How to Knit a Baggy Beanie

Careful measuring of your knit swatch will ensure a good fit.

Knit hats may look complicated, but even a novice knitter can create a fun, baggy beanie hat. Making your own hat is a great way to guarantee that no one else will be sporting the same look. Slouchy beanie hats can be worn all year round and are a fun addition to any wardrobe. Simple to knit, these hats also make fantastic gifts for family and friends.

Things You'll Need

• 1 skein worsted weight yarn
• Circular needle, U.S. 7, 16-inches long
• Set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles, U.S. 7
• Measuring tape
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Instructions

1. Knit a swatch and measure to check that your knitting matches the pattern gauge of 20 stitches (st) and 28 rows = 4 inches on a U.S. 7 circular needle.

2. Cast 70 stitches onto a circular needle. Being careful not to twist stitches, place a marker, join knitting and work knit (k) 1, purl (p) 1 ribbing for 10 rounds.

3. Increase your stitches on Round 11: *k 7, make 1 (m 1), place marker (pm), repeat from * for 80 total stitches. Knit every round until piece measures 8 to 9 inches, depending on the amount of slouch desired. Try on the hat to see how much bagginess is needed.

4. Knit the crown of your hat:
   Decrease Round 1: *k6, knit 2 stitches together (k2tog), rep from *
   Decrease Round 2: *k5, k2 tog, rep from *
   Decrease Round 3: *k4, k2 tog, rep from *
   Decrease Round 4: *k3, k2 tog, rep from *
   You may need to switch to the double-pointed needles at this point, as the decreasing size of the hat makes it difficult to keep working on the circular needle. Simply knit the stitches, in the decrease pattern established, onto the circular needles, leaving one needle with no stitches. This is your working needle. Continue to knit just as you did on the circular needle, being sure to knit tightly so that there are no gaps in your stitches between the needles.
   Decrease Round 5: *k2, k2 tog, rep from *
   Decrease Round 6: *k1, k2 tog, rep from *
   Decrease Round 7: k2tog all the way around

5. Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and thread through your yarn needle. Insert needle knitwise through each stitch on the needle and bring the needle to the inside of the hat. Pull to close the hole at the top of the hat. Weave in all ends.

Tips & Warnings

• If you desire a hat with a large amount of slouch to it, you may consider increasing another 10 stitches around the circumference of the hat, once the hat is about 2 inches tall.

• For additional slouchiness, consider changing to a larger size needle at the increase rounds. You will need double-pointed needles in the same size as your circular needle to keep the stitch size consistent at the top of the hat.

References

• Knitting Help