Betsy Ross Beanie

Betsy Ross Beanie by Anne Pinkava

What Is Being Made

The Betsy Ross Beanie is a lightweight, bottom-up knit hat designed by Anne Pinkava. This intermediate-level project combines classic ribbed knit construction with decorative intarsia colorwork, creating a beanie with visual interest and a structured fit. The hat is worked primarily in the round, making it an ideal project for knitters comfortable with circular needles or double-pointed needles.

Construction and Techniques

This beanie employs a thoughtful construction method that transitions between different knitting techniques. The project begins with a bottom-up approach, starting at the ribbed brim and working upward. The ribbed section provides stretch and a secure fit around the head.

The most distinctive element of the Betsy Ross Beanie is its use of intarsia colorwork. Rather than stranding yarn across the inside of the hat (as in Fair Isle), intarsia involves switching between separate yarn colors to create a pattern. This technique is worked using the "stubborn round" method, also called intarsia in the round, which allows knitters to work intarsia while maintaining a circular construction. This method involves knitting back and forth within rounds to manage color changes without carrying yarn across large sections.

After completing the intarsia section, the knitter returns to straightforward circular knitting. The hat concludes with a structured decrease section that divides the remaining stitches into 5 parts, creating a symmetrical crown closure.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

• Ribbed knit for the brim section, providing elasticity and structure
• Stockinette stitch as the base fabric throughout most of the hat
• Intarsia colorwork for the decorative pattern section
• Decreases worked in 5 sections to shape the crown

Yarn and Materials

The Betsy Ross Beanie is designed to work with fingering weight yarn, which falls within the 3-ply to 4-ply range. The pattern accommodates various yarn weights including sport, DK, lace, and cobweb weights, offering flexibility for different gauges and finished hat densities.

The original design uses hand-painted tweed sock yarn from The Wooly Cabin, a blend of 85% superwash BFL (Blue-Faced Leicester) and 15% Donegal nep fiber. This yarn composition provides durability, softness, and the characteristic texture of tweeds. The pattern requires approximately 50 grams (231 yards) of the main color, with 5 grams each (about 46 yards) of two contrasting colors for the intarsia design. The yarn should be in a center pull ball with both ends accessible, or separated into two balls to facilitate color changes during intarsia work.

Essential tools include US size 2 needles in either double-pointed or circular format, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method for working in the round. Two colors of stitch markers help track pattern repeats and decreases, while a darning needle is necessary for weaving in yarn ends after completion.

Pattern Availability

The Betsy Ross Beanie is available as a downloadable PDF pattern. A coordinated yarn kit containing all necessary materials in the original colorway is available through The Wooly Cabin's Etsy shop, making it convenient for knitters who prefer pre-selected, coordinated yarns.