Simple Squish Beanie — Knit Pattern

Lightweight, squishy, and written for clear, repeatable shaping. Worked in worsted weight on circulars (magic loop or DPNs). Fits a range of head sizes; includes clear decrease rounds so you can follow the crown shaping for any of the listed sizes.

Finished sizes

• Small: 18”–20” (46–51 cm) — ideal for teens or small adult heads
• Medium: 20”–22” (51–56 cm) — average adult
• Large: 22”–24” (56–60 cm) — larger adult
• X-Large: 24”–26” (61–66 cm) — roomy/slouchy

Skills & techniques

• Working in the round (16”/40 cm circular or magic loop)
• Basic ribbing (K1/P1 or K2/P2)
• K2tog decreases and even, repeated decrease rounds
• Using DPNs to finish (or continue with smaller circulars)

Yarn

Worsted weight (US 4 / Aran-medium). Typical example: 200 yards (183 m) per 100 g skein.

• Small: 150 yards (137 m)
• Medium: 200 yards (183 m) — one typical skein
• Large: 225 yards (206 m)
• X-Large: 250 yards (229 m)

Needles & Notions

• Ribbing needle: US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm circular 16” (40 cm) or set of DPNs
• Body needle: US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm circular 16” (40 cm) or magic loop; DPNs in same size for crown finishing
• Tapestry needle, stitch marker, scrap yarn for provisional cast-on or waste thread if you want a folded brim, scissors, optional pompom

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette using US 8 / 5.0 mm. If your gauge is different, change needle size to match gauge and adjust cast-on accordingly.

Abbreviations

• K — knit
• P — purl
• K2tog — knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• St(s) — stitch(es)
• Rnd — round

Cast-on & Brim

Pick the size you want and use the matching cast-on stitch counts below. Cast on using a stretchy cast-on (long-tail or German twisted) for a comfortable brim edge. Join carefully making sure not to twist.

• Small — CO 72 sts (use US 7 / 4.5 mm)
• Medium — CO 80 sts (use US 7 / 4.5 mm)
• Large — CO 88 sts (use US 7 / 4.5 mm)
• X-Large — CO 96 sts (use US 7 / 4.5 mm)

Join in the round, place marker for beginning of round. Work ribbing for 1.5” (4 cm) for a brim that sits on the head, or 2.5” (6.5 cm) if you prefer a folded brim (if folding, use waste yarn or make 3” and fold up). Suggested ribs: K1,P1 for a slimmer rib, K2,P2 for chunkier rib.

Body

Switch to US 8 / 5.0 mm circular needle and continue in stockinette (knit every rnd) until the hat measures from cast-on edge:

• Small: 6.5” (16.5 cm) from cast-on
• Medium: 7.0” (18 cm)
• Large: 7.5” (19 cm)
• X-Large: 8.0” (20.5 cm)

Adjust length for slouchy style by adding 0.5” (1.25 cm) or more.

Crown Shaping (decreases)

All cast-on counts above are multiples of 8; the decrease sequence below repeats 8 times each decrease round. You will alternate a decrease round with a plain knit round, working the decrease rounds until 8 stitches remain. The arithmetic used to build the decrease is: on the first decrease round knit X stitches then K2tog and repeat 8 times; X is equal to (starting_stitches / 8) — 2 for the first decrease round, then reduce X by 1 on each subsequent decrease round.

For clarity, the full set of decrease rounds for each size is written out below.

Small (CO 72)

1. Rnd 1: *K7, K2tog* repeat 8 (72 → 64)
2. Rnd 2: Knit
3. Rnd 3: *K6, K2tog* repeat 8 (64 → 56)
4. Rnd 4: Knit
5. Rnd 5: *K5, K2tog* repeat 8 (56 → 48)
6. Rnd 6: Knit
7. Rnd 7: *K4, K2tog* repeat 8 (48 → 40)
8. Rnd 8: Knit
9. Rnd 9: *K3, K2tog* repeat 8 (40 → 32)
10. Rnd10: Knit
11. Rnd11: *K2, K2tog* repeat 8 (32 → 24)
12. Rnd12: Knit
13. Rnd13: *K1, K2tog* repeat 8 (24 → 16)
14. Rnd14: Knit
15. Rnd15: *K2tog* repeat 8 (16 → 8)—stop here

Medium (CO 80)

1. Rnd1: *K8, K2tog* x8 (80 → 72)
2. Rnd2: Knit
3. Rnd3: *K7, K2tog* x8 (72 → 64)
4. Rnd4: Knit
5. Rnd5: *K6, K2tog* x8 (64 → 56)
6. Rnd6: Knit
7. Rnd7: *K5, K2tog* x8 (56 → 48)
8. Rnd8: Knit
9. Rnd9: *K4, K2tog* x8 (48 → 40)
10. Rnd10: Knit
11. Rnd11: *K3, K2tog* x8 (40 → 32)
12. Rnd12: Knit
13. Rnd13: *K2, K2tog* x8 (32 → 24)
14. Rnd14: Knit
15. Rnd15: *K1, K2tog* x8 (24 → 16)
16. Rnd16: Knit
17. Rnd17: *K2tog* x8 (16 → 8)—stop here

Large (CO 88)

1. Rnd1: *K9, K2tog* x8 (88 → 80)
2. Rnd2: Knit
3. Rnd3: *K8, K2tog* x8 (80 → 72)
4. Rnd4: Knit
5. Rnd5: *K7, K2tog* x8 (72 → 64)
6. Rnd6: Knit
7. Rnd7: *K6, K2tog* x8 (64 → 56)
8. Rnd8: Knit
9. Rnd9: *K5, K2tog* x8 (56 → 48)
10. Rnd10: Knit
11. Rnd11: *K4, K2tog* x8 (48 → 40)
12. Rnd12: Knit
13. Rnd13: *K3, K2tog* x8 (40 → 32)
14. Rnd14: Knit
15. Rnd15: *K2, K2tog* x8 (32 → 24)
16. Rnd16: Knit
17. Rnd17: *K1, K2tog* x8 (24 → 16)
18. Rnd18: Knit
19. Rnd19: *K2tog* x8 (16 → 8)—stop here

X-Large (CO 96)

1. Rnd1: *K10, K2tog* x8 (96 → 88)
2. Rnd2: Knit
3. Rnd3: *K9, K2tog* x8 (88 → 80)
4. Rnd4: Knit
5. Rnd5: *K8, K2tog* x8 (80 → 72)
6. Rnd6: Knit
7. Rnd7: *K7, K2tog* x8 (72 → 64)
8. Rnd8: Knit
9. Rnd9: *K6, K2tog* x8 (64 → 56)
10. Rnd10: Knit
11. Rnd11: *K5, K2tog* x8 (56 → 48)
12. Rnd12: Knit
13. Rnd13: *K4, K2tog* x8 (48 → 40)
14. Rnd14: Knit
15. Rnd15: *K3, K2tog* x8 (40 → 32)
16. Rnd16: Knit
17. Rnd17: *K2, K2tog* x8 (32 → 24)
18. Rnd18: Knit
19. Rnd19: *K1, K2tog* x8 (24 → 16)
20. Rnd20: Knit
21. Rnd21: *K2tog* x8 (16 → 8)—stop here

Finishing

1. When you have 8 sts remaining, cut yarn leaving a 8–12” (20–30 cm) tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle and draw through remaining 8 sts. Pull tight to close the top.
2. Weave in all ends securely on the inside. If you used a provisional cast-on for a folded brim, pick up live stitches and graft or K2tog across as desired, then weave in ends.
3. Block gently if you wish: steam or soak briefly and lay flat to dry to even the stitches. Reshape to final measurements.

Optional pompom

Make a medium pompom (3–4” / 7.5–10 cm) with same yarn color for a classic finish. Sew on securely with multiple passes through the crown area and inside the hat.

Fit adjustments & notes

• If your gauge is tighter, go up a needle size for the body to maintain squish; if your gauge is loose, go down a size.
• To make a slouchy beanie, add 0.5”–2” (1.25–5 cm) to the body length before starting decreases.
• To make a brim that folds up, work 2.5” (6.5 cm) ribbing and fold; secure with a few mattress stitch tacks at side seams if desired.

Care

Follow yarn label instructions. For typical worsted wool blends: hand wash cool, lay flat to dry. Avoid tumble drying to preserve elasticity.

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