A tutorial for a knit beanie hat: make a simple pattern from a single measurement, cut and sew the piece, finish the bottom edge, form pleats along the back seam, and decorate as you like.
Beginner1 hrFree
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Things you will learn
A soft, comfortable beanie hat suits almost everyone and pairs well with any fall or winter outfit; it's easy to sew from a small piece of soft fabric — you only need about half a meter of knit fabric, and even an old sweater with worn sleeves and cuffs will work.
You don't need a special pattern for a beanie hat — it's easy to draft by hand using just one measurement: your head circumference.
It's important to choose a soft fabric that gathers into pleats easily — knit fabric with angora or wool works great; the hat's width equals your head circumference minus 2 cm (for example, 54 cm minus 2 cm), and the height is a standard 48 cm for all adult sizes.
Fold the fabric in half along the width, measure 1/3 down from the top edge, and shape a semicircle for the crown of the hat, then cut it out — your pattern is ready.
Sew the seam on a sewing machine using an overlock stitch, or a serger if you have one; leave the bottom edge raw (it'll naturally curl into a roll when you put the hat on) or fold it in by 10 cm and hand-sew it with invisible stitches; form pleats along the back seam however you like and stitch them down with a double row of stitching, then decorate the finished hat with rhinestones or embroidery if you want.
What you'll get
You'll get a soft knit beanie hat you can wear as is, or decorate with rhinestones or embroidery.
Materials and tools
Materials
Soft knit fabric, about half a meter; angora or wool knit works well, or an old sweater
Rhinestones or embroidery thread, optional, to decorate the finished piece
Tools
Sewing machine, with an overlock stitch, or a serger
Scissors
A tape measure, for measuring your head circumference
It's important that the fabric is soft and gathers into pleats easily — knit fabric with angora or wool works great.
Measure your head circumference
Measure your head circumference — for example, 54 cm. Subtract 2 cm from that number to get the hat's width. The height is a standard 48 cm for all adult sizes.
Make the pattern
A simple pattern using no measurements besides your head circumference.
Fold the fabric and cut the crown
Fold the fabric in half along the width, measure 1/3 down from the top edge, and shape a semicircle — the crown of the hat. Cut it out — your pattern is ready.
The folded pattern piece
Sew the side seam
Stitch the seam while keeping the edge's stretch.
Stitch the side seam
Stitch the seam on a regular sewing machine — you can use an overlock stitch to keep the edge's stretch. If you have a serger, even better, use that.
The piece with the rounded crown
Finish the bottom edge
Choose between a raw edge or a folded hem.
Choose your bottom-edge finish
Next, you can choose one of two options: leave the bottom edge raw (it'll naturally curl into a roll when you put the hat on), or fold it. In the second case, fold 10 cm of the piece to the inside.
The prepared side part
Hand-sew the fold
Tack the fold down with a few invisible hand stitches, then turn the hat right side out.
Form pleats along the back seam
Shape the pleats and secure them with machine stitching.
Form and stitch the pleats
All that's left is to form and stitch pleats along the back seam — choose their depth and number however you like, checking the fit as you go. Once the pleats are in place, sew along the back seam on the machine with a double row of stitching.
The assembled beanie hat, flat view
Decorate the hat
Decorate the finished piece however you like.
Try it on and decorate it
Your hat is ready to try on. If you're planning to decorate it with rhinestones or embroidery, you can do that on the finished piece.
Finished beanie hats on a mannequin
Finish and variations
Finish
Your beanie hat is ready
Your hat is ready to try on! If you like, decorate it with rhinestones or embroidery on the finished piece.
Variations
Choose a raw or folded edge
You can leave the bottom edge raw (it'll naturally curl into a roll when you put the hat on), or fold 10 cm of it to the inside.
Decorate with rhinestones or embroidery
You can decorate the finished piece with rhinestones or embroidery however you like — you'll find a detailed guide on gluing rhinestones onto knit fabric on the forum.
Beginner1 hrFree
