Kindling Rib Beanie: a free beanie knitting pattern

What you'll make

The Kindling Rib Beanie is a classic hat worked from the brim up. The brim is a deep 2x2 rib that folds back. Above it is a plain knit body, then a crown that closes in eight sections. It is a deep folded brim for cold mornings.

It is also a gentle ribbed hat knitting pattern if you have not shaped a crown before. Every rib round is the same. Every body round is knit. The crown repeats one idea with fewer stitches each time.

If you want a beginner hat knitting pattern that teaches knitting a hat in the round, start here. The pattern is free for personal use. Print it, save it, or follow it in Row & Round.

Sizes and how to choose

There are three sizes: Child, Adult S/M and Adult L. Measure around the head, then pick the size whose head range holds your number. The finished hat is a little smaller than the head it fits, so it sits snug.

The hat is about 9½ in (24 cm) tall before folding. Fold the brim up 2 in (5 cm), or deeper for a child.

• Child: finished circumference 16 in (40.5 cm), to fit a head of about 17–19 in (43–48 cm).
• Adult S/M: finished circumference 19¼ in (49 cm), to fit a head of about 20–22 in (51–56 cm).
• Adult L: finished circumference 22½ in (57 cm), to fit a head of about 22–24 in (56–61 cm).

Materials for the 2x2 rib beanie

This 2x2 rib beanie takes one hat's worth of worsted-weight yarn: about 185 yds (169 m) for Child, 225 yds (206 m) for Adult S/M and 260 yds (238 m) for Adult L.

• Yarn: worsted-weight (#4) wool or wool blend, about 185 [225, 260] yds (169 [206, 238] m).
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in (40 cm) circular needle, and a set of US 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles or a long circular for magic loop when the crown gets small.
• Notions: 1 stitch marker for the start of the round (optional: 9 [11, 13] more to mark the crown sections), tapestry needle.

Gauge, and why it matters for a hat

20 sts and 28 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette (knit every round). Check your gauge: the fit depends on it.

A hat is a tube, so your stitch count sets the circumference. Fewer stitches to the inch and the hat comes out bigger. More stitches to the inch and it comes out smaller. Knit a small swatch, measure it over 4 in (10 cm), and count before you cast on.

Abbreviations

Everything in this pattern is knit, purl or k2tog.

• k: knit
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit 2 together (1 st decreased)
• rep: repeat
• st(s): stitch(es)
• *: repeat the instructions after the * as directed
• [ ]: numbers for the larger sizes

The free beanie knitting pattern: cast on, brim and body

Numbers are for Child first, with Adult S/M and Adult L in brackets. For example, 80 [96, 112] means 80 for Child, 96 for Adult S/M and 112 for Adult L. Where only one number is given, it is for all sizes. The round numbers are the same in every size; only the stitch counts change.

The brim is the ribbed part. Knit two, purl two, all the way round, for 28 rounds. Then you knit every round of the body.

• Cast on 80 [96, 112] sts loosely. Place a marker and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches.
• Brim, Rounds 1–28: *K2, p2; rep from * around.
• Body, Rounds 29–56: Knit.

The crown rounds, with stitch counts

From Round 57 you decrease. The stitch count after each decrease round is in brackets, so you can check as you go. If you like, use the optional markers to mark the crown sections.

• Round 57: *K6, k2tog; rep from * around. (70 [84, 98] sts)
• Round 58: Knit.
• Round 59: *K5, k2tog; rep from * around. (60 [72, 84] sts)
• Round 60: Knit.
• Round 61: *K4, k2tog; rep from * around. (50 [60, 70] sts)
• Round 62: Knit.
• Round 63: *K3, k2tog; rep from * around. (40 [48, 56] sts)
• Round 64: Knit.
• Round 65: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around. (30 [36, 42] sts)
• Round 66: *K1, k2tog; rep from * around. (20 [24, 28] sts)
• Round 67: *K2tog; rep from * around. (10 [12, 14] sts)

Finishing

Close the top, tuck in the ends and fold the brim.

• Cut the yarn, leaving an 8 in (20 cm) tail. Thread it through the remaining 10 [12, 14] sts, pull tight and fasten off on the inside.
• Weave in the ends. Fold the brim up to the outside.

Double-pointed needles, magic loop and tips

Switch to double-pointed needles or magic loop when the stitches no longer reach around the circular needle. The 16 in (40 cm) circular carries the brim and body. You will want the other needles as the crown gets small.

For magic loop, use a long US 7 (4.5 mm) circular. Either way, keep the start-of-round marker where it is.

• Cast on loosely.
• Check the stitches are not twisted before you join.
• Check your count against the brackets after every decrease round.
• Circle the numbers for your size before you start.

Following it in Row & Round

This pattern is 67 rounds. In Row & Round, open the PDF and a highlighter bar sits on the round you are working. Tap +1 and the count and the bar move together. Undo is one tap away, and your place is saved on every tap.

The round numbers are the same in every size, so the same count works whichever size you make. Only the stitch counts change. You can also set an alert on a round you tend to lose, such as the first crown round.