Rhiannon

Rhiannon Slouchy Beanie by The Restless Knitter

What You're Making

Rhiannon is a sweet slouchy beanie designed by Nichole Lubcke featuring an elegant eyelet cable pattern. This advanced knitting project offers versatility with two brim options, allowing you to customize the finished look. The slouchy silhouette creates a relaxed, comfortable fit perfect for casual wear, while the decorative cable and eyelet details add visual interest and sophistication to this classic hat style.

Sizes and Fit

Rhiannon is available in four sizes to fit different head circumferences:

• Toddler: 18 inches (46 centimetres)
• Child: 19 inches (48 centimetres)
• Woman: 20 inches (51 centimetres)
• Man: 22 inches (56 centimetres)

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This advanced pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that create the beanie's distinctive appearance. The eyelet cable pattern combines decorative openwork with textured cable stitches, requiring careful attention to stitch manipulation and shaping.

Key stitches and techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch forming the base fabric
• Cable stitches – specifically CfK2 (slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold in front, knit next 2 stitches together, knit the stitch from the cable needle), which creates twisted, rope-like texture
• Eyelet stitches – yarn overs (YO) paired with decreases to create decorative holes in the fabric
• Decreases – SSK (slip, slip, knit) and P2tog (purl 2 together) for shaping and stitch manipulation
• Increases – M1P (make one purlwise) for adding stitches where needed
• Knit and purl stitches – fundamental stitches used in combination to build pattern and texture

The two brim options allow you to choose between different finishing styles, with one option requiring additional yarn for a folded construction.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Rhiannon calls for approximately 65–80 grams of Madelinetosh Tosh DK, depending on size. The DK (double knitting) weight yarn provides excellent stitch definition for the cable and eyelet pattern details. If you choose the folded brim option, plan for an additional 20–50 grams of yarn.

Needles and Tools: This pattern requires a combination of circular and double-pointed needles to accommodate the construction method:

• 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle with 40cm cable – used for the initial cast-on and ribbing
• 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle with 40cm cable – the primary needle for working the main pattern
• 4.5mm (US 7) double-pointed needles – for the crown decreases when stitches become too few for circular needles
• Cable needle – essential for manipulating stitches in the cable pattern
• Stitch marker – for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings
• Tapestry needle – for weaving in yarn ends and finishing

Gauge and Difficulty

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 24 rows measured over 10 centimetres in stockinette stitch on the larger 4.5mm needle. Achieving proper gauge is critical for obtaining the correct finished size and ensuring the cable and eyelet details appear as intended.

Rhiannon is rated as an advanced knitting project, making it suitable for experienced knitters comfortable with cable manipulation, stitch increases and decreases, and reading complex stitch patterns. The combination of cables, eyelets, and shaping requires strong foundational skills and attention to detail throughout the construction.