BEANIES FOR THE BRAVE (click here to download .PDF)

By Kathy Lang
In designing this beanie, I tried to imagine the best case scenario for wearing it under a helmet. I figured (with the help of my husband), it should be something very close fitting, fairly short that wouldn’t interfere with the eyes or ears. The colors I chose are earth tones and fairly understated. I added the stripes because my husband kindly suggested this would help the soldiers to identify them. An added plus…..since the crown of the hat is worked in sections of 8, it folds up very nicely and lays flat.
This beanie can be worked circular from the top down or the bottom up. It can also be worked flat and then seamed. I have given instructions for all 3 *see the suggestion at end of pattern. If you are new to DPNs, but want to knit in the round, I suggest you follow the instructions “knitting hat from the bottom up“.
The crown of the hat lies flat. It is worked by increasing evenly 8x’s around every other row. The body of the hat is stockinet and I have added stripes which you may omit. It is short, only about 3-3.5 inches long and then the ribbing is a 1 x1 twisted rib for about 3 rows. A very quick knit!
Materials: Worsted Weight acrylic or acrylic/wool blend. Can be a washable wool. I used Woolease by Lion Brand. Crochet hook about the same size as needles or a little smaller and a darning needle
Needles: 5 double pt. Size 7, and 1 - 16” circular size 7 for knitting in the round. For knitting flat, 2 straight needles size 7 may be used in place of DPN’s and/or 16” circular.
Gauge: 19 sts. And 24 rows = 4 inches
The goal is to come up with a hat about 21 - 22 inches around and approximately 7.5-8 inches from top of crown to bottom of hat. I’ve given specific dimensions of hat to offer flexibility in choice of yarn weight ie: sport or bulky weight rather than the worsted weight which I chose. Just be sure to cast on (if working from the bottom up, a number of sts. Divisible by 8. Add 1 for seaming if working flat.). One of the advantages of knitting from top down, is that you can try it on as you go and adjust stitches accordingly, which is how I designed the beanie 
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1×1 twisted ribbing in the round:
K1tbl (knit 1 through the back loop), purl 1 around.
1×1 twisted ribbing for hat knit flat:
Row 1: k1, (p1, k1tbl) around ….ending with k1.
Row 2: p1, k1tbl around …. End p1.
Stripe pattern for knitting in the round:
Row 1: Add stripe color yarn at beginning of round without breaking the main color yarn. Let it hang at back of work. Knit around
Row 2: slip 1st st., knit around
Row 3: knit around
Row 4: Add main color, twisting around stripe color yarn. Drop stripe color yarn and let hang at back of work. Knit around .
Row 5: same as for row 2
Row 6-8: repeat rows 1-3.
*If knitting from the bottom up: at this point, work row 4 and 5 again and then continue to work stockinet (knitting every round) for 1.5 more inches or until length of hat from cast on edge is 3.5 - 4 inches.
*If knitting from the top down: at this point, work row 4 and 5 again and then continue in stockinet (knitting every round) for 2 more rows, before knitting the ribbing band.
Stripe pattern for knitting flat:
Row 1: Add new “stripe” color yarn, breaking main color yarn and leaving 6 “ tail to weave in later. Knit to end
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: add main color yarn, dropping stripe color yarn without breaking to back of work, purl to end
Row 5: knit
Row 6-8: Break main color yarn. Carry stripe color yarn up side and twisting with main color yarn, repeat rows 1-3 again.
Row 11: repeat row 4 and continue working in stockinet for about 1.5 more inches or until length of hat from cast on edge is approximately 3.5 - 4 inches.
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Knitting Hat From The Bottom Up
To begin:
With the circular needle, cast on 104 sts. Loosely, preferably using a ribbing friendly/stretchy cast on. Join in the round without twisting. Place marker for beginning of round.
Begin knitting the 1×1 twisted rib (or other preferred ribbing) for about 4 rows.
Continue knitting every round for 3 rows. (stockinet)
At this point you may add stripes or continue knitting around for about 3 more inches or until length of hat from cast on edge is approx. 3.5 - 4 inches.
Begin decreasing for the crown:
Row 1: (Knit 11 sts. K2tog.) 8xs.
Row 2 and all even numbered rows: Knit around
Row 3 (Knit 10 sts. K2tog.) 8xs.
Row 5: (Knit 9 sts. K2tog.) 8xs.
Continue in this manner decreasing 8 sts. Every other row until you have only 8 sts. Left on the needle. Cut yarn leaving about an 8 in. tail, thread onto darning needle and run through remaining sts. Pull tight. Weave in ends.
Knitting Hat From the Top Down
To begin:
Cast on 8 sts and place on 3 DPNs. Join in the round without twisting.
(My preferred cast on is Emily Ocker’s Beginning (small circular cast on with crochet hook, shown on pp 112-113 of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop)
Row 1: Knit around
Row 2: kfb (Knit into the front and back of stitch) 8xs.
Row 3 and all odd numbered rows: knit around
Row 4: (K1, Kfb) 8xs
Row 6: (k2, kfb) 8xs
Row 8: (k3, kfb) 8xs
Row 10: (k4, kfb) 8xs
Continue in this manner, switching to 16” needle when you have enough sts. To knit comfortably around, until you have 104 stitches on your needle which will be at the end of row 24 . Continue to knit around for about 1.5 inches (stockinet st.)
You may add stripe pattern at this point, or continue in stockinet for about 1.5 inches.
Begin ribbing in the round for 4 rows.
Bind off loosely (not too loosely) in pattern.
Weave in ends.
Knitting Hat Flat
To begin:
Cast on 105 sts. Leaving a long tail for seaming the cap later
Row 1- 3: Work ribbing for “hat worked flat“.
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Purl
Row 6: You can either continue in stockinet for 3 inches or until length of hat from cast on edge is 3.5 - 4 inches, or begin striping pattern for knitting hat flat. End with a wrong side row.
Begin Decreasing for the crown:
Row 1: (k11, k2tog) 8xs, K1
Row 2 and all even numbered rows: Purl
Row 3: (k10, k2tog) 8xs, K1
Row 5: (k9, k2tog) 8xs, K1
Continue in this manner, decreasing 8 sts. Every right side row, until you have 8 sts. On the needle.
Next Row: K2tog 4x’s…..4 sts left on the needle.
Break yarn leaving about a 8 in. tail. Thread tail onto the darning needle and run through remaining 4 sts. Pull tightly.
Thread Cast on edge tail of yarn through darning needle and seam cap, using the mattress stitch . Weave in tails.
If you have any questions at all or find any problems/mistakes in the pattern, please email me at kathelang@sbcglobal.net. Of course any suggestions to improve are welcome also!
One suggestion…..once you have decided “how” you are going to knit your hat…Highlight all of these instructions only, to lessen confusion and chances of making a mistake when cross referencing to pattern while you’re knitting your hat! I wish you great success!

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