Help finding Project Hail Mary beanie pattern

[u/venena]

I realize I am a couple months late on the PMH knitwear craze, but could someone point me to a similar pattern for the beanie Grace wears?

I am a relatively new knitter. I know enough (hopefully) to identify it as 2x1 or 2x2 rib, but I don’t really know enough about construction to pick a pattern that cups the head similarly.

Thank you so much!

[u/Saints_Girl56]

It is just a basis ribbed beanie. Put ribbed beanie into Ravelry search and a ton will come up.

[u/venena → u/Saints_Girl56]

Thank you!

[u/makestuff24-7]

It's 1x1 rib, and you can make it as long or short as you want. Here's a free basic pattern. http://www.purlsoho.com/create/2019/01/30/classic-ribbed-hat/

[u/venena → u/makestuff24-7]

Thank you very much!

[u/Straight_Coconut_317 → u/makestuff24-7]

I've made this hat 100 times from babies to big headed adults. The one by one ribbing makes it incredibly stretchy and super warm.

[u/Woofmom2023]

You're spot on. The only piece you're missing is that beanies need to be smaller than the head they're going on so they stretch and - to use your term - cup the head.

I give cashmere beanies as gifts and I always fret about getting sizing right. I still fret after making well over 100 of them over the years. I've solved this by knitting beanies using Aran weight yarn ribbed 2x2 on size 4 needles. This gives a very snug rib with a lot of stretch so they fit a range of sizes. I've not checked the gauge on this. As you may know, Aran we yarn typically knits up at 4.5 stitches per inch on 8s or 4 stitches per inch on 9s.

I've been varying the size on the beanies depending on who they're for and how large I think their head might be. One of the recipients told me recently that he, his wife and teen-aged daughter all share the various beanies I've made them over the years so I guess I can stop fretting over that one or two inch size difference that I've been so careful about.

It's impossible to see the rib in the photo clearly. I think they're 2x2.

PurlSoho has an excellent ribbed beanie pattern. It's 1x1 but I use it as a guide and knit it 2x2.

https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2023/02/03/classic-ribbed-hat-in-new-colors/

All free hat patterns: https://www.purlsoho.com/search?type=product&q=Free+pattern+hat

My pattern: I almost always use Colourmart's* 8/#8nm cashmere from a "mill that makes for Chanel "". doubled. I use something under 100 grams depending on the size and length of the beanie. I have a small head and wear the brim turned up once. Friends who live in the North east wear the brims long and turned up twice so there are three layers of brim and they cover my friends' ears completely.

Assuming a typical sized man's head:

1. Cast on 108 stitches. To go bigger or smaller increase or decrease in multiples of four. For small heads I typically use 96 stitches. I use a long tail cast on. A tubular cast on would look better.

2. Join the ends.

3. RIb 2x2 for 9.5 inches.

4. Place marker.

5. Begin decreases. 108 stitches is 9x12 stitches. I like the decrease portion of the hat to be flatter so I'd decrease by 9's.

- Rib 7 stitches, K2tog, continue with this combination to end of row, at the marker.

- Rib 6 stitches, K2tog, continue with this combination to end of row, at the marker.

- Rib 5stitches, K2tog, continue with this combination to end of row, at the marker.

- Rib 4 stitches, K2tog, continue with this combination to end of row, at the marker.

- Rib 3 stitches, K2tog, continue with this combination to end of row, at the marker.

- K2tog for the entire row.

1. Cut yarn leaving about an 8" tail. Thread yarn through all the stitches using a darning needle, pull it taut and then weave it through every other stitch and pull it tighter. Pull yarn to back and weave the tail securely through the back.
   

2. Weave in the tail from the cast on.

3. Wash gently and lay on a puppy pad to dry with a folded puppy pad inside. Flip and re-fold inner puppy pad as needed. Turn it inside out and repeat. When the hat's almost dry I hang it on an upright wine bottle with the top of the hat on the top of the bottle to finish drying, and do this on both sides.
   https://colourmart.com/about

https://colourmart.com/yarns/view/8-28NM_(288PA)_dk_wt_cashmere_single_cone_set_s_yarn/0/8_28/0/in_stock.*.asc_hue.*.show_all_dk_wt_cashmere_single_cone_set_s_yarn/0/8_28/0/in_stock..asc_hue..show_all)

Questions?

[u/venena → u/Woofmom2023]

Oh thank you so much. This is so detailed and clear. I can’t wait to try your pattern!

[u/Woofmom2023 → u/venena]

You're welcome! I'm so glad you like it.

Looked again at the hat in the photo and thinking that you might want to knit a little more than 9 1/2" before decreasing. You can slip the hat on to try it before deciding. I'd run a lifeline through at 9 1/2", slip the hat on, fold the brim up and see how much more length you'll need. You can measure six rows to see how much length they add and then add rows as needed to get to the total desired length Enjoy your hat!