Folded-Brim Stockinette Beanie

Lang Cloud Tweed • Worsted • Beginner

A snug beanie worked in the round from the brim up. The brim is k2, p2 ribbing worked extra long so it folds double for warmth and stretch; the body is plain stockinette. Crown shaping uses knit-two-together decreases only.

Skill level: Beginner

Size

One size, to fit 18" (45.5 cm) head circumference (toddler / young child).

Finished measurements

• Circumference: 16" (40.5 cm) unstretched; stretches to fit 18" (45.5 cm)
• Height with brim folded: 8" (20.5 cm)

Yarn

Lang Yarns Cloud Tweed, worsted weight, 180 yd / 165 m.

Any worsted-weight yarn that matches gauge may be substituted. A folded brim uses more yarn than a single-layer brim; do not skimp.

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm, 16" (40 cm) circular — brim
• US 8 / 5 mm, 16" (40 cm) circular — body
• US 8 / 5 mm double-pointed needles (or a long circular for magic loop) — crown

Or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• 1 beginning-of-round stitch marker
• 7 additional stitch markers for crown (optional but recommended)
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch (knit every round), measured on larger needles after blocking.

Check gauge. At this gauge, 5 sts = 1". A different gauge will change both circumference and fit.

Notes

• The hat is worked in the round from the brim up. Do not turn at the end of a round.
• Cast on loosely. A tight cast-on will not stretch over the head. If needed, cast on over the larger needle, then knit the first round with the smaller needle.
• When joining, make sure the stitches are not twisted around the needle.
• Brim length is measured in inches, not rounds — ribbing row gauge varies.
• The folded brim is sewn in place during finishing. Sew loosely so the brim still stretches.
• Switch to double-pointed needles (or magic loop) when the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the 16" circular.

Abbreviations (US)

• BOR — beginning of round
• CO — cast on
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
• p — purl
• pm — place marker
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• sm — slip marker
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• St st — stockinette stitch (knit every round, in the round)

Pattern

Brim

With smaller needle (US 6 / 4 mm) and using a long-tail cast-on, CO 80 sts loosely. Leave a 40" (100 cm) tail.

(16" finished × 5 sts per inch = 80 sts ✓; 80 ÷ 4 = 20 rib repeats ✓)

Place BOR marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rib round: *K2, p2; rep from * to end of round.

Repeat Rib round until piece measures 4" (10 cm) from the cast-on edge.

This length folds in half to a 2" (5 cm) wearing brim (4" ÷ 2 = 2" ✓).

Body

Change to larger needle (US 8 / 5 mm).

Knit every round (stockinette stitch) until piece measures 7½" (19 cm) from the cast-on edge.

(4" brim + 3½" stockinette body = 7½" ✓)

You now have 80 sts.

Crown

Place 7 additional markers evenly around: k10, pm, around — 8 sections of 10 sts, counting the BOR marker as the eighth marker. (8 × 10 = 80 ✓)

When the fabric pulls too tightly on the circular needle (often around Rounds 7–9), switch to DPNs or magic loop. Divide stitches evenly over 3 or 4 DPNs.

Round 1 (decrease): *K8, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
72 sts (80 − 8 = 72 ✓)

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *K7, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
64 sts (72 − 8 = 64 ✓)

Round 4: Knit.

Round 5: *K6, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
56 sts (64 − 8 = 56 ✓)

Round 6: Knit.

Round 7: *K5, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
48 sts (56 − 8 = 48 ✓)

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: *K4, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
40 sts (48 − 8 = 40 ✓)

Round 10: Knit.

Round 11: *K3, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
32 sts (40 − 8 = 32 ✓)

Round 12: Knit.

Round 13: *K2, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
24 sts (32 − 8 = 24 ✓)

Round 14: Knit.

Round 15: *K1, k2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
16 sts (24 − 8 = 16 ✓)

Round 16: Knit.

Round 17: *K2tog, sm; rep from * to end.
8 sts (16 − 8 = 8 ✓)

Remove markers. Cut yarn, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, draw it through the remaining 8 sts, pull snug to close the hole, and fasten off on the wrong side.

(9 decrease rounds × 8 sts = 72 sts decreased; 80 − 72 = 8 sts remaining ✓)

Finishing

Weave in the crown tail securely.

Fold the brim: Turn the hat inside out. Fold the ribbing in half toward the wrong side so the cast-on edge meets the first stockinette round (the round where you changed to larger needles). The fold is the wearing edge; 2" (5 cm) of ribbing shows on the outside.

With a tapestry needle and matching yarn, loosely whipstitch the cast-on edge to the wrong side of that first stockinette round. Work stitch-by-stitch as evenly as you can, but do not pull tight — a tight seam will keep the hat from stretching over the head. Fasten off and weave in the remaining ends.

Turn the hat right side out.

Block: Wet-block or steam lightly to even the stockinette. Do not stretch the ribbing wider than 16" (40.5 cm). Lay flat to dry, or dry over a bowl about 16" (40.5 cm) around.

Finished hat: 16" (40.5 cm) around, 8" (20.5 cm) tall with brim folded (2" brim + 3½" body + ~2½" crown ≈ 8" ✓).

Wear

Pull on with the folded rib against the ears. The stockinette body is fitted; the ribbing supplies the stretch to get it on and off.