Turn-Up Brim Baby Beanie

Skill level: Beginner
Construction: Worked in the round from the brim up

A snug beanie for a 13-month-old (12–18 months), with a fold-up garter brim and a simple stocking-stitch body. Every round is either knit all the way around or purl all the way around — there is no ribbing and no mixing of knit and purl in the same round. Crown shaping uses knit two together only.

Size

To fit: 12–18 months (about 13 months)
To fit head circumference: 46–49 cm (18–19¼ in)

Finished measurements

Hat circumference: 44 cm (17¼ in) — about 4 cm (1½ in) of negative ease
Height with brim folded up: 17.5 cm (7 in)
Total length, brim unfolded: 22.5 cm (8¾ in)
Turn-up brim depth: 5 cm (2 in)

Yarn

Weight: Worsted (10-ply / medium). Some UK yarns labelled Aran will work if you match tension.
Amount: Approximately 90 g / 165 m (180 yds). Buy 100 g to be safe.
Suggested fibre: Superwash wool or a wool-acrylic blend (easy care for a baby).
Smooth, light-coloured yarn makes it easier to see your stitches.

Needles

• 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) circular needle, 40 cm long, or a set of 4.5 mm double-pointed needles (DPNs)
• Spare 4.5 mm DPNs (or a longer circular for magic loop) for the crown, if you start on a 40 cm circular

Use whichever in-the-round method you prefer. A 40 cm circular is a comfortable fit for this circumference until the crown.

Notions

• 1 stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Tape measure
• Scissors

Tension (gauge)

20 stitches and 28 rounds = 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch (knit every round) on 4.5 mm needles, after light blocking.

Check your tension before you start. If you have too many stitches in 10 cm, try 5 mm needles. If you have too few stitches in 10 cm, try 4 mm needles. Matching stitch tension matters more than round tension; length is written in centimetres so you can follow the tape measure.

Abbreviations (UK knitting)

Stocking stitch in the round: knit every round.
Garter stitch in the round: knit one round, purl the next round, and repeat.

Pattern notes

• The hat is worked in the round. Do not turn the work at the end of a round.
• No ribbing. You will never knit and purl in the same round.
• The brim is garter stitch so it is thick, stretchy, and looks the same on both sides — ideal for a turn-up. The body is stocking stitch.
• The change from garter to stocking stitch makes a natural fold line. Fold the brim up so that line sits just inside the fold.
• Join for working in the round without twisting the cast-on edge. A twisted join cannot be fixed later.
• Keep the beginning-of-round marker in place until the last few crown rounds.
• All decreases are k2tog, which is beginner-friendly and makes a gentle spiral at the crown.
• Weave in ends very securely — this is a baby item.

Method

Brim (garter stitch, for turning up)

Using 4.5 mm needles and a stretchy method (long-tail is ideal), cast on 88 sts.

Place a marker and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist.

Rnd 1: Knit to end.
Rnd 2: Purl to end.

These two rounds set garter stitch in the round. Repeat Rnds 1–2 until the brim measures 5 cm (2 in) from the cast-on edge, ending after a purl round.
(About 20 rounds / 10 garter ridges at typical garter tension; trust the tape measure.)

You now have 88 sts.

Body (stocking stitch)

Next rnd: Knit to end.

Continue knitting every round (stocking stitch) until the hat measures 17 cm (6¾ in) from the cast-on edge.

You still have 88 sts. (88 sts × 10 cm ÷ 20 sts = 44 cm circumference ✓)

Crown

Work the decrease rounds as written. Change to DPNs or magic loop when the circular needle becomes too small.

There are 8 decrease points. Each decrease round removes 8 sts.

Rnd 1: *K9, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (8 sts decreased, 88 − 8 = 80 sts ✓)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K8, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (80 − 8 = 72 sts ✓)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K7, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (72 − 8 = 64 sts ✓)
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (64 − 8 = 56 sts ✓)
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (56 − 8 = 48 sts ✓)
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (48 − 8 = 40 sts ✓)

Now decrease every round so the crown stays rounded rather than pointed:

Rnd 12: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (40 − 8 = 32 sts ✓)
Rnd 13: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (32 − 8 = 24 sts ✓)
Rnd 14: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (24 − 8 = 16 sts ✓)
Rnd 15: *K2tog; repeat from * to end. (16 − 8 = 8 sts ✓)

Cut the yarn, leaving a 20 cm (8 in) tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, draw it through the remaining 8 sts, pull up firmly to close the hole, and fasten off on the inside.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side (inside of the hat). Take a few extra stitches — babies tug.
2. Optional: wet-block lightly to even the stocking stitch. Do not stretch the brim out of shape. Dry flat.
3. Fold the garter brim up by 5 cm (2 in). The fold should sit at the garter-to-stocking change.

Worn height with brim turned up: 22.5 cm total − 5 cm fold = 17.5 cm (7 in) ✓

Schematic (measurements)

                    .  .
                 .        .          ← crown (about 5.5 cm)
               .            .
              |              |
              |   stocking   |       17.5 cm worn height
              |    stitch    |       with brim folded
              |              |
           /  |--------------|  \    ← fold (garter / stocking change)
          |   |   garter     |   |   5 cm turn-up
          |   |    brim      |   |
           \  |--------------|  /
                    44 cm
                 circumference

Beginner tips

• Counting rounds in the brim: one knit round plus one purl round = one garter ridge. Count ridges if that is easier than measuring every round, then confirm with the tape.
• Purl rounds: bring the yarn to the front, purl every stitch, then take the yarn to the back before the next knit round. If a small hole appears at the marker, give the first stitch of the next round a gentle tug.
• If the brim flares: your purl rounds may be looser than your knit rounds. Work the purl rounds a little more firmly.
• If the hat feels tight on the head: worsted stocking stitch has less stretch than ribbing. This size is meant to sit with a little negative ease. If in doubt when swatching, go up a needle size rather than adding stitches, so the crown maths still works.
• Washing: follow the ball band. Superwash wool and acrylic blends are the most practical for a 13-month-old.