Beanie for him—chunky double-layered warmth for cold weather
The Kaiku men's beanie is knitted entirely in double knitting, ensuring it's truly warm. The beanie begins with a tubular cast-on for a snug and beautiful finish. Our step-by-step photos and technique video will help you get started!
Sizes: 1 (2, 3). Fits head circumferences of approximately 56 (58, 60) cm. The beanie should be about 5 cm tighter than the head circumference. The sample beanie is size 2.
Finished measurements: Beanie circumference: 51 (53, 55) cm after blocking. Total length: 27 (28, 29) cm. Length with brim folded up: 22 cm. You can adjust the beanie's length.
Materials for the Kaiku beanie:
- Novita Wonder Wool yarn (100% wool, 50 g = 112 m). You'll need 3 (3, 3) skeins or 269 (309, 336) m of other DK weight yarn.
- Needles: 3 mm (US 2.5) circular needle (40 cm length or longer for magic loop), optional 3 mm (US 2.5) double-pointed needles. Choose the needle size you need to obtain the correct gauge.
- Tapestry needle, scissors, scrap yarn for the cast-on.
Gauge: 38 sts and 32 rnds = 10 × 10 cm in double knitting.
Abbreviations:
- BOR: beginning of round
- k: knit, knit stitch
- k3tog: knit 3 stitches together (right-leaning decrease, decreases 2 stitches)
- M: marker
- p: purl, purl stitch
- PM: place marker
- rep: repeat
- rnd: round
- RS: right side
- sl1p: slip 1 stitch purlwise
- SM: slip marker (from one needle to the other)
- St st: stockinette stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- WS: wrong side
- wyib: with yarn in back
- wyif: with yarn in front
Instructions for the men's beanie:
Preparation and cast-on
Cast on 180 (200, 220) sts using the tubular cast-on method (or your preferred method). The tubular cast-on creates a neat edge for the beanie.
Using scrap yarn, cast on half the required number of stitches: 90 (100, 110) sts. K about 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 below for instructions.
Join the sts to work in the round, PM to indicate BOR. Start the double knitting:
Next rnd (RS): *k1, sl1p wyif*, rep *–* to end of rnd.
Beanie body
Rnd 1: *sl1p wyib, p1*, rep *–* to end of rnd.
Rnd 2: *K1, sl1p wyif*, rep *–* to end of rnd.
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until the beanie measures about 23 cm. End with Rnd 1.
Decreases
Preparation rnd: *(sl1p wyib, p1) x 18 (20, 22), PM*, rep *–* to end of rnd (the last M is the BOR marker already in place).
Decrease rnd 1: *(K1, sl1p wyif) x 16 (18, 20), k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Rnd 2: *sl1p wyib, p1*, rep *–* to end of rnd.
Rnd 3: *K1, sl1p wyif*, rep *–* to end of rnd.
Repeat Rnds 2 and 3 two more times. Then knit Rnd 2 once.
Decrease rnd 2: *(K1, sl1p wyif) x 15 (17, 19), k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Repeat Rnds 2 and 3 two more times. Then knit Rnd 2 once.
Decrease rnd 3: *(K1, sl1p wyif) x 14 (16, 18), k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Repeat Rnds 2 and 3 once. Then knit Rnd 2 once.
Decrease rnd 4: *(K1, sl1p wyif) x 13 (15, 17), k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Repeat Rnds 2 and 3 once. Then knit Rnd 2 once.
Decrease rnd 5: *(K1, sl1p wyif) x 12 (14, 16), k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Repeat Rnd 2.
Decrease rnd 6: *(K1, sl1p wyif) 4 sts before M, k3tog, sl1p wyif, SM*, rep *–* to end of rnd. (10 sts decreased)
Repeat Rnd 2.
Continue repeating Decrease rnd 6, knitting only one plain round between decreases until 20 sts remain. Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches, pulling it tight.
Finishing
Weave in the yarn ends, soak the beanie, and block it to shape. You can use a balloon to help with blocking.
