FREE Smiley Bobble Beanie

Smiley Bobble Beanie Hat Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The Smiley Bobble Beanie is a playful knitted hat featuring a cheerful smiley face design. This downloadable knitting pattern from madmonkeyknits (Pattern No. 436) creates a fitted beanie suitable for a range of head sizes, from extra small through large. The hat combines classic beanie construction with an intarsia smiley face motif, making it a fun and expressive accessory project.

Garment Specifications

Available Sizes: The pattern includes four size options to fit head circumferences of 40–45 cm (16–18 inches) for XS, 45–50 cm (18–20 inches) for S, 50–55 cm (20–22 inches) for M, and 55–60 cm (22–24 inches) for L, with actual finished measurements of 40, 46, 51, and 56 cm respectively.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Ribbing: The pattern begins with knit-purl ribbing (K1, P1) worked over 8–14 rows depending on size, creating an elastic cuff that helps the beanie fit snugly around the head.
• Stocking Stitch: The main body is worked in stocking stitch (alternating knit and purl rows), providing a smooth, classic fabric base.
• Intarsia: The smiley face design is created using the intarsia technique, which involves working with separate yarn colors to create a picture or motif within the knitted fabric. This method allows for the yellow smiley face to be integrated seamlessly into the black beanie.
• Decreasing: Shaping is achieved through decreases (knit or purl two stitches together) to form the crown of the hat.
• Increasing: Increases (knitting or purling into both the front and back of a stitch) are used where needed for shaping.

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch (K): The fundamental stitch used throughout the pattern.
• Purl Stitch (P): Used in combination with knit stitches for ribbing and stocking stitch.
• Ribbing (R): Alternating K1, P1 creates the elastic rib cuff.
• Stocking Stitch (St.St): One row knit, one row purl, forming the smooth main fabric.
• Decreases (Dec): Knit or purl two stitches together to reduce stitch count during crown shaping.
• Increases (Inc): Knit or purl into both front and back of a stitch to add stitches where needed.
• Slip Stitch and Pass Slip Stitch Over (SL, PSSO): Used in decrease sequences for shaping.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, specifically Patons Merino DK or any DK knitting yarn of equivalent tension. Yardage requirements are 50 g balls of black yarn (1 ball for XS, 2 balls for S, M, and L sizes) and a small amount of yellow yarn for the smiley face design.

Needles and Notions: One pair of 4.00 mm knitting needles is required to achieve the correct tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch. A piece of cardboard is needed, likely for creating the bobble or pom-pom detail that typically adorns the crown of a beanie.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the basic stitches and ribbing are fundamental, the inclusion of intarsia colorwork for the smiley face design and the shaping required for the hat crown make this project suitable for knitters with some experience beyond absolute beginners.

Pattern Format

The Smiley Bobble Beanie is available as a free downloadable PDF pattern, making it easily accessible for knitters who wish to create this cheerful hat design at home.