Black Braid

Black Braid Loose Beanie by Katrine H

What is Being Made

The Black Braid is a loose-fitting knitted beanie designed by Katrine H. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a relaxed, slouchy hat featuring four prominent braided cable details that run vertically around the crown. The beanie is worked in the round and finished with a curled edge, making it a stylish and comfortable headwear option suitable for various seasons.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginners. The construction begins with a simple cast-on and stockinette stitch foundation, which creates the characteristic curled edge at the brim. The primary technique featured throughout the design is cable knitting, specifically the creation of alternating twisted braids that form the visual focal point of the hat. The cables twist in opposite directions every fourth round, creating a dynamic, interlocking pattern. The pattern also incorporates knitting in the round using circular needles, and concludes with decreasing stitches to shape the crown and close the top of the hat.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch – Used for the base and between cable sections, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric
• Cable Stitches – A 9-stitch "hair braid" cable that twists alternately right and left every 4th round, forming the four prominent braids
• Knit Stitches – 13 knit stitches worked between each cable repeat to provide spacing and structure
• Decreasing Stitches – Even decreases worked around each cable section to shape the crown

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Drops Big Merino by Garnstudio, 100% Superwash Merino Wool in Black. The pattern requires 2 skeins totaling 150 meters or 162 yards. This yarn is classified as aran weight, which knits to a gauge of 17 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters).

Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles are used throughout the pattern for casting on and working all rounds.

Pattern Construction Details

The beanie begins with casting on 88 stitches on US 7 needles. The first 6 rounds are worked in plain stockinette stitch to establish the rolled edge at the brim. The main pattern repeat consists of 22 stitches multiplied by 4 (equaling the 88 cast-on stitches), with each repeat containing one 9-stitch cable and 13 knit stitches. The four cables are distributed evenly around the hat and worked continuously until the desired length is reached, approximately 10 inches or 25 centimeters from the cast-on edge. Crown shaping is accomplished by decreasing approximately 20 stitches per round for 3 rounds, reducing the total to approximately 28 stitches. The remaining stitches are pulled tight through yarn and secured at the top, with all loose ends woven in on the inside for a finished appearance.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to cable work. While cables may appear complex, the pattern's straightforward construction and clear instructions make it accessible to those with basic knitting skills.