Everyday Ribbed Beanie — Knitting Pattern

Fitted, worked in the round, 2x2 rib brim with stockinette body. Written for worsted weight (US 4/Aran/medium) yarn. Includes six sizes from newborn to adult large. Techniques used: long-tail cast-on, working in the round, 2x2 rib, stockinette, even decreases, k2tog, weaving in ends. Gauge and needle options included for slight fit variations.

Sizes & Finished Circumferences

Newborn: finished circumference ~12.8” (32.5 cm)
Baby: finished circumference ~14.4” (36.5 cm)
Child: finished circumference ~16.0” (40.5 cm)
Teen/Adult Small: finished circumference ~17.6” (44.8 cm)
Adult Medium: finished circumference ~19.2” (48.8 cm)
Adult Large: finished circumference ~20.8” (52.8 cm)

Finished Height (measured from cast-on to top before finishing)

Newborn: 4.5” / 11.5 cm
Baby: 5.0” / 12.5 cm
Child: 6.0” / 15 cm
Teen/Adult Small: 7.0” / 18 cm
Adult Medium: 8.0” / 20.5 cm
Adult Large: 8.5” / 21.5 cm

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight (Medium, US 4). Example yardage per size (approx): Newborn 50 yds / 46 m; Baby 75 yds / 69 m; Child 100 yds / 91 m; Teen/Adult Small 120 yds / 110 m; Adult Medium 150 yds / 137 m; Adult Large 175 yds / 160 m. Typical skein reference: 100 g (3.5 oz) ≈ 200 yds (183 m). You will need about 1 skein (100 g) for most adult sizes; smaller sizes need partial skeins.
Needles: Work in the round on circular needles and/or double-pointed needles (DPNs) as required.
- Ribbing (smaller needles): US 6 — UK (old) 8 — 4.0 mm
- Body (larger needles): US 8 — UK (old) 6 — 5.0 mm
- Alternate: if you prefer a firmer brim, use US 5 (3.75 mm, UK 9) for ribbing; for a looser slouch use US 9 (5.5 mm, UK 5) for body.
- Circular needle: 16” / 40 cm length in the sizes above for the round. DPNs to match for small-diameter finishing if preferred.
Notions: stitch marker (marker for beginning of round), tapestry needle, scissors, optional pompom maker.

Gauge

20 sts x 28 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette on US 8 (5.0 mm) after blocking. If your gauge is smaller (more stitches per inch) go up a needle size; if larger, go down a size. Gauge affects fit strongly — rework your swatch if needed.

Abbreviations

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 — round
RS — right side
yo — yarn over
M1 — make one (increase)

Cast-on Counts (all counts are multiples of 8)

Newborn: CO 64 sts
Baby: CO 72 sts
Child: CO 80 sts
Teen/Adult Small: CO 88 sts
Adult Medium: CO 96 sts
Adult Large: CO 104 sts

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round; do not join twisted. Place a marker for beginning of round.
Rib is 2x2 rib (k2, p2). Because cast-on counts are multiples of 4, 2x2 rib fits evenly.
After rib, switch to larger needles for stockinette unless you desire a firmer fabric throughout.
Crown decreases are written using an even "divide into 8 sections" method so it works for all provided sizes (each cast-on count is divisible by 8).

Instructions

Cast On & Brim: With smaller needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm), CO required number of sts using a stretchy cast-on (long-tail recommended). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker (PM) for beginning of round.
Work in 2x2 rib (K2, P2) until brim measures:
- Newborn: 1.25” / 3 cm
- Baby: 1.5” / 4 cm
- Child: 2.0” / 5 cm
- Teen/Adult Small: 2.5” / 6.5 cm
- Adult Medium: 2.75” / 7 cm
- Adult Large: 3.0” / 7.5 cm
Body: Switch to larger needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm). Knit every round (stockinette in the round) until piece measures from cast-on to base of crown decreases:
- Newborn: 4.5” / 11.5 cm total (so body after brim ~3.25”)
- Baby: 5.0” / 12.5 cm total
- Child: 6.0” / 15 cm total
- Teen/Adult Small: 7.0” / 18 cm total
- Adult Medium: 8.0” / 20.5 cm total
- Adult Large: 8.5” / 21.5 cm total
Crown Decreases (even 8-section method): Each size here has a total stitch count that is divisible by 8. Let T = total stitches; let S = T / 8 (stitches per section). You will work a series of decrease rounds. Each decrease round reduces one stitch from every section (8 stitches total). The decrease round is:
Decrease round: *K (S - 2), K2tog* repeat 8 times. (That is, knit S-2 stitches, then knit two together; repeat to end of round.)
Between every decrease round work 1 round even (knit all sts) to stabilize the fabric.
Repeat the pair of rounds (decrease round, then 1 knit round) until S reduces to 3 (i.e., until there are 8 * 3 = 24 stitches remaining). After you have 24 sts, work the following finishing decreases:
- Next rnd: *K1, K2tog* repeat to end (this reduces 24 → 16 sts).
- Next rnd: *K2tog* repeat to end (reduces 16 → 8 sts).
Notes & worked example (Adult Medium): Adult Medium T = 96 so S initial = 12. Decrease rounds needed = 12 - 3 = 9 decrease rounds. Each decrease round reduces total by 8, so after 9 decreases total stitches = 96 - 9*8 = 24. Then follow the two finishing rounds above to reduce to 8 sts before sewing up.
Finish: Cut yarn leaving a 6” / 15 cm tail. Thread tail through tapestry needle and pull through remaining stitches. Draw tightly to close top, weave tail to WS and secure. Weave in ends. Block gently if desired to even stitches. Attach pompom or leave plain.

Optional Modifications

Slouch: use 1” / 2.5 cm longer body before decreases and/or use larger needles for body (US 9 / 5.5 mm).
Folded brim: cast on fewer stitches (reduce circumference by 1”) and work a longer brim (3”+), fold up and tack inside for a double-thick brim.
Earflaps: pick up and work earflaps before crown decreases; leave counts compatible with sections or adapt decreases locally.

Fit & Troubleshooting

If your hat feels too tight: go up one needle size for body, or add 0.5” to the circumference (increase cast-on by additional 4 sts = 0.8” at this gauge) and adjust rib multiple (must remain multiple of 4 for 2x2 rib; multiple of 8 recommended for decreases).
If your hat is too loose: go down one needle size or subtract 4 sts from cast-on when appropriate.
Neckline gap at crown after decreases: make sure decrease rounds are evenly spaced; use stitch markers to divide sections and count.

Care

Follow yarn label. Most worsted wool blends can be hand-washed and laid flat to dry. If using superwash, machine wash on gentle may be possible.

Notes on Needle Size Labeling

Needle sizes shown as US number — UK (old) — Metric (mm). Example conversion used here: US 6 — UK 8 — 4.0 mm; US 8 — UK 6 — 5.0 mm. If your pattern packet or local resources use UK (old) numbering, use the metric (mm) value to be certain.

Contact & Credits

Pattern created for PurlJam. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. Support: team@verde.uk. Socials: #purljam

Happy knitting!

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