London Beanie

London Beanie

Background: There is a current craze on in London to wear cool, rather simple, tight-fitting, knitted beanies. I think they were popularised most by football player David Beckham, who always seems to be wearing one, and this trend was quickly copied. There were two London newspaper articles (sorry, can’t remember which papers) touting the beanies and their popularity, and the beanies are currently selling anywhere from £10 - £20 in the shops and markets, and those are mostly machine made. The handmade ones are going for even more. I devised this pattern to make what I have now termed the “London Beanie.” It sounds so sophisticated; really, it’s just a tight-fitting cap in the round. This pattern has been tried and tested with teenaged nephews—they love ‘em.

Materials:

- 1 skein worsted (Aran weight) wool, main colour (MC) [FYI: I used Rowan Magpie MC Brown, CC1 Cream, CC2 Rust]

- Odds and ends worsted weight wool for a couple stripes-Contrasting Colours 1 & 2 (CC1, CC2)

- Circular needle, 4.5 mm (U.S. 7)

- 4 dpn’s, 4.5 mm (U.S. 7)

- Marker or loop of yarn

- Darning needle for sewing in ends

Gauge: 20sts and 28 rows = 4 inches on 4.5 mm circular needle

Read: If you’re concerned about “colour jogs” (an uneven spot where colours join), please see Sarah Bradberry’s helpful link at http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/jogless.htm (Thanks, Sarah!)

Method:

1.) Cast on 72 stitches onto circular needle. (Note: If you know how to do a Cable Cast On [found in most books or mags] the bottom looks much nicer!)

2.) Being careful not to twist stitches, place marker, join knitting and work K2, P1 ribbing for 10 rounds.

3.) Round 11: *k9, inc 1, repeat from * (Total stitches on circular needle should now be 80)

4.) Knit 10 rounds of MC.

5.) Knit 2 rounds CC1.

6.) Knit 2 rounds MC.

7.) Knit 2 rounds CC2.

8.) Knit 2 rounds MC

9.) Knit 2 rounds CC1

10.) Knit 10 rounds MC.

11.) Decrease Round 1: *k7, k2tog, rep from *

12.) Decrease Round 2: *k6, k2 tog, rep from *

13.) Decrease Round 3: *k5, k2 tog, rep from *

14.) NOTE: At this point, the reduced number of stitches may make working on the circular needle difficult. Transfer stitches to the dpn’s and carry on as though you were still working with the circular needle.

15.) Decrease Round 4: *k4, k2 tog, rep from *

16.) Decrease Round 5: *k3, k2 tog, rep from *

17.) Decrease Round 6: K2tog all the way around.

18.) Knit one row even.

19.) Leaving tail, cut yarn and thread through darning needle. Run needle and yarn through all remaining stitches (don’t miss any!) and pull tight. Run needle through the “donut hole” at the top so that it’s inside of beanie. Darn in all ends.Have fun!

This pattern devised by Mark Thrailkill, London, 2002. Feel free to distribute it, copy it, profit from it, learn from it, discard it, and/or share it. Pah! on copyrights that keep loved ones warm!