Everyday Beanie (Worsted)

Quick, versatile knit beanie worked in the round. Worked for six sizes with a stretchy rib brim and a gradual crown decrease so the same decrease sequence works for every size. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk • Support: team@verde.uk • Social: #purljam

Yarn

• Worsted weight / Aran yarn (weight category: 4)
• Suggested: 100% wool or wool blend, approx 200 yards / 183 m per 100 g (universal reference)
• Yardage by size (Imperial / Metric): Newborn 60 yd / 30 g (55 m / 30 g), Baby 80 yd / 40 g (73 m / 40 g), Child 120 yd / 60 g (110 m / 60 g), Teen/Small Adult 160 yd / 80 g (146 m / 80 g), Adult 200 yd / 100 g (183 m / 100 g), Large Adult 225 yd / 112.5 g (206 m / 112.5 g)

Needles

Use circular needles for magic loop or 16"/40 cm circular plus double-point needles as preferred.

• Brim (smaller): US 7 / UK (old) 7 / 4.5 mm
• Body (main): US 8 / UK (old) 6 / 5.0 mm
• Optional slouchier fabric: US 9 / UK (old) 5 / 5.5 mm

Notes on conversion: US / UK(old) / Metric needle sizes shown for clarity. Choose needles to obtain gauge; adjust needle size if necessary.

Gauge

18 stitches x 24 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette (in the round) on US 8 / 5.0 mm. If your gauge is different, change needle size to match gauge.

Finished Measurements

• Newborn: approx 12.5" / 32 cm circumference
• Baby: approx 14.5" / 37 cm
• Child: approx 16" / 41 cm
• Teen/Small Adult: approx 18" / 46 cm
• Adult: approx 20" / 51 cm
• Large Adult: approx 22" / 56 cm

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
= knit two together
• CO = cast on
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd = round
• RS = right side

Cast-on & Rib

Cast on with a stretchy cast-on (long-tail or German twisted) to the stitch counts below. Join carefully to avoid twisting, place marker for beginning of round.

Cast-on stitch counts (multiples of 8)

• Newborn: CO 56 sts
• Baby: CO 64 sts
• Child: CO 72 sts
• Teen/Small Adult: CO 80 sts
• Adult: CO 88 sts
• Large Adult: CO 96 sts

Ribbing: Using smaller needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm), work 1x1 rib (K1, P1) in the round for desired brim height: Newborn/Baby 1.5" / 4 cm (~9 rows), Child 1.75" / 4.5 cm (~11 rows), Teen/Adult 2" / 5 cm (~12 rows), Large 2.25" / 6 cm (~14 rows). For a folded brim, work twice the height and fold to the inside and graft or mattress-stitch seam.

Body

Switch to larger needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm). Knit every round (stockinette in the round) until measured from cast-on edge to crown: Newborn 6.5" / 16.5 cm, Baby 7.5" / 19 cm, Child 8" / 20.5 cm, Teen 8.5" / 21.5 cm, Adult 9" / 23 cm, Large 9.5" / 24 cm. Adjust length if you like a slouchier or shorter hat.

Crown Shaping (same sequence for all sizes — works because cast-ons are multiples of 8)

Work the decrease rounds below, repeating each decrease round followed by one plain knit round until the next decrease round. The pattern reduces evenly by 1/8 of the stitches each decrease round.

1. Round A: *K7, K2tog* repeat to end.
2. Knit 1 round.
3. Round B: *K6, K2tog* repeat.
4. Knit 1 round.
5. Round C: *K5, K2tog* repeat.
6. Knit 1 round.
7. Round D: *K4, K2tog* repeat.
8. Knit 1 round.
9. Round E: *K3, K2tog* repeat.
10. Knit 1 round.
11. Round F: *K2, K2tog* repeat.
12. Knit 1 round.
13. Round G: *K1, K2tog* repeat.
14. Knit 1 round.
15. Round H: *K2tog* repeat to end.

After Round H you should have 7 or 8 stitches remaining (exact number depends on size). Break yarn leaving a 6" / 15 cm tail, thread tail through tapestry needle and pull through remaining sts, pull tight to close the top. Secure yarn tail to inside with a few stitches and weave in ends. Optionally add a pompom before pulling tight by threading tail through the pompom center and securing.

Decrease sequence notes

Because all sizes are multiples of 8, each repeated pattern chunk (for example K7,K2tog = 8 sts) divides evenly. If you change cast-on, make sure your total is divisible by 8 or adjust the decrease repeat so the pattern divides evenly.

Optional variations

• Folded brim: CO twice the number of stitches desired in circumference? (No: instead work the rib twice the folded height.) Work rib for twice the brim height, fold to the inside, and seam the cast-on edge to the inside with mattress stitch for a clean, double-layer brim.
• Earflaps: Work decreases to earflap placement and work a flat triangular earflap on opposite sides — email team@verde.uk if you'd like a step-by-step earflap addendum.
• Slouchier: Use US 9 (5.5 mm) for the body and lengthen body before decreases by 0.5–1" / 1.5–2.5 cm.

Pompom

Recommended pompom sizes: Newborn 1.5" / 4 cm, Baby 2" / 5 cm, Child 2.5" / 6 cm, Adult 3" / 8 cm. Secure firmly with multiple knots and weave ends inside the hat before trimming.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends on the inside.
2. Block lightly if desired: steam or wet block and lay flat to dry to even out stitches. Do not agitate too much if using animal fibers.
3. Trim any stray fibers and shape pompom.

Notes on substitutions & yarn

If using a yarn with a different yardage per 100 g, calculate needed grams from yardage estimates above. A lighter DK yarn will produce a smaller, denser hat; choose larger needles or more yardage if substituting.

Care

Care depends on fiber: for wool, hand wash cold with mild detergent, reshape and dry flat. For machine-washable yarns, follow the yarn label recommendations.

Troubleshooting

• If your hat is too small: go up one needle size or add 8 stitches to cast-on and follow decreases accordingly.
• If your hat is too loose: go down one needle size or reduce stitches in multiples of 8.

License: personal use and gifts. For pattern support, errata, or help with custom sizing contact team@verde.uk or visit purljam.verde.uk. Social: #purljam