Slouchy Beanie Pattern for Beginners
A beginner-friendly slouchy beanie knit in the round in worsted-weight yarn, with a snug 2x2 ribbed brim, a longer stockinette body and a fully counted crown in two sizes.
Tutorial at a glance
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn with good drape
- US 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular needle
- US 8 (5 mm) 16-inch circular needle
- US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles
- 8 stitch markers
- Tape measure
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
A slouchy beanie is a regular beanie with extra length. The brim grips the head exactly as a fitted hat does, and the additional fabric in the body relaxes toward the back instead of sitting tight against the crown. That means this slouchy beanie pattern asks for no new skills: the same stitches, more rounds, and a yarn chosen for drape.
Where the slouch comes from
Two measurements decide how a hat sits. Circumference controls grip, and height controls shape. A fitted adult beanie is usually about 8 to 8.5 in (20 to 21.5 cm) tall from edge to tip. Adding 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) of body gives the fabric somewhere to go, and it folds softly at the back of the head. The guide to beanie styles compares this shape with fitted, cuffed and watch-cap hats.
The brim does the real work. If it is loose, a slouchy hat slides down over the eyebrows, so the ribbing here is knit on a needle two sizes smaller than the body and kept a full 2 in (5 cm) deep.
What you need
- Yarn: worsted weight (4), about 175 (190) yd (160 (174) m). Yardage is an estimate; buy a little extra.
- Needles: US 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular for the brim; US 8 (5 mm) 16-inch circular and a set of US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the body and crown.
- Notions: 8 stitch markers, one of them a different color; tape measure; tapestry needle; scissors.
Tip
Pick a yarn that hangs rather than stands up. Superwash merino, or wool blended with alpaca or silk, drapes well. A stiff, tightly spun yarn makes a slouchy hat sit like a cone. The guide to the best yarn for knitted hats compares the options.
Gauge and finished size
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette on the US 8 (5 mm) needle, or 4.5 stitches per inch. Check it with a gauge swatch before casting on, and change needle size if your count differs.
| Size M | Size L | |
|---|---|---|
| Cast on | 88 sts | 96 sts |
| Finished circumference | 19.5 in (49.5 cm) | 21.25 in (54 cm) |
| Typical head it fits | 21-22.5 in (53.5-57 cm) | 23-24 in (58.5-61 cm) |
| Finished height | about 11 in (28 cm) | about 11.25 in (28.5 cm) |
The head measurements are typical ranges. Measure the wearer around the widest part of the head and choose the size with 1.5 to 3 in (4 to 7.5 cm) less than that number. Instructions are written as M (L).
Abbreviations
CO: cast on. k: knit. p: purl. k2tog: knit 2 stitches together. st/sts: stitch/stitches. rnd: round. pm: place marker. BOR: beginning of round. The full standard list is kept by the Craft Yarn Council.
The pattern
Brim
- With the US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, CO 88 (96) sts with a stretchy cast-on.
- Pm for BOR and join to work in the round, making sure the cast-on edge hangs below the needle all the way around. See joining in the round if this step is new.
- Rib rnd: (K2, p2) to the end. Repeat until the brim measures 2 in (5 cm).
Body
- Change to the US 8 (5 mm) circular needle.
- Knit every rnd until the piece measures 8.5 in (21.5 cm) from the cast-on edge. That is 6.5 in (16.5 cm) of stockinette, or about 39 rnds at this gauge.
- On the last rnd, place a marker after every 11 (12) sts. The BOR marker serves as the eighth.
Crown
Each of the 8 sections loses one stitch per decrease rnd. Move to DPNs when the circular needle becomes too long for the stitches.
- Size L only: (K10, k2tog) 8 times — 88 sts. Knit 1 rnd.
- Both sizes, rnd 1: (K9, k2tog) 8 times — 80 sts.
- Rnd 2 and every even rnd through rnd 10: knit.
- Rnd 3: (K8, k2tog) 8 times — 72 sts.
- Rnd 5: (K7, k2tog) 8 times — 64 sts.
- Rnd 7: (K6, k2tog) 8 times — 56 sts.
- Rnd 9: (K5, k2tog) 8 times — 48 sts.
- Rnd 11: (K4, k2tog) 8 times — 40 sts.
- Rnd 12: (K3, k2tog) 8 times — 32 sts.
- Rnd 13: (K2, k2tog) 8 times — 24 sts.
- Rnd 14: (K1, k2tog) 8 times — 16 sts.
- Rnd 15: K2tog 8 times — 8 sts.
The crown takes 15 (17) rnds and adds roughly 2.5 (2.75) in (6.5 (7) cm).
Finishing
Cut the yarn with an 8 in (20 cm) tail, thread it through the 8 remaining sts with a tapestry needle and pull tight. Take the tail inside and weave it in, then weave in the cast-on tail along the inside of the brim. Details for each step are in the guide on how to finish a knit hat.
Blocking matters more for this style than for a fitted hat, because wet fabric relaxes and gains drape. Soak the hat, press out the water in a towel without wringing, and lay it flat to dry with the body smoothed out and the ribbing left unstretched.
Watch out
Superwash wool can grow when wet. If the swatch gets noticeably longer after washing, stop the body at 8 in (20.5 cm) and let blocking supply the rest.
If the hat does not sit right
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| It slides down the forehead | Brim too loose | Reknit the brim on a US 5 (3.75 mm) needle, or choose the smaller size |
| It stands up in a point | Fabric too stiff | Wet block it, or use a drapier yarn next time |
| It looks like a fitted hat that is slightly too big | Not enough length | Add 1 in (2.5 cm) to the body before the crown |
| It hangs too far down the neck | Too much length | Start the crown at 8 in (20.5 cm) |
Ways to adjust it
- Light slouch: start the crown at 7.5 in (19 cm) for a finished height of about 10 (10.25) in (25.5 (26) cm).
- Deep slouch: knit the body to 9.5 in (24 cm) and allow roughly 20 yd (18 m) more yarn.
- Folded cuff: work 4 in (10 cm) of ribbing and add 2 in (5 cm) to every length measured from the cast-on edge.
- Fitted version: the classic knit beanie uses the same stitch counts and crown with a shorter body.
Frequently asked questions
How much longer is a slouchy beanie than a regular beanie?
About 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm). A fitted adult beanie is usually about 8 to 8.5 in (20 to 21.5 cm) tall, and this slouchy version finishes at about 11 in (28 cm).
Should a slouchy beanie have more stitches than a fitted one?
It does not have to. This pattern keeps the same stitch count as a fitted beanie and gets its slouch from extra length and a drapey yarn, which keeps the knitting simple.
What yarn works best for a slouchy beanie?
A yarn with drape, such as superwash merino or wool blended with alpaca or silk. Stiff, tightly spun yarns tend to make the hat stand up instead of relaxing.
Why does my slouchy hat keep slipping down?
The brim is usually too loose. Knit the ribbing on a needle two sizes smaller than the body, keep it about 2 in (5 cm) deep, and check that the hat circumference is smaller than the head.
