Brixham Beanie

Brixham Beanie by Sharon Spencer

What is Being Made

The Brixham Beanie is a knitted hat designed to fit head sizes from 20 to 23 inches. This intermediate-level knitting project draws inspiration from the coastal town of Brixham in South Devon, featuring a color palette reminiscent of the sea, fishing trawlers, and maritime scenery. The beanie combines multiple colors from Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift yarn to create a visually striking finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The construction uses both circular needles and double-pointed needles to work the hat in the round, a common approach for creating seamless, tubular garments like beanies. The pattern incorporates ribbed sections for the cuff, which provides elasticity and helps the hat conform to the wearer's head. Shaping techniques are used to decrease stitches toward the crown, creating the characteristic tapered beanie silhouette.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Brixham Beanie utilizes several essential knitting stitches and techniques:

• Knit (K) stitches form the primary fabric structure
• Purl (P) stitches create textural variation, particularly in ribbed sections
• Make 1 (M1) increases add stitches by picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back of the loop, allowing for strategic shaping
• Slip 2, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitches Over (S2, K1, PSSO) decreases stitches, essential for tapering the crown of the beanie

Materials and Specifications

The Brixham Beanie pattern calls for Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift yarn in 4-ply weight, with 25g quantities in five coordinating colors: 122 Granite, 162 Neptune, 170 Fjord, 410 Cornfield, and 707 Eclipse. These colors work together to evoke the maritime character of the design's namesake location.

The pattern requires 3.00 mm double-pointed or circular needles for working the ribbed cuff and 3.25 mm double-pointed or circular needles for the main body. Needle size should be adjusted as needed to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking rounds and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge and Finishing

The target gauge is 32 rows by 30 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) on 3.25 mm needles after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for ensuring the finished beanie fits correctly within the intended 20 to 23-inch head size range. Blocking helps set the stitches and improve the overall appearance of the finished hat.