Beanies for all the family - FREE Pattern + video tutorial
So, when I found out I was pregnant, one of my first thoughts was: "Yes, I can finally knit all the baby things!!". As you can imagine, I did accumulate a few bits before Magnolia came, but NEVER ENOUGH! Baby things are small, but they still take time. Until I found hats!
Beanies and bonnets are so fast to make and it turns out, super handy!
But then I thought that surely since Maggie's got a new hat, the whole family needs new hats. That's how this insane pattern with NINE DIFFERENT SIZES was born. Yes, NINE! There's preemie all the way to Adult L, so that you can keep everyone warm.
The texture in the beanie is made by knots. This is a very simple stitch that looks like a bobble, but smaller and a lot easier. You can find the video tutorial for knitted knots here.
What you need to know before you start
This pattern comes in 9 different sizes: PR (preemie), Baby1 (newborn), Baby2 (up to 6 months old), Baby3 (up to 12 months), Todd (toddler up to 3 years), Child (up to 10 years), Teen (and Adult S), AdultM and AdultL, but you will only find Adult M on the blog. For the other sizes, please purchase the ad-free PDF.
Materials
YARN: Approximately 110 - 160 meters of DK or light worsted yarn (size 3 or 4) - Amounts depend on brim of choice and desired length of beanie. Sample used We Are Knitters, the Baby Wool in Natural (size Adult M)
NEEDLES: 4 mm circular needles with 60 cm long cable or size needed to meet gauge and 3.5 mm for ribbing.
NOTIONS: 6 stitch markers and a tapestry needle.
GAUGE: 11 sts x 16 rows of stockinette = 5 cm x 5 cm (2’x2’)
Sizes + measurements
This pattern comes in 9 different sizes: PR (preemie), Baby1 (newborn), Baby2 (up to 6 months old), Baby3 (up to 12 months), Todd (toddler up to 3 years), Child (up to 10 years), Teen (and Adult S), AdultM and AdultL.
Here, you will ONLY find AdultM - for the other sizes please purchase the ad-free PDF here.
Measurements:
To be worn by head circumference: PR: 33cm (13’), Baby1: 35.5cm (14’), Baby2: 43 cm (17’), Baby3: 45.5 cm (18’), Todd: 48 cm (19’), Child: 51 cm (20’), Teen: 54.5 cm (21.5’), AdultM: 58.5 cm (23’), AdultL: 61cm (24’)
Hat measurement (circumference): PR: 27 cm (11’), Baby1: 30 cm (12’), Baby2: 38 cm (15’), Baby3: 41 cm (16’), Todd: 43.5 cm (17’), Child: 46.5 cm (18’), Teen: 49 cm (19.5’), AdultM: 52 cm (21’), AdultL: 54.5 cm (22’)
Important Techniques
Provisional Cast On (for a double brim)
I-Cord (for baby beanie straps)
Decreases: k2tog, ssk
Slip sts: all should be slipped knit-wise (except for the I-cord)
Magic loop technique to work in circles.
Make knot: sl 3, p1, pass 3 slipped sts one at a time over the purled st. (Find video tutorial HERE)
Abbreviations (US)
BOR: beginning of the row marker
k: knit
K2tog: knit two together
mkr: marker
PM: place marker
p: purl
sl: slip
ssk: slip slip knit
CO: Cast on
PO: pass over
Construction + Pattern Notes
The beanie is worked bottom-up. You have the options of making the brim short, double brim or folded brim; and it’s worked in 1x1 ribbing. Afterwards the main body of the beanie is worked making knots along the way. When the main body is complete, the crown is then worked. Finally, you have the option of adding straps for the baby beanies.
The Pattern
Brim
Regular and folded brim
Using the smaller needles and the long tail method, CO 114 sts.
Place a BOR mkr and join to work in circles. Make a 1x1 ribbing that measures at least 2.5 cm (1’) long or more. For a folded brim make the ribbing at least 10 cm (4’) long or more. Feel free to adjust to preference.
Main body
Change to the bigger needles (the ones you achieved the correct gauge with).
Slip BOR at the end of every row. Stitch count will remain constant on every row except rows 3 and 9 - sts are not to be counted after these rows.
ROW 1 - 2: k around. [114 sts]
ROW 3: k1, *(k1, p1) twice in the next st, k5, rep from * to the last 5 sts, (k1, p1) twice in the next st, k4.
ROW 4: k1, *make knot (see important techniques), k5, rep from * to the last 8 sts, make knot, k4.
ROW 5 - 8: k around.
ROW 9: k4, *(k1, p1) twice in the next st, k5, rep from * to the last 2 sts, (k1, p1) twice in the next st, k1.
ROW 10: k4, *make knot, k5, rep from * to the last 2 sts, make knot, k1.
ROW 11 - 14: k around.
Repeat rows 3 - 14 until your work measures 20 cm from the bottom of your brim (if you are making a folded brim beanie, measure from the middle of the brim up) making sure you don’t finish on a row 3 or 9.
You can add extra length if you want the beanie to slouch or less for a tight fitted beanie.
Crown
ROW 1: *k 17, ssk, PM, rep from * 5 more times. [108 sts]
ROW 2: *k to 2 sts before mkr, ssk, sl mkr, rep from * 5 more times. [102 sts]
Repeat Row 2 until you have 2 sts in between each mkr. [12 sts]
Cut your yarn leaving a 15 cm (6’) tail and thread it through a tapestry needle.
Slip all sts from the left needle on to the tapestry needle, remove all mkrs. Pull the strand to tighten the hole and fasten it on the inside of the crown.
Finishing touches
Weave in all ends.
Block your work.
Add a pom pom if desired.