: knit
15. Rnd15: *k1, k2tog* repeat to end. (30 -> 20 sts)
16. Rnd16: knit
17. Rnd17: *k2tog* repeat to end. (20 -> 10 sts)
18. Finish: cut yarn leaving 6-8" tail, thread tail through tapestry needle, run through remaining 10 sts, pull tight, secure and weave in ends. Close any small gap with mattress stitch if desired.

Notes on adapting if your CO is different

If you choose a cast-on that is not a multiple of 10 you can adapt by spacing decreases as evenly as possible and using the same progressive method: decide on the number of decrease points (10 is convenient), find the approximate number of knit stitches between decreases by dividing your CO by the number of decrease points and subtract 2 for the initial spacing, then reduce that spacing by 1 on each decrease round as above. If spacing cannot be exact, distribute the extra stitches across the first decrease round so repeats vary by ±1 stitch to keep shaping even.

Finishing

• Weave in ends with tapestry needle. Block lightly if desired to relax stitches.
• Optional pompom: use matching yarn or contrasting color; for newborn/small use small pompom ~1-1.5" (2.5-3.8 cm), for adults 2-3" (5-7.5 cm). Attach securely through crown and knot on inside; weave tail inside and secure with a few stitches.

Variations

• Slouchy: increase body length before crown decreases by 1-2" depending on desired slouch.
• Folded brim: work longer rib (3-4") and fold up for double thickness over ears.
• Texture: substitute ribbed body (k2, p2) or seed stitch for all-over texture; if using textured stitch, ensure total stitch count works with chosen pattern repeat and adapt crown decreases to maintain motif alignment.

Tips

• Use a lifeline before starting crown decreases if you want to experiment with placement.
• When switching to DPNs, evenly distribute stitches across 3 or 4 needles and start decrease rounds aligned with markers.
• Check gauge and head circumference rather than exact number of stitches. If your gauge is different, calculate CO = desired finished circumference inches x (stitches per inch) and round to nearest multiple of 10 (or nearest repeat for your stitch pattern) then follow the decrease scheme adjusted for that CO.

Pattern by PurlJam. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk Contact: team@verde.uk Socials: #purljam

Created by purlJam with the help of magic AI dust. Shop Verde for patterns and yarn.

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