purlJam

# Basic Ribbed Beanie with "SOA" Lettering
**Difficulty**: Beginner | **Machine**: Bulky (9mm) or Mid-Gauge (6.5mm) with Ribber

### SPECIFICATIONS
- **Yarn**: Worsted Weight (approx. 100g). Main color (MC), Contrast Color (CC - Red) for lettering.
- **Tension**: 
    - Main Bed: TD 7
    - Ribber: TD 7
- **Gauge**: 16 sts and 22 rows = 10cm (4") in 2x2 Ribbing.
- **Tools**: Cast-on comb, large weights (2-3), 2-set transfer tool, latch tool, tapestry needle.

---

### 1. MACHINE SETUP
- **Bed Configuration**: Main Bed (MB) and Ribber (KR) in use.
- **Pitch**: Set Pitch Lever to **P (Full Pitch)**.
- **Needle Arrangement (2x2 Rib)**: 
    - Arrange needles from **36-L to 36-R** (Total 72 needles).
    - **MB**: 2 needles in Work (B), 2 needles Out of Work (A). Pattern: `||..||..||`
    - **KR**: 2 needles in Work (B) corresponding to the gaps on the MB. Pattern: `..||..||..`
    - *Verification*: Ensure the end needles are on the Main Bed for a cleaner seam.

### 2. CAST-ON (WASTE YARN & RAVEL CORD)
1. **COL**: Set Tension Dial (TD) to 0/0.
2. Run carriage across to interlock needles. Insert cast-on comb and heavy weights.
3. Thread waste yarn. Knit 6 rows.
4. **COR**: Break waste yarn. Thread Ravel Cord. Knit 1 row to **COL**.
5. Set RC to 000.

### 3. MAIN BODY (MC YARN)
1. **COL**: Thread Main Color yarn. Set TD to 7/7.
2. **RC 001 - 060**: Knit in 2x2 ribbing for 60 rows.
    - *Check*: Maintain even weight distribution. Move weights up every 20 rows.
    - *Math Check*: 60 rows / 2.2 rows/cm = approx 27cm total length before shaping.
3. **RC 060**: Carriage ends at **COR**.

### 4. CROWN SHAPING
1. **Preparation**: We will now move all stitches to the Main Bed.
2. Using a 2-prong transfer tool, transfer every stitch from the **Ribber needles** to the adjacent **Main Bed needles**.
    - *Technique*: Pick up the 2 stitches from the ribber and place them onto the 2 needles already holding stitches on the main bed. Each active MB needle will now have 2 stitches.
3. Drop the Ribber bed slightly to clear the needles. 
4. **RC 061**: Set TD to 9 (loosen tension for the double-thickness row). **COR to COL**. Knit 1 row.
5. **RC 062**: **COL to COR**. Knit 1 row.
6. **Final Decrease**: Using a 1-prong transfer tool, move every other stitch to its neighbor. 
    - *Result*: 1 needle with 2 stitches, 1 needle empty. Push empty needles to non-work (A).
7. **RC 063**: Knit 1 row slowly.

### 5. REMOVING FROM MACHINE
1. Cut yarn, leaving a 60cm (24") tail for seaming.
2. Thread the tail into a tapestry needle. 
3. Pass the needle through every remaining live stitch on the bed. 
4. Pull the work off the needles and draw tight to close the crown.

---

### 6. LETTERING: "SOA" (DUPLICATE STITCH)
*For a beginner, we apply the letters "SOA" in Red (CC) using the Duplicate Stitch technique. This is done before seaming the side.*

**Placement**: Find the center of the beanie (Needle 0). The "SOA" should be centered on the front, roughly 10 rows up from the bottom edge (or 10 rows down from the crown if you want a slouchy look).

**The "SOA" Chart (5 stitches wide x 7 rows high per letter)**:
(X = Red Stitch, . = Background)

**Letter S:**
```
. X X X .
X . . . .
. X X . .
. . . X .
. X X X .
```
**Letter O:**
```
. X X X .
X . . . X
X . . . X
X . . . X
. X X X .
```
**Letter A:**
```
. . X . .
. X . X .
X X X X X
X . . . X
X . . . X
```
*Note: Leave 2 stitches of space between each letter.*

---

### 7. FINISHING
1. **Seaming**: Use a Mattress Stitch to join the two sides. Because it is 2x2 ribbing, match the "2-stitch" columns carefully to make the seam invisible.
2. **Weaving**: Secure the yarn tails from the "SOA" embroidery on the inside.
3. **Steam**: Lightly steam the beanie with a handheld steamer. **Do not press the iron onto the ribbing**, as this will "kill" the elasticity and make the beanie go flat. 
4. **Optional**: Add a red pompom to the top to coordinate with the lettering.

**Final Dimensions (Unstretched)**: 20cm wide x 23cm tall.