Casey - broken rib beanie

Casey Broken Rib Beanie by Jennifer Lee

What Is Being Made

The Casey is a warm and stretchy beanie designed for year-round wear, suitable for ages 2 through adult. This downloadable knitting pattern offers four size options: Age 2-5, Age 6-10, Teen, and Lady, with finished head circumferences ranging from 52cm (20½ inches) to 56cm (22 inches). The beanie is constructed as a classic pull-on hat that provides comfortable coverage and stretch.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Casey beanie is worked entirely in broken rib, a textured stitch pattern that creates both visual interest and functional stretch. The pattern begins with a cast-on foundation and continues in the broken rib pattern from the base upward. The construction method involves working flat on straight needles, with finishing completed using a wool needle for seaming. The broken rib technique creates a fabric that is naturally stretchy, making it comfortable and forgiving across different head sizes.

Stitches Used

• Broken Rib: The primary stitch pattern alternates knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence to create the textured, elastic fabric. The pattern rows are: Row 1 begins with K1, then repeats P2, K2 across to the final 2 stitches which are P2. Row 2 begins with P1, then repeats K2, P2 across to the final 2 stitches which are K2. This offset creates the characteristic broken rib appearance.
• Basic Stitches: The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches including knit (K) and purl (P) stitches as the foundation for the broken rib pattern.

Materials and Tools

The Casey beanie requires 1 ball of Creative Basics Esther 8ply yarn in a DK weight (approximately 100g per ball with 220 meters of yardage). A pair of 4.00mm knitting needles (UK size 8, US size 6) is required for the main fabric construction. A wool needle is needed for sewing the seams during finishing. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 36 rows to 10cm (4 inches) measured over the broken rib stitch when slightly stretched using 4.00mm needles, which helps ensure proper fit across all size options.

Pattern Difficulty

This pattern is rated as Easy despite being labeled as intermediate difficulty, making it accessible to knitters with some foundational experience. The straightforward broken rib stitch and simple construction method make this an ideal project for developing consistent tension and rhythm in knitting.