Mila Beanie in Wool and the Gang - Downloadable PDF

Mila Beanie by Wool and the Gang – Free Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

The Mila Beanie is a cosy, oversized knitted hat designed by Wool and the Gang and available as a free downloadable PDF pattern. Worked in super chunky yarn, this beanie is an ideal project for beginner knitters looking to build confidence with in-the-round knitting while producing a stylish, wearable result in very little time.

What You Will Make

The finished project is a classic pull-on beanie hat featuring a ribbed brim and a smooth stocking stitch body, shaped at the crown through a series of simple decrease rounds. The hat measures approximately 25cm / 10 inches from the cast-on edge to the beginning of the crown shaping, making it a generously proportioned, snug-fitting beanie suited to adults.

Construction Method

The Mila Beanie is knitted in the round from the bottom up, meaning you begin at the brim and work upward toward the crown without any seaming. This seamless construction is both beginner-friendly and produces a neat, professional finish. The pattern opens with a long-tail cast on of 32 stitches, a popular and reliable cast-on technique that creates a tidy, slightly elastic edge — perfect for a hat brim that needs to stretch comfortably over the head.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Long-tail cast on – used to begin the project, creating a firm yet flexible foundation edge
• Twisted rib stitch – worked for 7 rows at the brim to create a stretchy, textured band that hugs the head securely
• Stocking stitch in the round – the main body of the hat is worked entirely in knit stitches when working in the round, producing the smooth, classic stocking stitch fabric
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a simple right-leaning decrease used across three dedicated decrease rounds to shape the crown and reduce the stitch count from 32 stitches down to 14 stitches
• Finishing with a yarn tail – the crown is closed by threading the remaining yarn tail through the live stitches and drawing them together, eliminating the need for any complex grafting or additional techniques

Pattern Structure Step by Step

The pattern follows a clear, logical sequence that makes it easy for beginners to follow:

• Cast on 32 stitches and join in the round, taking care not to twist
• Work 7 rows of twisted rib for the brim
• Continue in stocking stitch for approximately 19 further rounds until the hat measures 25cm / 10 inches from the cast-on edge
• Work three decrease rounds separated by plain knit rounds, reducing stitches progressively to 26, then 20, then 14 stitches
• Close the crown by threading the yarn tail through remaining stitches and pulling tight

Materials Required

• Yarn: 1 ball of Wool and the Gang Crazy Sexy Wool — a super chunky weight yarn that knits up quickly and gives the beanie its substantial, cosy character
• Needles: 1 set of 12mm (US 17) 40cm / 16-inch circular knitting needles, ideal for working small circumferences in the round such as hats
• Notions: 1 sewing needle for finishing and closing the crown

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 7 stitches and 10 rows to 10cm / 4 inches measured over stocking stitch. As with any knitting project, working a tension swatch before beginning is recommended to ensure your finished beanie matches the intended measurements. Because Crazy Sexy Wool is a super chunky yarn, even small differences in needle size or knitting style can noticeably affect the final dimensions of the hat.