Kaiku Beanie - free knitting pattern
(This beanie was originally designed in collaboration with Novita and Kotona.com)
Knitted fully in double knitting for extra warmth, this beanie starts with a tubular cast-on. Includes photo tutorial and technique video for easy help!
SIZING: 1 (2, 3). To fit head circumference: / 56 (58, 60) cm. Recommended negative ease approx.: 2” / 5 cm. Shown in size 2.
Finished measurements:
A: Hat Circumference: 20 (21, 21.75)” / 51 (53, 55) cm gently blocked
B: Hat total length 11” / 28 cm. Length when brim folded approx. 9” / 22 cm. You can modify the hat length with brim length.
MATERIALS:
Yarn: Novita Wonder Wool (100% wool; 50 g / 123 yds / 112 m / skein). You need: 3 (3, 3) skeins or 295 (339, 369) yds / 269 (309, 336) m of dk-weight yarn to get the gauge. Sample color 113 (sielu, light blue).
Needles: US 2.5 / 3 mm 16” / 40 cm circular needle. Adjust the needle size to get the correct gauge.
Notions: Tapestry needle.
GAUGE: 38 sts and 32 rows = 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm in double knitting
ABBREVIATIONS & techniques:
- approx.: approximately
- BO: bind off
- BOR: Beginning of a round/row
- bef: before
- CO: cast on
- k: knit
- k2tog: knit two sts together (right-leaning single decrease)
- LH needle: left hand needle
- PM: place marker
- p: purl
- patt: pattern
- rep: repeat
- rnd: round
- RS: right side
- sl: slip stitch from left needle to right needle
- SM: slip marker
- ssk: slip, slip, knit; slip one st as if to knit, slip second stitch as if to knit, place the sts back to the left-hand needle in their new orientation and knit them together through the back loops (left-leaning single decrease)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- St st: Stockinette stitch; knit on RS, purl on WS
- tbl: through the back loop
- WS: wrong side
INSTRUCTIONS
CO and set-up
CO 180 (200, 220) sts using tubular CO method (or a preferred method). Join to work in rnds. PM to indicate BOR.
Full tutorial for tubular CO can be found here:
You can also follow the photo tutorial:
Using scrap yarn, cast on half the required number of stitches: 90 (100, 110) sts. K approx. 4 rows in St st with the scrap yarn. Join the main yarn on the WS and k 4 rows in St st (the yarn ends at the end of the RS row).
Turn the work with the WS facing you. P1, pick up the lower edge of the first purl st from 4 rows below with the main yarn and place it on the left needle, knit this st.
Repeat until you have the cast-on number of 180 (200, 220) sts on the needle. Watch the video above for instructions.
Next rnd (RS): *K1, sl1 pwise wyif*, rep *–* to end.
Continue with the beanie pattern, and later, once you've knitted a bit further, you can cut off the scrap yarn (photo below).
BODY of the HAT
Rnd 1: *Sl1 pwise wyib, p1*, rep *–* to end.
Rnd 2: *K1, sl1 pwise wyif*, rep *–* to end.
Repeat the two rows above until the hat measures approx. 9” / 23 cm. End with rnd 1.
CROWN SHAPING
Set-Up Rnd: *(Sl1 pwise wyib, p1) x 18 (20, 22), PM*, rep *-* to end (the last M is BOR that you already have).
Crown decrease rnd 1: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) x 16 (18, 20), k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Rnd 2: *Sl1 pwise wyib, p1*, rep *–* to end.
Rnd 3: *K1, sl1 pwise wyif*, rep *–* to end.
Rep rnds 2 & 3 above 2 more times. Then work rnd 2 one more time.
Crown decrease rnd 2: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) x 15 (17, 19), k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Rep rnds 2 & 3 above 2 more times. Then work rnd 2 one more time.
Crown decrease rnd 3: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) x 14 (16, 18), k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Rep rnds 2 & 3 above one more time. Then work rnd 2 one more time.
Crown decrease rnd 4: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) x 13 (15, 17), k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Rep rnds 2 & 3 above one more time. Then work rnd 2 one more time.
Crown decrease rnd 5: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) x 12 (14, 16), k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Rep rnd 2.
Crown decrease rnd 6: *(K1, sl1 pwise wyif) to 4 sts bef M, k3tog, sl1 pwise wyif, SM*, rep *-* to end. (10 sts decreased)
Cut yarn, and pull it through the remaining sts, pull tight.
Finishing:
Weave in all yarn ends, wet blocking the hat is recommended. Make a pompom if preferred, sew it on.