SunnySide

SunnySide Knit Beanie by Karoliina C

What Is Being Made

The SunnySide is a beginner-friendly knit beanie hat designed to fit head circumferences ranging from 50–62 cm across three sizes: Small (50–54 cm), Medium (54–58 cm), and Large (58–62 cm). This downloadable knitting pattern produces a classic, reversible beanie with a distinctive construction technique that creates a turned brim.

Knitting Techniques

The SunnySide beanie employs several key knitting techniques suitable for beginner knitters:

• Knitting in the round: The hat is constructed circularly from the bottom up using either a 40 cm circular needle, magic loop technique, or double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Turning the work: A unique construction feature involves turning the beanie inside out partway through knitting. After the initial ribbed cuff, the work is flipped, and knitting continues from the "wrong side" to create the main body of the hat.
• Decreasing: The pattern includes decrease rounds near the completion to shape the crown of the beanie.
• Stitch marker placement: A marker is used to track the beginning of each round, essential for maintaining pattern consistency when working circularly.

Stitches Used

2x2 Ribbed Stitch is the primary stitch throughout the SunnySide beanie. This classic ribbed pattern alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches in each round, creating vertical columns of texture. The 2x2 rib provides excellent stretch and recovery, making it ideal for fitted hat construction. The ribbed texture is worked continuously from the cast-on edge through the brim and into the main body of the hat, with a full knit round worked immediately after turning the work to secure the brim.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The SunnySide pattern calls for 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of worsted weight yarn, with Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted specifically recommended. This yarn provides 200 meters or 220 yards per 100 grams. Any worsted weight yarn of similar yardage and weight can be substituted, provided the knitter achieves the specified gauge.

Needles required: 4mm (US Size 6) needles are used throughout the pattern. A 40 cm circular needle is recommended, though longer circular needles or double-pointed needles are acceptable alternatives, particularly if using the magic loop technique for small circumference knitting.

Gauge

The pattern is designed to a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over a 10 cm × 10 cm (4" × 4") swatch when worked on 4mm needles. Achieving this gauge is essential for the beanie to fit the intended head circumferences. Knitters should always knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure proper fit.

Pattern Construction Summary

The SunnySide beanie begins with a cast-on of 104 (112) 120 stitches on 4mm needles, joined in the round with careful attention to avoid twisting the cast-on edge. The initial section is worked in 2x2 rib for 6 (7) 8 cm, forming the turned brim. The work is then turned inside out, and a full knit round is worked to secure the brim in place. From this point, 2x2 ribbing continues until the total length from the cast-on edge reaches 22 (24) 26 cm. Crown shaping through decreases follows, completing the hat structure.