easie as sunday morning
The Easie Beanie Pattern Download is available over on my shop here. Thanks to over 30 cool knitters, you’ll find notes below on sizing, gauge, and a suggested materials list. What I love most about this hat is once you make one, it’s easy to make many.
Photos above taken by Kate. Follow @katevknits on Instagram. This is Hat 7, Adult Medium, 24” knit in Wool and the Gang Tina Tape, 100% Tencel, color Fern Green.
According to the dictionary app “easy” means to achieve something without great effort; there are few difficulties. A period of time, a way of life free of worries. When you are relaxed. If I were to meet one of my test knitters in real life and run up to hug them they may say, “Easy, B! You’ll knock me over!”
But some things are easier said than done. Breathe.
Notes on fit & picking your size
There are 8 different sizes to choose from ranging from new born to adult large. The full sizing chart with final measurements for each size is provided in the pattern.
Photos above taken by Nora Vrba. Follow @lafete_nora on Instagram. This is Hat 5, 2-12 years, 21.25” in Katia Concept, 60% cotton 30% wool 10% yak, color 127. Modeled on age 11 and 7.
I designed Easie knowing plant-based fibers like cotton, silk, bamboo, and linen, even some wool fabrics have a tendency to stretch over time. To prevent this hat from growing, it is knit a couple inches smaller than what the finished hat circumference will be. Wet blocking is key to getting your final measurement; this is where the magic happens.
Photos taken by Jackie. Follow @loxoknitsco on Instagram. This is Hat 8, Adult XL, 25.5” shown unblocked in Cloudborn Fibers Highland, yarn discontinued. Once blocked to measurements the circumference will be about 2” bigger and have a slouchier look.
Photos above taken by Gillian. Follow @gillianstitches on Instagram. This is Hat 5, 2-12 years, 21.25” knit it Berroco Brielle, yarn discontinued. Modeled on an adult and a child age 6. If you have a small adult head or want a hat that is more snug fitting, you can opt to make one of the child sizes.
Easie looks cute with zero to 1.5 inches of positive ease, so there is a lot of flexibility. Once your hat is done, you’ll soak the hat in cool water, squeeze out the water, and lay it flat — gently stretching it to the final circumference and length, and then letting it dry completely.
If you try on the hat and it’s fitting snug just like you like it, you can skip the “stretching to the final width and length” part of the blocking process, simply let it soak and just lay it flat to dry. Wet blocking creates a beautiful transformation. It helps the crown lay flat and improves the drape of the fabric.
Notes on gauge
I recommend Purl Soho Morning, a light worsted/dk weight yarn. The recommended needle size for this yarn is US 5 (3.75 mm) or 6 (4 mm) for a suggested gauge of 5 to 5.5 stitches per inch.
This is the kind of project you can kinda get the gauge and still have a garment that actually looks good and fits well. Don’t stress if your gauge is 1/2 stitch too big or too small. Some of my testers’ gauge was a little tighter, some a little looser and they were still very happy with the fit.
Photos taken by Jackie. Follow @loxoknitsco on Instagram. This is Hat 8, Adult Large, 25.5” in Purl Soho Morning, color Grassland Grey.
Photos above taken by Jacqueline Cieslak. Follow @jacquelinecieslak on Instagram. This is Hat 7, Adult Medium, 24” in Purl Soho Morning, color Grassland Grey.
A suggested materials list for Easie Beanie
You probably have something in your stash right now missing a label, a random ball of discontinued yarn you impulse purchased in that city you visited once just waiting to turn into an easie beanie. Bust your stash! Use any kind of fiber you like. Here is a list of suggested materials you can try too.
A Verb for Keeping Warm Horizon (100% organic California merino, 160 yards / 50 g)
La Bien Aimée Corrie Worsted (75% Falkland Corriedale, 25% Gotland 250 yards / 100 g)
Rowan Lane Fibers Aegis (75% Bluefaced Leicester, 25% Masham roving, 218 yards / 100 g)
Purl Soho Flax Down (43% baby alpaca, 42% extra fine merino, 15% linen, 219 yards / 100 g)
Woolfolk Far (100% Ovis 21 ultimate merino, 142 yards / 50 g)
Malabrigo Rios (100% superwash merino wool, 210 yards / 100 g)
Wool and the Gang Tina Tape (100% tencel, 164 yards / 100 g)
Photos above taken by Aya Fibers. Follow @ayafibers on Instagram. This is Hat 8, Adult Large, 25.5” in Aya Fibers Luxe Worsted, 100% Non-superwash Fine Merino.
When you finish your beanie, be sure to use #easiebeanie on Instagram and tag me @brandicheyenneharper. Imagine mama and me, my partner and me, my puppy and me, all my besties are getting an Easie sets all around the world! Make one, make many.