Striped Two-Colour Beanie (knit in the round)

Designer notes: A clean, simple, squishy beanie worked in worsted weight yarn with narrow two-round stripes. Worked in the round for a seamless finish. Suitable for confident beginner/intermediate knitters. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk Support: team@verde.uk Socials: #purljam

Finished measurements

• Small (teen/child): approx 18 in / 46 cm circumference; height from cast-on to crown before decreases: 7.5 in / 19 cm
• Medium (adult average): approx 22 in / 56 cm circumference; height: 8.5 in / 21.5 cm
• Large (slouchy): approx 25 in / 64 cm circumference; height: 9.5 in / 24 cm

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn, medium (US 4). Suggested: 2 colours, Main Colour (MC) and Contrasting Colour (CC).

• Small: total approx 125 yd / 114 m. MC approx 75 yd / 69 m; CC approx 50 yd / 46 m.
• Medium: total approx 150 yd / 137 m. MC approx 90 yd / 82 m; CC approx 60 yd / 55 m.
• Large: total approx 175 yd / 160 m. MC approx 105 yd / 96 m; CC approx 70 yd / 64 m.

One 100 g worsted skein (approx 180-220 yd / 165-200 m) will be enough for a medium if split between two colours; if you plan a slouchy large choose yarn quantities accordingly.

Needles

Both circulars (magic loop or small circumference) and double-pointed needles (DPNs) can be used.

• Brim: US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm (circular 16 in / 40 cm or DPNs)
• Body: US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm (circular 16 in / 40 cm or DPNs)
• Optional slouchier: US 9 / UK 5 / 5.5 mm

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rnds = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette in the round on US 8 / 5.0 mm. Check your gauge and adjust needle size to match.

Sizes & cast-on

Recommended cast-on (long-tail or preferred stretchy cast-on), join to knit in the round:

• Small: cast on 80 sts (works at gauge to ~18 in)
• Medium: cast on 96 sts (~22 in)
• Large: cast on 112 sts (~25 in)

These stitch counts are divisible by 16 to keep decrease rounds even and to maintain 2x2 rib at the brim.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• PM = place marker
• SM = slip marker
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd = round

Notes

• Stripes are worked in the round, changing colour every 2 rnds for narrow stripes. Carry the unused colour along the inside and catch floats every 3-4 sts if they become long. Two-round stripes produce a clean bar stripe; you can make stripes wider by working 4 rnds per colour pair.
• Make sure the beginning of round marker is easy to find. When changing colour at the beginning of a rnd twist the yarns to avoid a hole.
• Pattern uses 2x2 rib for the brim. Because the body is stockinette in the round (knit every rnd), there is no pattern stitch repeat other than the stripe sequence.

Pattern

Brim

Using US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, with MC, CO 80 (96, 112) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. PM for beginning of round.

Ribbing: *K2, P2* around for 12 rnds (approx 2 in / 5 cm). If you prefer a shorter brim work 8 rnds; for a cuffed look work 16–20 rnds then fold up and mattress stitch the cast-on edge to the inside.

Body and stripes

Switch to US 8 / 5.0 mm needles. Begin stripes, working 2 rnds MC then 2 rnds CC, repeating this 2-round alternate stripe throughout the body.

Continue striping until piece measures approximately:

• Small: 7.5 in / 19 cm from cast-on (including brim) — approx 34 body rnds after ribbing; end after completing a full 2-rnd stripe pair (adjust to keep full stripe).
• Medium: 8.5 in / 21.5 cm from cast-on — approx 40 body rnds after ribbing.
• Large: 9.5 in / 24 cm from cast-on — approx 46 body rnds after ribbing.

Tip: because gauge and personal preferred hat height vary, measure on the head or a hat block and stop when the crown has about 2 in / 5 cm left before the top (this margin becomes the crown decreases).

Crown decreases (all sizes)

When the hat measures the indicated length, stop after completing the last CC round and begin the following decrease sequence in MC. The decrease pattern is worked over an 8-st repeat so you will use S0/8 repeats where S0 is your cast-on.

Decrease rounds (work these rounds in order; insert an odd/even plain knit rnd between decreases to keep decreases aligned):

1. Rnd A: *K6, K2tog* across. (repeat S0/8 times) — stitch counts after this rnd: Small 70 / Medium 84 / Large 98
2. Rnd B: Knit around
3. Rnd C: *K5, K2tog* across — counts: Small 60 / Medium 72 / Large 84
4. Rnd D: Knit around
5. Rnd E: *K4, K2tog* across — counts: Small 50 / Medium 60 / Large 70
6. Rnd F: Knit around
7. Rnd G: *K3, K2tog* across — counts: Small 40 / Medium 48 / Large 56
8. Rnd H: Knit around
9. Rnd I: *K2, K2tog* across — counts: Small 30 / Medium 36 / Large 42
10. Rnd J: Knit around
11. Rnd K: *K1, K2tog* across — counts: Small 20 / Medium 24 / Large 28
12. Rnd L: Knit around
13. Rnd M: *K2tog* across — counts: Small 10 / Medium 12 / Large 14

At this point you will have 10 (12, 14) sts remaining. Work one final round of K2tog across: this will reduce to 5 (6, 7) sts.

Finishing

1. Cut yarn leaving a 10 in / 25 cm tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches with tapestry needle and pull tight to close crown.
2. Secure yarn, weave in ends on the inside. Weave in loose stripe tails and tidy floats. If you carried CC up the inside, knot or weave in where needed.
3. Lightly block if desired: soak in lukewarm water, gently squeeze, reshape on a hat block or ball, and dry flat.

Stitch count summary (at key stages)

• Cast-on: 80 / 96 / 112
• After first decrease round: 70 / 84 / 98
• Mid decreases: 60 / 72 / 84 then 50 / 60 / 70 then 40 / 48 / 56 then 30 / 36 / 42 then 20 / 24 / 28 then 10 / 12 / 14
• After final K2tog round: 5 / 6 / 7 remaining stitches; gather and finish

Tips & technique notes

• Changing colour: to avoid a jog at the colour join in the round, when beginning a new colour at the start of a round, knit the first stitch through the back loop of the last stitch of the previous round (a jogless join trick), or use a small mattress stitch finish later to even up the jog.
• Floats: for 2-round stripes floats are short; catch the unused colour every 3–4 stitches if you need to secure them.
• For ear coverage: add 1/2 in / 1.5 cm to the hat length before starting decreases.
• To make wider stripes, change colour every 4 rnds (2 stripe rounds per colour) rather than every 2 rnds.
• For a cuffed brim: work 20 rnds in rib, fold up and sew cast-on edge to inside with mattress stitch.

Alternate finishing options

• Pompom: add a pompom in MC or CC. For a medium-sized pompom, use approx 15–20 yd / 14–18 m of yarn.
• Slouch: use US 9 / 5.5 mm for body and add 8–12 more rounds before decreasing.

Thank you

Enjoy knitting your striped beanie. For pattern support or questions contact team@verde.uk or visit https://purljam.verde.uk and share photos on socials with #purljam.

Created by purlJam with the help of magic AI dust. Shop Verde for patterns and yarn.

Disclaimer: Enjoy the fun! Accuracy of patterns cannot be guaranteed. Remember to use and share content responsibly when engaging with this AI-powered app.