Classic Ribbed Beanie

Quick, timeless, and endlessly customizable: a flattering ribbed beanie worked in the round. This pattern includes sizes from newborn to adult large, clear gauge, needle conversions (US, UK old, metric), yardage in imperial and metric, and a simple crown-decrease sequence that scales to every size. Ideal for beginners who know knit/purl in the round and for anyone who likes a neat, classic look.

Finished look

Fitted, slightly negative-ease beanie with a 2x2 folded rib brim (brim shorter on smallest sizes). Make it slouchy by adding 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) to the body length before starting the crown.

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight (Medium/4). Typical ball: 200 yd (183 m) per 100 g. Estimated yardage per size: Newborn 60 yd (55 m); Infant 80 yd (73 m); Child 100 yd (91 m); Teen/Small Adult 120 yd (110 m); Adult Medium 140 yd (128 m); Adult Large 160 yd (146 m).
Needles: Use circular needles & DPNs or magic loop. Recommended: Main needles: US 8 / UK 4 / 5.0 mm circular (16" / 40 cm) for Newborn–Teen; use 24" / 60 cm circular or magic-loop for larger heads if preferred. Brim (optional firmer): US 7 / UK 5 / 4.5 mm circular. DPNs: set of US 8 / UK 4 / 5.0 mm or matching size for final decreases.
Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, optional pompom maker.

Needle conversion (included)

US 7 = UK (old) 5 = 4.5 mm
US 8 = UK (old) 4 = 5.0 mm

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch (knit every round) using US 8 / 5.0 mm. IMPORTANT: swatch in the round and block the swatch the way you will wear the finished hat (stretched slightly for negative ease) to confirm gauge.

Sizes & key numbers

Gauge used for stitch counts: 18 sts = 4" (4.5 sts per inch). Cast-on numbers chosen as multiples of 8 to make crown decreases even.

Newborn: Cast-on 56 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 12.4" / 31.6 cm. Brim 1.25" / 3.2 cm. Total height ≈ 5.5" / 14 cm.
Infant: Cast-on 64 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 14.2" / 36.1 cm. Brim 1.5" / 3.8 cm. Total height ≈ 6.5" / 16.5 cm.
Child: Cast-on 72 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 16.0" / 40.6 cm. Brim 2.0" / 5.0 cm. Total height ≈ 7.0" / 17.8 cm.
Teen / Small Adult: Cast-on 80 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 17.8" / 45.1 cm. Brim 2.0" / 5.0 cm. Total height ≈ 8.0" / 20.3 cm.
Adult Medium: Cast-on 88 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 19.6" / 49.7 cm. Brim 2.0" / 5.0 cm. Total height ≈ 8.5" / 21.6 cm.
Adult Large: Cast-on 96 sts. Finished circumference ≈ 21.3" / 54.2 cm. Brim 2.25" / 5.7 cm. Total height ≈ 9.0" / 22.9 cm.

Abbreviations

k = knit
p = purl
k2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
st(s) = stitch(es)
CO = cast on
BO = bind off

rnd = round

Notes

Pattern is worked in the round. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of round.
Cast-on counts are multiples of 8 so the crown decrease sequence below divides nicely for each size. If you change yarn/needle so gauge changes, recalculate cast-on as: desired finished circumference (in) x 4.5 sts per inch, then round to nearest multiple of 8.
For a balanced crown appearance you may alternate decrease types: use k2tog on one decrease round and ssk on the next decrease round. The written sequence below uses k2tog for simplicity; feel free to substitute half the decreases with ssk for a symmetrical look.

Pattern

Work the instructions for the size you want. All instructions given as rounds.

Cast on & brim

With smaller needle if using (US 7 for firmer brim) or main needle (US 8 if you prefer), CO the number of sts for your size. Join carefully, avoiding twist, place marker for start of rnd.
Ribbing: Work in K2, P2 rib until brim measures the charted brim length for your size (see Sizes above). For newborn/infant you may prefer 1.25"–1.5"; for older sizes 2" is standard. If you plan a folded brim, make brim twice the folded depth and fold up at finish to secure.

Body

Switch to main needle size if you used a smaller needle for the brim (US 8 / 5.0 mm). Work in stockinette stitch in the round (knit every round) until measured from cast-on to the base of the crown you want (see Sizes above: body length = total height - brim). For a standard fit use the body lengths listed above; add 1–2" for slouch.

Crown shaping (works for any cast-on that is a multiple of 8)

Let T = your cast-on total stitches. Let R = T / 8 (an integer because we chose cast-ons multiple of 8). The crown sequence below uses R repeats per decrease round and will reduce cleanly to R stitches before finishing.

Do the following rounds in order:

Round A: *(k6, k2tog)* repeat R times. (You will perform one k2tog at the end of each 8-st block.)
Round B: Knit all sts.
Round C: *(k5, k2tog)* repeat R times.
Round D: Knit all sts.
Round E: *(k4, k2tog)* repeat R times.
Round F: Knit all sts.
Round G: *(k3, k2tog)* repeat R times.
Round H: Knit all sts.
Round I: *(k2, k2tog)* repeat R times.
Round J: Knit all sts.
Round K: *(k1, k2tog)* repeat R times.
Round L: Knit all sts.
Round M: *(k2tog)* repeat R times. After this round you will have R stitches remaining.

Example: For Child (T = 72; R = 9): Round A = (k6,k2tog) x 9; after Round A you have 72-9 = 63 sts; working through to Round M will leave you with 9 sts.

Finish

Cut yarn leaving a 6–8" (15–20 cm) tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle and draw through remaining R stitches. Pull tightly to close the crown, weave tail securely across inside of hat and trim. Weave in any other ends.
If you prefer a neater top you can transfer the final remaining stitches to double-pointed needles and graft using Kitchener stitch in the round, or gather tightly and tack to secure.
Fold and tack brim if you made a folded brim. Add a pompom if you like.

Blocking & care

Lightly steam or wet-block to even stitches. For natural fibers, reshape while damp and lay flat to dry. Do not stretch aggressively—this changes fit.
Care: follow yarn label—many worsted blends are hand-wash & lay-flat. For machine-washable yarns, use gentle cycle and low agitation; always reshape and dry flat.

Variations & tips

Make it slouchy: add 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) to the body length before beginning crown decreases.
Textured body: substitute the stockinette section with a 4-row seed stitch or simple cable panel—just ensure your total stitch count stays multiple of 8, or adjust decreases accordingly.
Colorwork: carry floats no longer than 5 sts across the back, or use stranded colorwork in the body but maintain multiples of 8.
Balanced decreases: to reduce any visible spiral from repeated k2tog, on alternate decrease rounds substitute ssk for k2tog (use k2tog on the first decrease round, then ssk on the second decrease round, and so on).

Troubleshooting

If your hat feels too loose, rinse and block on a smaller form or reknit at a smaller needle size (one size down) or reduce cast-on by one multiple of 8.
If the crown puckers unevenly, try alternating k2tog and ssk on successive decrease rounds for a more balanced closure.

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