Boldly Go

Boldly Go Slouchy Beanie by Knits By West

Project Overview

Boldly Go is a slouchy beanie knitting pattern designed by Deborah Anne West, inspired by the spirit of Star Trek exploration and discovery. This intermediate-level knitted hat features a folded brim construction and personalized text detailing, making it both a functional and meaningful accessory for keeping warm during daily adventures.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a slouchy beanie—a relaxed-fitting knitted hat with a generous crown that sits comfortably on the head. The design includes a distinctive folded brim that adds visual interest and extra warmth. The beanie is customized with the words "Boldly Go" inscribed into the fabric, combining practical headwear with personalized messaging.

Sizing and Fit

The pattern is offered in one size designed to fit an average adult head measuring 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 centimeters) in circumference, making it suitable for most adult wearers.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Provisional Cast On: The pattern employs a provisional cast-on method using scrap yarn and a crochet hook, allowing live stitches to be held for later seaming of the folded brim
• Circular Knitting: Constructed primarily on circular needles to create seamless fabric in the round
• Stockinette Stitch: The main fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Folded Brim Construction: The brim is folded and seamed using live stitches held on a separate needle, creating a professional finished edge
• Decreasing: Shaping is achieved through knit-two-together decreases to form the crown
• Stranded or Intarsia Colorwork: The personalized text detailing requires working with contrasting yarn colors to create the "Boldly Go" inscription

Stitches and Abbreviations

• K (Knit): The fundamental knit stitch forming the primary fabric
• P (Purl): Purl stitches used in pattern details and texture
• K2tog (Knit Two Together): A single decrease that reduces stitch count by one, used for crown shaping

Materials and Yarn

The Boldly Go beanie is worked in sock weight yarn, which is a fine 4-ply yarn weight providing excellent stitch definition and a refined finished fabric. Approximately 175 yards (160 meters) of main color yarn is required, with an additional 50 yards (46 meters) of contrasting color yarn for the text detailing.

Needles and Tools

• Size 2.75 mm (US 2) 16-inch circular needle and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the main knitting
• Size 2.5 mm (US 1) 16-inch circular needle reserved for holding live stitches during the folded brim seaming process
• Crochet hook and scrap yarn for the provisional cast-on setup
• Stitch marker for tracking round beginnings
• Tapestry needle for finishing, weaving in ends, and seaming the brim

Gauge

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 32 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the beanie to fit correctly and maintain the intended drape and slouch.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction methods. The provisional cast-on, circular knitting, colorwork for text detailing, and folded brim seaming all require intermediate-level proficiency and attention to detail.