Simple Checkered Beanie

Hello everyone! Sometimes, a nice and quick project is all you need to make a cute present for this season's celebrations. So a pattern that only has knit and purl stitches, and could be finished within a few hours is the perfect project! This is a very easy to make beanie hat that features a simple but detectable checkered pattern, even though its knit from a single colored yarn. What I did -which was new for me in this hat- is the decreasing rows; they don't consist of lines that start after the general pattern and end up meeting at the center top. Instead, they are rounds that get smaller as you reach the top. I hope you have fun making this hat!

Skill level: Intermediate

GET printable PDF for this pattern here.

Materials:

• Yarn: NAKO Elit Baby, 100% premium anti-pilling acrylic, 3.5 oz. (100 g), 273 yards (250 m), in the following colors: Lavender 10625 (1 skein) and White 208 (1 skein).
• Circular knitting needles, 16" (40 cm) long, size US 6 (4 mm) and US 8 (5 mm).
• Double pointed needles (DPNs) set, size US 6 (4 mm).
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch marker.

Sizes and measurements: 

• Size S: head circumference = 20" (53 cm), height = 8" (20 cm).
• Size M: head circumference = 22" (56 cm), height = 8" (20 cm).
• Size L: head circumference = 24" (61 cm), height = 8.5" (22 cm).

Gauge: 20 sts and 25 rounds = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Yardage: 

• Size S: 198 - 200 yards (180 - 182 m), approx.
• Size M: 208 - 210 yards (190 - 192 m), approx. 
• Size L: 218 - 220 yards (200 - 202 m), approx.

 

Knitting Terms:

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• k2tog: knit two stitches together.

Instructions:

With lavender yarn and size 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needles, cast on 96 (108, 120) sts. Join in the round. Don't know how to join in the round? here is a short tutorial on how to do it (from 0:26 - 1:15 min): 

 

Put a ring stitch marker at the beginning of rounds, knit one round, then work as follows:

Ribs round: k 1, p 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the ribs round 12 times. Switch to size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needles, then work as follows:

Round 1: k all sts.

Round 2: p all sts.

Round 3: k all sts.

Round 4: p 6, k 6, repeat to end.

Round 5: k all sts.

Repeat rounds 4 and 5 two more times.

Round 6: p all sts.

Round 7: k all sts.

Round 8: k 6, p 6, repeat to end.

Round 9: k all sts.

Repeat rounds 8 and 9 two more times.

Round 10: p all sts.

Round 11: k all sts.

Round 12: p 6, k 6, repeat to end.

Round 13: k all sts.

Repeat rounds 12 and 13 two more times.

Size S: start decreasing rounds.

Sizes M and L: keep working the pattern.

Round 14: p all sts.

Round 15: k all sts.

Round 16: k 6, p 6, repeat to end.

Round 17: k all sts.

Repeat rounds 16 and 17 two more times.  

Decreasing Rounds: 

Round 1: p all sts.

Round 2: k 14 (16, 18), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 3: p all sts.

Round 4: k 6 (7, 8), k2tog, *k 13 (15, 17), k2tog, repeat from * to last 7 (8, 9) sts, k to end. 84 (96, 108) sts

Round 5: p all sts.

Round 6: k 12 (14, 16), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 7: p all sts.

Round 8: k 5 (6, 7), k2tog, *k 11 (13, 15), k2tog, repeat from * to last 6 (7, 8) sts, k to end. 72 (84, 96) sts

Round 9: p all sts.

Round 10: k 10 (12, 14), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 11: p all sts.

Round 12: k 4 (5, 6), k2tog, *k 9 (11, 13), k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 (6, 7) sts, k to end. 60 (72, 84) sts

Change to DPNs.

Round 13: p all sts.

Round 14: k 8 (10, 12), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 15: p all sts.

Round 16: k 3 (4, 5), k2tog, *k 7 (9, 11), k2tog, repeat from * to last 4 (5, 6) sts, k to end. 48 (60, 72) sts

Round 17: p all sts.

Round 18: k 6 (8, 10), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 19: p all sts.

Round 20: k 2 (3, 4), k2tog, *k 5 (7, 9), k2tog, repeat from * to last 3 (4, 5) sts, k to end. 36 (48, 60) sts

Round 21: p all sts.

Round 22: k 4 (6, 8), k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 23: p all sts.

Round 24: k 1 (2, 3), k2tog, *k 3 (5, 7), k2tog, repeat from * to last 2 (3, 4) sts, k to end. 24 (36, 48) sts

Size S:

Last round: k2tog to end. (12 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends. 

Size M:

Round 25: p all sts.

Round 26: k 4, k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 27: p all sts.

Round 28: k 1, k2tog, *k 3, k2tog, repeat from * to last 2 sts, k to end. (24 sts)

Last round: k2tog to end. (12 sts)

Cut yarn leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends.

Size L: 

Round 25: p all sts.

Round 26: k 6, k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 27: p all sts.

Round 28: k 2, k2tog, *k 5, k2tog, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k to end. (36 sts)

Round 29: p all sts.

Round 30: k 4, k2tog, repeat to end.

Round 31: p all sts.

Round 32: k 1, k2tog, *k 3, k2tog, repeat from * to last 2 sts, k to end. (24 sts)

Last round: k2tog to end. (12 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends.

Make a 2.5" (6 cm) diameter pompom using lavender and white yarn and fix it tight on top.

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.