purlJam

# Easy Two-Needle Ribbed Beanie
### Worked Flat with Two Strands of 8-Ply Yarn

A truly beginner-friendly beanie knitted flat on two straight needles — no circular needles required. You simply hold **two strands of 8-ply (DK) yarn together** to create a cosy, chunky fabric, work straight up in k2p2 rib, shape the crown with easy decreases, then sew one seam up the back. That's it!

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## Sizing
- **Size:** Adult (one size, very stretchy)
- **Finished circumference (unstretched):** approx. 50 cm (19¾ in) — stretches comfortably to fit head sizes 52–58 cm
- **Finished height:** approx. 21 cm (8¼ in) including brim fold

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** 8-ply / DK weight yarn, used **DOUBLE (two strands held together)**
  - Approx. 150–180 m total (so roughly 90 m of yarn doubled). One 100 g ball (≈200–250 m) of DK is plenty if you wind it into two balls or work from both ends.
- **Needles:** 5.5 mm (UK 5 / US 9) straight needles
- **Notions:** Wool/tapestry needle for seaming; stitch marker (optional); scissors
- **Optional:** Extra yarn for a pompom

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## Tension (Gauge)
**16 sts and 22 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** over k2p2 rib (slightly stretched), using 5.5 mm needles with **two strands of 8-ply held together**.

> 💡 Rib is stretchy, so measure relaxed but not pulled tight. Getting tension roughly right matters more than exact — the rib will adapt to your head.

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## Abbreviations (UK)
- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **k2tog** – knit two stitches together (decrease)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **rep** – repeat

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## Before You Begin: Working with Two Strands
Take two strands of your 8-ply yarn (either from two separate balls, or from both the outside and inside ends of one ball) and **hold them together as if they were a single thick strand**. Knit with both strands every stitch. Keep them lying flat and untwisted so your stitches stay neat.

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## Pattern

### Brim and Body (k2p2 Rib)
With 5.5 mm needles and **two strands held together**, cast on **80 stitches**.

> ✅ *Maths check:* 80 sts ÷ 16 sts per 10 cm × 10 = **50 cm** circumference. 80 is a multiple of 4 — perfect for k2p2 rib.

**Set-up & every row (k2p2 rib worked flat):**
**Row 1 (RS):** *k2, p2; rep from * to end. (80 sts)
**Row 2 (WS):** *k2, p2; rep from * to end. (80 sts)

> 💡 Because you start each row with **k2** and have a multiple of 4 stitches, repeating the same instruction every row automatically lines the knits over knits and purls over purls — the classic flat-rib trick. Knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you.

Repeat **Row 1 and Row 2** until the piece measures **18 cm (7 in)** from the cast-on edge, ending after a **WS row**.

> ✅ *Maths check:* 18 cm × 22 rows per 10 cm ≈ **40 rows** total. End ready to begin a RS row for the crown.

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### Crown Shaping
The crown reduces the stitches gradually. We'll keep it simple — just knit pairs together. Work as follows (each decrease row is a RS row; work the WS rows plainly knitting the knits and purling the purls):

**Decrease Row 1 (RS):** *k2, p2tog; rep from * to end. (60 sts)
> ✅ 80 − 20 = 60 sts

**Next row (WS):** *k2, p1; rep from * to end. (60 sts)

**Decrease Row 2 (RS):** *k2tog, p1; rep from * to end. (40 sts)
> ✅ 60 − 20 = 40 sts

**Next row (WS):** *k1, p1; rep from * to end. (40 sts)

**Decrease Row 3 (RS):** *k2tog; rep from * to end. (20 sts)
> ✅ 40 ÷ 2 = 20 sts

**Next row (WS):** purl all sts. (20 sts)

**Decrease Row 4 (RS):** *k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 sts)
> ✅ 20 ÷ 2 = 10 sts

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### Finishing the Crown
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail of about **40 cm**. Thread the tail onto your tapestry needle.

Pass the needle through the remaining **10 stitches** (slipping them off the knitting needle as you go), then **pull tight** to gather the top closed like a drawstring. Pass the needle through the centre once more to secure, then bring the tail to the wrong side ready for seaming.

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### Seaming (the only seam!)
1. Fold the beanie with right sides together (or use mattress stitch on the right side for an invisible join).
2. Using the long crown tail and a tapestry needle, sew the back seam from the **gathered crown down to the cast-on edge**, matching rib columns so the seam disappears into the ribbing.
3. Fasten off securely and weave in all ends on the wrong side.

> 💡 **Tip:** Line up the knit/purl columns at the seam edges as you sew so the rib looks continuous around the join.

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### Optional Pompom
If you'd like a pompom:
1. Wrap your 8-ply yarn (single or double) around a pompom maker or a 7 cm piece of card around 80–100 times.
2. Tie tightly through the centre, cut the loops, trim into a neat ball.
3. Sew firmly to the gathered crown using the tying tails. Trim to your favourite size.

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## Care
Check your yarn band. Most DK wool blends are best **hand-washed in cool water** and **dried flat** to keep the rib springy and the shape neat.

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## Quick Reference – Stitch Counts
| Stage | Stitches |
|---|---|
| Cast on / Body | 80 |
| After Decrease Row 1 | 60 |
| After Decrease Row 2 | 40 |
| After Decrease Row 3 | 20 |
| After Decrease Row 4 | 10 |
| Gathered & closed | 0 (drawn tight) |

Enjoy your cosy hand-knit beanie! 🧶