Nice and Easy Beanie Pattern
This simple hat pattern is a great knit gift for beginners to make!
The Nice and Easy Beanie is a great staple for your cold-weather wardrobe. Slip this easy-fit, neutral cable knit beanie on with any outfit and brave the elements while still looking stylish. This is an easy knitting pattern made with smooth and comfy yarn. Before you know it, you will have a wonderful knit hat you'll want to wear again and again.
This knitted beanie has a relaxed look and feel. You will find yourself reaching for it every time you walk out the door this fall or winter.
This hat is also great for beginners who want to make the transition from knitting their first hat with a simple pull-string top to a pattern that has shaping and other more advanced techniques. Give this pattern a try and tell us what you think in the comments below. It's a fairly simple pattern to work, so it's great for those last-minute Christmas presents.
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Notes and Materials
Difficulty: Easy
Knitting Needle Size: 8 or 5 mm
Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
Gauge: 17 sts = 4” (10 cm); 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Broken Rib pattern.
*CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
Finished Size: Hat measures 20” (51 cm) circumference.
Materials List:
RED HEART® Soft®: 1 ball 9440 Light Grey Heather
Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 5mm [US 8]
Note: Beanie is worked back and forth in rows beginning at the lower edge. Side edges are sewn together to form back seam.
Abbreviations
cm: centimeters
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 sts together
mm: millimeters
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2 sts together
st(s): stitch(es)
tog: together
* or **: repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated
Pattern Stitches
1x1 Rib (over even number of sts)
Row 1 (Right Side): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: Knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts as they appear to end of row.
Repeat Row 2 for 1x1 Rib.
Broken Rib (over even number of sts)
Row 1 (Right Side): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for Broken Rib.
Beanie
Cast on 86 sts.
Lower Ribbing
Work in 1x1 Rib until piece measures about 1” (2.5 cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.
Body
Work in Broken Rib until piece measures about 8” (20.5 cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.
Shape Crown
Decrease Row 1 (Right Side): *K1, p1, k1, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, p2tog; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2tog – 61 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Decrease Row 3: *K1, p1, k2tog, p2tog; repeat from * to last st, k1 – 41 sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Decrease Row 5: *K2tog, p2tog; repeat from * to last st, k1 – 21 sts.
Rows 6 and 7: Repeat Rows 4 and 5 – 11 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches and remove stitches from needle. Pull to gather and close top opening. Sew side edges together for back seam.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
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Hippie Chick
Feb 22, 2018
This knitted beanie hat has a very casual, weekend hiking kind of look to it. It looks like a perfect hat to wear with casual outfits or for a day of hiking or biking. It takes very few materials to make this hat and it uses very basic stitches so that makes it a good starter project for a beginner.
Genevieve
Dec 06, 2017
Can I use 10 1/2 size needles for this project? Also my head is 22" circumference so does the pattern need to change for that?
Lisa
Dec 10, 2017
No, you won't be able to go up that many needle sizes and expect it to turn out correctly. This is a rib pattern so it will have a decent amount of stretch to it, so using the 5mm needles you won't have to change the size to accommodate a slightly larger circumference.
Tricia108
Sep 26, 2017
I am always collecting hat patterns since I do a lot of knitting for charity. Hats are always needed. Thanks to the other for the notes. I prefer knitting in the round as well. This will be a quick hat to knit up and I can figure out how to make it smaller and larger if need be. Thank you.
suedownton 8329682
Jul 19, 2020
Hi Tricia I'm new to knitting and wondered if you could help advise me how many stitches I should use if I want to make this pattern bigger for a mans size? Many thanks Sue
achumley0003 31706 34
Aug 18, 2017
This hat is a perfect cold weather accessory. It can be worked up in every color to match any outfit and because it is a hat it is also a fast project, which I love because I am very impatient. The pattern stitch is also perfect for both genders so with some math you could make a set for your whole family.
maxvec
Jul 14, 2017
Hello...have not knitted in a while now but, suddenly have an itch to knit a hat...this one is very pleasant on the eyes (and brain)....shall start it today ) Thank you for posting this....
janetwtsn 7425683
Jan 08, 2017
What a wonderful site. I haven't knitted for years but I think I am going to get out my knitting needles and get started again. I have two new great granddaughters and I would love to knit them some sweet little dresses. I would love some more videos showing the baby dresses.
Susan S
Jan 06, 2017
Great basic beanie pattern, great for charity knitting. I can see myself making a few in different colors to give away as gifts, too.
Judy C
Dec 06, 2016
So easy and stylish too. I'm going to make several of these for myself and for quick gifts. Definitely going in my save file.
susie 5121509
Dec 05, 2016
Can I knit this on circulars?
paver2
Dec 08, 2016
I don't see why you couldn't. You could knit back and forth then sew the seam or you could join and knit in rounds. If I were you, I would rewrite the pattern before starting in rounds to keep from getting confused. It's pretty simple so it shouldn't take any adjustment as long as you keep track of rows or rounds on the decrease portion.
Lisa
Oct 27, 2023
I've done it both flat and with circulars. Knitting it in the round I found I had to add 4 stitches otherwise it was too tight. You do have to amend the pattern to knit the round. I also found it was quite sloppy and did not stand up as well to show off the slouchy affect without the seam, so it does somewhat come down to personal preference.
angelahardman 3186 636
Nov 25, 2016
So easy to knit and so warm to wear . knitted this in an afternoon.
Princess Carolyn
Sep 30, 2016
This is super cute! I'd love to wear this during the fall and winter to keep warm (and stylish).
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