purlJam

# The Picture Perfect Beanie

A classic fitted adult beanie in DK-weight yarn featuring a custom colorwork motif worked from your attached chart. Knit seamlessly in the round from the brim up, with a stretchy 1x1 ribbed cuff, a stockinette body showcasing your image, and a smooth 8-point crown decrease. Intermediate-level: requires comfort with knitting in the round, stranded colorwork, and basic decreases.

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## Finished Measurements

- **Circumference (unstretched):** approx. 20" / 51 cm — designed with negative ease to fit adult head circumferences of 21–23" / 53–58 cm
- **Height (brim to crown):** approx. 8.5" / 21.5 cm
- **Brim depth (folded option):** 2" / 5 cm (4" / 10 cm if folded)

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## Materials

- **Main Color (MC):** DK weight yarn, approx. 180 yds / 165 m
- **Contrast Color (CC):** DK weight yarn, approx. 60 yds / 55 m
  *(If your chart uses additional colors, allow 20–30 yds for each additional contrast color.)*
- **Suggested fiber:** Smooth wool or wool blend for crisp colorwork stitch definition
- **Needles:**
  - US 6 / 4 mm — 16" / 40 cm circular needle (for ribbing)
  - US 7 / 4.5 mm — 16" / 40 cm circular needle (for body)
  - US 7 / 4.5 mm — set of DPNs or long circular for magic loop (for crown)
- **Notions:** Stitch marker (1 unique for BOR, plus optional markers to flag chart edges), tapestry needle, scissors

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## Gauge

- **22 sts × 28 rounds = 4" / 10 cm** in stockinette in the round on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.
- **Colorwork gauge:** Same — check by working a small swatch of the chart; adjust needle size if your floats are tight.

*Gauge is critical for proper hat fit. Take time to swatch.*

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## Abbreviations

- **BOR** — beginning of round
- **CC** — contrast color
- **DPN(s)** — double-pointed needle(s)
- **k** — knit
- **k2tog** — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **MC** — main color
- **p** — purl
- **pm** — place marker
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)
- **RS** — right side
- **sm** — slip marker
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)

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## Pattern Notes

- Hat is worked in the round from the brim upward.
- The colorwork image is worked using stranded (Fair Isle) technique. Catch floats longer than 5 sts on the wrong side to keep the inside neat.
- Maintain even tension on floats — they should lie flat against the inside of the hat without puckering the fabric.
- The chart is positioned on the front of the hat. The BOR sits at the back-left of the head.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

**Use the separate attached chart panel for the visual colorwork grid — it is not reproduced inline in this pattern text.**

- **Placement in pattern:** The attached chart is worked across the **front-center** of the hat during the **"Colorwork Section"** below (Rnds 17–46 of the body, depending on your chart's row count). It sits between the chart edge markers placed on the setup round.
- **Reading the chart:** Because the hat is knit **in the round**, every chart row is a **RS row**. Read **every row from right to left**, starting at the bottom-right corner and working upward.
- **Color handling:** Each square represents one stitch. Follow the legend on the attached chart for MC/CC assignments. Carry unused color loosely across the WS; twist yarns every 4–5 sts on longer floats.
- **Stitch-count integration:**
  - Chart width (X sts) must be ≤ 56 sts (half the hat circumference) for a centered front placement.
  - Background stitches on either side of the chart = (112 − X) ÷ 2 sts worked in MC.
  - Example: a 40-st chart leaves (112 − 40) ÷ 2 = **36 sts in MC** on each side of the chart on every chart round.
- **If chart is shorter/taller than 30 rnds:** Adjust the plain MC rounds before the crown so total body height (after ribbing) equals approx. **6.5" / 16.5 cm** before starting crown decreases.

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## Instructions

### Brim (1x1 Ribbing)

With **MC** and US 6 / 4 mm 16" circular needle, cast on **112 sts** using a stretchy cast-on (long-tail recommended).

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

**Rnds 1–14:** *K1, p1*; repeat from * to end of rnd. *(112 sts)*

→ Brim measures approx. 2" / 5 cm.

### Transition Round

Change to **US 7 / 4.5 mm** 16" circular needle.

**Rnd 15:** Knit all sts. *(112 sts)*
**Rnd 16:** Knit all sts. *(112 sts)*

### Setup for Colorwork

**Rnd 17 (chart setup):** Choose your chart width (X sts, with X ≤ 56).

- K [(112 − X) ÷ 2] sts in MC, pm (chart-start marker), work Rnd 1 of attached chart across next X sts, pm (chart-end marker), k [(112 − X) ÷ 2] sts in MC to end of rnd. *(112 sts)*

**Example with a 40-st chart:**
K 36 in MC, pm, work Rnd 1 of chart over 40 sts, pm, k 36 in MC. → 36 + 40 + 36 = 112 sts ✓

### Colorwork Section

**Rnds 18 to (17 + chart row count − 1):** Knit in MC to first chart marker, sm, work next row of chart over chart sts, sm, knit in MC to end of rnd.

Continue until all chart rows are complete. Cut CC, leaving a 6" / 15 cm tail to weave in. Remove chart markers (leave BOR marker).

### Plain Stockinette to Crown

Continue in MC, knitting every rnd, until piece measures **6.5" / 16.5 cm** from the cast-on edge (or top of ribbing, whichever you prefer — measure consistently).

*Adjust this section to fine-tune total height. Crown decreases will add approx. 2" / 5 cm.*

### Crown Shaping

Switch to DPNs or magic loop when stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle.

Set up 8 decrease sections of 14 sts each: 8 × 14 = **112 sts** ✓

**Rnd 1:** *K12, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(104 sts)* — verify: 8 × 13 = 104 ✓
**Rnd 2:** Knit.
**Rnd 3:** *K11, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(96 sts)* — 8 × 12 = 96 ✓
**Rnd 4:** Knit.
**Rnd 5:** *K10, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(88 sts)* — 8 × 11 = 88 ✓
**Rnd 6:** Knit.
**Rnd 7:** *K9, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(80 sts)*
**Rnd 8:** Knit.
**Rnd 9:** *K8, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(72 sts)*
**Rnd 10:** Knit.
**Rnd 11:** *K7, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(64 sts)*
**Rnd 12:** *K6, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(56 sts)*
**Rnd 13:** *K5, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(48 sts)*
**Rnd 14:** *K4, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(40 sts)*
**Rnd 15:** *K3, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(32 sts)*
**Rnd 16:** *K2, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(24 sts)*
**Rnd 17:** *K1, k2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(16 sts)*
**Rnd 18:** *K2tog*; repeat from * to end. *(8 sts)*

Crown decreases span approx. 18 rnds ≈ 18 ÷ 28 × 4" = **2.6" / 6.5 cm** ✓

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## Finishing

1. Cut yarn, leaving a 10" / 25 cm tail.
2. Thread tail onto tapestry needle. Pass needle through the remaining 8 sts, removing the knitting needle. Pull tight to close the crown.
3. Pass yarn to inside of hat and secure with a small backstitch through the gathered crown. Weave in tail.
4. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side, paying special attention to color-change ends in the colorwork section. Weave each color along stitches of the same color where possible to keep them invisible.
5. **Block** the hat: soak in lukewarm water with wool wash for 15 minutes, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring), and stretch over a balloon, dinner plate, or hat blocker the appropriate size. Air dry completely. Blocking is essential to even out colorwork tension.

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## Total Height Verification

- Ribbing: 2" / 5 cm
- Body (stockinette + colorwork to crown start): 4.5" / 11.5 cm
- Crown shaping: 2.6" / 6.5 cm
- **Total: ≈ 9.1" / 23 cm** (a comfortable adult depth, sitting just below the ears)

Enjoy your custom picture beanie! 🧶