Great Beginner Hat in Plymouth Encore Mega - F570

Great Beginner Hat in Plymouth Encore Mega – Pattern F570 Summary

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio, designated F570, guides knitters through creating a classic, cozy knit hat using Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega. As the name suggests, this is an ideal project for those who are new to knitting in the round, offering a straightforward construction and a manageable stitch count that builds confidence while producing a genuinely wearable finished accessory.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted hat with a textured garter stitch brim and a smooth stockinette body, shaped at the crown for a neat, fitted finish. The hat measures approximately 20 inches in diameter (unstretched) with a 4.5-inch brim height, making it a well-proportioned adult beanie suitable for everyday wear. The entire hat is worked in the round from the cast-on edge up through the crown shaping.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega – just one 100g hank is required for the entire hat, making this an economical and quick project
• Needles: US size 17 (12mm) 16-inch circular needle for the brim and body of the hat
• Needles: US size 17 (12mm) double pointed needles (dpns) for working the crown shaping as the stitch count decreases
• Notions: A stitch marker, and a tapestry needle for finishing

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 8 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US size 17 needles. Because Encore Mega is a super bulky weight yarn, the large needle size and open gauge mean this hat works up very quickly — an excellent feature for beginner knitters who benefit from seeing fast, visible progress.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on a circular needle — the hat is worked as a seamless tube from the cast-on, eliminating the need for seaming and making it a great introduction to circular knitting
• Transitioning from circular needle to double pointed needles (dpns) — as the crown shaping reduces the stitch count, knitters switch to dpns, a fundamental skill that opens the door to many future hat and sock projects
• Cast on and joining in the round — the pattern begins with a cast on of 33 stitches, joined carefully to avoid twisting, a key technique for all seamless circular knitting
• Crown shaping — decrease rounds worked in stockinette stitch shape the top of the hat for a clean, professional finish

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (in the round) — achieved by alternating a knit round and a purl round. While garter stitch worked flat simply requires knitting every row, working it in the round requires this two-round alternation to produce the same characteristic ridged texture. This stitch is used for the 4.5-inch brim section, giving it a stretchy, structured quality that sits comfortably on the head.
• Stockinette Stitch (in the round) — worked by knitting every round. This is the most fundamental knitting stitch pattern and produces a smooth, classic fabric. It is used for the body and crown of the hat, transitioning seamlessly from the garter brim.
• Purl stitch — used at the very beginning with a single purl round immediately after joining, as well as as part of the garter stitch repeat throughout the brim

Pattern Construction Overview

The hat begins with a cast on of 33 stitches on the 16-inch circular needle. After joining in the round and placing a stitch marker, a single purl round is worked before beginning the garter stitch brim. The brim continues in garter stitch until the piece measures 4.5 inches, ending on the correct round of the repeat. At this point, knitters transition to double pointed needles, distributing the stitches evenly — 11