Classic Beanie (Worsted) - Knit Pattern

Easy, classic knit beanie worked in the round. Clear instructions for six sizes from newborn to adult, with gauge, needle options (US, UK old, Metric) and yarn in both Imperial and Metric measurements. Suitable for beginners who know knit/purl and knitting in the round. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. Support: team@verde.uk. Socials: #purljam

Finished measurements

• Newborn: Finished circumference ~12.5 in (31.5 cm); height ~5 in (12.5 cm)
• Baby: Finished circumference ~14.25 in (36 cm); height ~6 in (15 cm)
• Child: Finished circumference ~16 in (40.5 cm); height ~7 in (18 cm)
• Teen/Small Adult: Finished circumference ~17.75 in (45 cm); height ~8 in (20.5 cm)
• Adult Medium: Finished circumference ~19.5 in (49.5 cm); height ~8.25 in (21 cm)
• Adult Large: Finished circumference ~21.3 in (54 cm); height ~8.5 in (21.5 cm)

Yarn

Worsted/Aran weight yarn (Category 4).

• Suggested yarn: 1-skein projects for baby/child up to teen; 1 skein (100 g / 3.5 oz) often enough for adult small/medium depending on yarn yardage. Typical yardage examples:
• Newborn: ~50 yd (46 m) (~25 g)
• Baby: ~100 yd (91 m) (~50 g)
• Child: ~125 yd (114 m) (~60 g)
• Teen/Small Adult: ~150 yd (137 m) (~75 g)
• Adult Medium: ~175 yd (160 m) (~90 g)
• Adult Large: ~200 yd (183 m) (~100 g)

Skein examples: 100 g / 200 yd (183 m) worsted skein will cover most adult hats; adjust if your yarn is longer/shorter per skein.

Needles (include US, UK old and Metric)

• Brim (optional tighter rib): US 6 / UK 8 / 4.0 mm (circular or DPNs)
• Body (stockinette): US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm (16"/40 cm circular) OR US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm (16"/40 cm circular)
• For small circumferences or magic-loop: use DPNs or 16" circular plus magic loop. For very large heads, use longer cables as needed.

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette using US 8 / 5.0 mm. Rows per inch ≈ 6. Adjust needle size if necessary to match gauge.

Sizes & stitch counts

These stitch counts are chosen to work nicely with crown decreases based on 8 decrease sections.

• Newborn (13-14 in): CO 56 sts
• Baby (15-16 in): CO 64 sts
• Child (17-18 in): CO 72 sts
• Teen/Small Adult (19-20 in): CO 80 sts
• Adult Medium (21-22 in): CO 88 sts
• Adult Large (23-24 in): CO 96 sts

Abbreviations

• CO = Cast on
• BO = Bind off
• K = Knit
• P = Purl
• K2tog = Knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• PM = Place marker
• SM = Slip marker
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Rnd = Round

Notes

• This hat is worked in the round. Use a stretchy cast-on (long-tail or German twisted) for a comfortable brim.
• If you prefer a slouchier hat, choose the next larger size or larger needles and add 1–2 inches to body length before starting crown decreases.
• Decreases are written for a hat with stitches divisible by 8. The counts above are already set to multiples of 8.

Pattern

Work in the round unless directed otherwise. Use stitch markers to mark beginning of round.

1. Cast on & brim

1. With smaller needle (US 6 / 4.0 mm) cast on the number of stitches for your size. Join carefully being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of round.
2. Rib: *K2, P2; repeat from * to end of round. Work rib for 1.25–2 in (3–5 cm) for newborn/baby; 1.5–2.25 in (4–6 cm) for child/adult, or to desired brim depth.

2. Body

1. Switch to larger needle (US 7 or US 8 according to gauge). Knit every round (stockinette in the round) until hat measures (from cast-on): newborn 4.0 in (10 cm); baby 5.0 in (12.5 cm); child 6.0 in (15 cm); teen/adult 6.75–7.0 in (17–18 cm). In other words stop 2.5–3.5 in (6.5–9 cm) from top to allow for crown decreases. Adjust for desired finished height (see Notes).

3. Crown decreases

Decrease rounds are given for any of the stitch counts above because they follow a repeating decrease pattern by 8 sections. Work the following decrease sequence until 16 stitches remain, then do a final decrease to 8 and finish.

1. Rnd A: *(K until 2 sts before marker), K2tog; repeat from * around. (You will perform 1 k2tog in each section; total decreases = 8 sts)
2. Rnd B: Knit all sts.
3. Rnd C: *(K until 1 st before marker), K2tog; repeat from * around. (Decrease 8 sts)
4. Rnd D: Knit all sts.
5. Repeat Rnds A–D, but each Rnd A and C the "K until" count will reduce by 1 each repeat. Practically, continue alternating a decrease round then a plain knit round until you have 16 sts left. (If you prefer, you can work a symmetrical decrease: Rnd 1: *K7, K2tog; rep; Rnd 2: K; Rnd 3: *K6, K2tog; Rnd 4: K; etc., adjusting the "Kx" number to suit initial stitch count.)
6. When 16 sts remain: Rnd: *K1, K2tog; repeat to end (reduces from 16 to 11? Alternate method below). Simpler finishing: when approximately 8–16 sts remain, switch to DPNs if needed, work one round of k2tog across until 8 sts remain. Cut yarn leaving a 6"/15 cm tail, thread tail through remaining sts with tapestry needle, pull to close top, weave in securely.

Explicit example (Adult Medium, CO 88):

1. Decrease scheme by sections of 8: Round 1: *K10, K2tog; rep 8 times → 88→80
2. Round 2: Knit
3. Round 3: *K9, K2tog; rep → 80→72
4. Round 4: Knit
5. Round 5: *K8, K2tog; rep → 72→64
6. Round 6: Knit
7. Round 7: *K7, K2tog; rep → 64→56
8. Round 8: Knit
9. Round 9: *K6, K2tog; rep → 56→48
10. Round 10: Knit
11. Round 11: *K5, K2tog; rep → 48→40
12. Round 12: Knit
13. Round 13: *K4, K2tog; rep → 40→32
14. Round 14: Knit
15. Round 15: *K3, K2tog; rep → 32→24
16. Round 16: Knit
17. Round 17: *K2, K2tog; rep → 24→16
18. Round 18: Knit
19. Round 19: *K1, K2tog; rep → 16→8
20. Cut yarn, thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight, weave in tail on wrong side.

Use the same style of step-down decreases for other sizes: begin with "Kx, K2tog" where x = (initial cast-on stitches / 8) - 2. After each decrease round the x value reduces by 1 for the next decrease round (with a knit round between decreases).

Finishing

• Weave in ends securely on WS.
• Block lightly if desired: steam or wet block to relax stitches. Shape while damp and allow to dry flat.
• Add optional pompom or a folded brim: for a folded brim, knit 2" longer before decreases then fold and sew the brim down inside.

Tips & troubleshooting

• If your hat is too small: go up one needle size or choose next larger stitch count.
• If hat is too floppy: go down one needle size or try a tighter cast-on.
• For stranded colorwork or texture, keep decreases symmetrical by preserving the "by 8 sections" approach.
• To customize height, measure on head or a used hat, subtract crown depth (~3–3.5 in for adults) and stop before decreases at that length.

Care

Care varies by fiber: machine-washable superwash yarns are easiest. For non-superwash wool, hand wash cold and lay flat to dry.

Copyright & pattern use

Pattern by PurlJam. Commercial knitting of finished items for sale is allowed with credit to PurlJam (website purljam.verde.uk) and linking to team@verde.uk for support. Please do not reproduce pattern in full and sell as-is; modifications and your own photos are appreciated.

If you need help customizing size or stitch counts, contact: team@verde.uk. Socials: #purljam

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