You will love the Fair Isle pattern in this beanie knitting pattern if you love colorful knitting. Fair Isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors. The beautiful color work method is also known as stranded knitting.
In any case, this hat knitting pattern works well without the fair isle pattern, too, so feel free to knit the beanie with a single yarn color.
As I said I would in my last knitting pattern for a kid’s Fair Isle sweater, here is the pattern for a beanie you can knit to make a beautiful set of nordic winter clothes. Don’t forget to knit the matching set of leg warmers as well, so that you have a three-piece set to fight the cold.
Beanie Knitting Pattern
In Beautiful Fair Isle Pattern
scroll ⬇️ to get the free hat knitting patterns
This free beanie knitting pattern comes in lady size with a circumference of 22″. It fits on most bigger kids and adult heads. It has a slouchy structure with a pom-pom attached to the back.
Materials & Supplies
All you need to knit this beautiful Nordic-style slouchy beanie are yarns, pom-pom, and knitting needles. Other tools you will need are stitch markers and a tapestry needle.
Yarn
I used Superwash Merino Yarn from Lion Brand. It is a DK / Light worsted yarn weight that has the gauge tension of 24 sts x 34 rows in Stockinette Stitch. You may replace them with equivalent yarns that have a similar weight and tension gauge.
Each beanie hat pattern uses 3 colors, with the quantity of 1 ball for the main color (Red / Dark Grey), and partial balls for the other 2 secondary colors (white and light gray). To make these 2 knit beanies, I used 4 balls of yarns in total, i.e. 2 main and 2 secondary colors.
Knitting Needles
The construction of these knit hat patterns works in the round, with this seamless knitting method, producing one complete garment without sewing. The knitting begins at the tip of the crown and downwards to the hat band. Since it works in a continuous round, we need to use circular needles to knit. A 12″ or 16″ Circular needle U.S. 6 (4mm) is used to knit the hat, whilst a smaller size of U.S. 3 (3mm) is used to knit the band. We also used 4 pcs. of Double Pointed needle U.S. 6 (4mm) to begin the smaller round at the tip of the crown.
Pom-Pom
Have you noted that most knitted beanie comes with a pom-pom at the tip of the crown? Pom-pom has been a popular embellishment for clothing, and undeniable, it is fashionable and adorable to have appeared dangling on the hat. Let me tell you my main purpose for having the pompom, fashion aside, I used them to hide the finishing of the crown.
You can make your own pompom with this basic how to make pompom tutorial or you can use the faux fur pompom that’s available off the shelf.
Fair Isle Pattern
The fair isle patterns used in these beanie knitting patterns are similar to the ones used in the kid’s pullover knitting pattern. There are 2 colorwork patterns, the “Poinsettia With Heart” and the “Poinsettia With Tic-Tac-Toe”. The heart is a more feminine design; thus, it is suitable for a female. Tic-Tac-Toe will be great for unisex.
To ease the knitting progress, I have added the Fair Isle pattern diagram in the pattern section. You can easily spot and follow through when to change yarn color to create the colorwork design.
Beanie Hat Band
Besides the fair isle pattern variations, there are also 2 options on the ribband, folded and non-folded. The gray fair isle beanie on the right is the folded band type, while the red beanie on the left is a non-folded type. The folded band adds warmth to the forehead, it is also suitable for those with a smaller head.
The kids enjoyed playing with the snow a month ago during our holiday. It was the first time for them to experience sub-zero temperatures. These matching set of pullovers, leg warmers and beanies have kept them warm in this freezing cold weather so that they can fully enjoy all the outdoor activities.
Keep warm, stay cool, and start knitting.
What’s Next
- Start knitting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for future To-Knit List
- Share with your knitting groups for a knit-along event.
- Browse more free knitting patterns to make.
Fair Isle Beanie Knit Pattern
The beanie pattern comes in lady size with a circumference of 22 inches, it fits on most bigger kids and adult heads. This fair isle beanie has a slouchy structure with a pom-pom attached to the back.
Similar to the kid’s pullover, there are 2 variations on this fair isle beanie pattern, the Poinsettia With Heart and the Poinsettia With Tic-Tac-Toe. The heart is a more feminine design thus, it is suitable for a female. Tic-Tac-Toe will be great for unisex. Get the matching Pullover knitting pattern.
Enjoy knitting them!
Download and print separately:
Poinsettia Tic-Tac-Toe Beanie Knit Pattern Chart
Poinsettia Heart Beanie Knit Pattern Chart
Construction: Work in Round, Top Down
Helpful video tutorial on Fair Isle Knitting and How to trap the floats and Knit With Double Pointed Needles
Materials
- Yarn: Lion Brand Superwash Merino Yarn - Yarn A Color: Dark Gray (Charcoal) or Red (Cayenne), Balls needed: 1 ball
- Yarn: Lion Brand Superwash Merino Yarn - Yarn B Color: Gray (Hemp), Balls needed: 1 ball
- Yarn: Lion Brand Superwash Merino Yarn - Yarn C Color: White (Ivory), Balls needed: 1 ball
- Pom-Pom, your choice of size. Mine is 2.5″ and 3.5″. You can make your own pom-pom with this tutorial
Tools
- Needles: 12″ or 16″ Circular needle U.S. 3 (3mm) and U.S. 6 (4mm)
- Needles: Double Pointed needle U.S. 6 (4mm).
- Stitch Markers
- Tapestry needle
Instructions
Tension Gauge:
Stockinette Stitch: 24 sts and 34 rows = 4″ (10cm) using U.S. 6 (4mm) needles
Take time to make a gauge swatch to check your tension. Wash and block your swatch before measuring. Use larger or smaller needles if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Abbreviations:
alt = Alternate(ing)
k = Knit
inc = Increase(ing)
m1 = make 1 increase
patt = Pattern
rep = Repeat
st(s) = Stitch(es)
BODY
With Double Pointed Needles U.S. 6 (4mm) and yarn A, long-tail cast on 48 sts on 1 needle, then transfer the sts to rest of the needle evenly to make a round (view pictures below). Insert a stitch marker at the beg of the round.
Round 1 & 2: k all
Round 3: k3, *m1, k6, rep from * to last 3 sts, m1, k to end. [56]sts
Round 4: k all
Round 5: k4, *m1, k7, rep from * to last 3 sts, m1, k to end. [64]sts
Round 6: k all
Round 7: k4, *m1, k8, rep from * to last 4 sts, m1, k to end. [72]sts
Round 8: k all
Round 9: k5, *m1, k9, rep from * to last 4 sts, m1, k to end. [80]sts
Round 10: k all
Round 11: k5, *m1, k10, rep from * to last 5 sts, m1, k to end. [88]sts
Round 12: k all
Round 13: k6, *m1, k11, rep from * to last 5 sts, m1, k to end. [96]sts
Round 14: k all
Round 15: k6, *m1, k12, rep from * to last 6 sts, m1, k to end. [104]sts
Round 16: k all
Round 17: k7, *m1, k13, rep from * to last 6 sts, m1, k to end. [112]sts
Round 18: k all
Round 19: k7, *m1, k14, rep from * to last 7 sts, m1, k to end. [120]sts
Round 20: k all
Round 21: k8, *m1, k15, rep from * to last 7 sts, m1, k to end. [128]sts
Round 22 & 23: k all
Round 24: k8, *m1, k16, rep from * to last 8 sts, m1, k to end. [136]sts
Switch to U.S. 6 (4mm) circular needle
Round 25 to 29: k all
Round 30: k9, *m1, k17, rep from * to last 8 sts, m1, k to end. [144]sts
Round 31 to 78: work Poinsettia Fair Isle Patt
RIBBING
Change to U.S. 3 (3mm) circular needle and with yarn A, work 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for 1.5″. Tubular bind off the 2×2 rib.
or
Change to U.S. 3 (3mm) circular needle and with yarn A, work 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for 3″. Tubular bind off the 2×2 rib, fold the rib up, and sew.
TO FINISH OFF
Gather and sew alternative st, pull the yarn tightly to close the tip of the beanie. Sew to attach the pom-pom.
BLOCKING
Block the beanie to obtain the correct size.
Pattern Diagram
(Click here to view larger chart, open in new tab/window.)
(Click here to view larger chart, open in new tab/window.)
MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO KNIT
FAIR ISLE BEANIE
- With Double Pointed Needles U.S. 6 (4mm) and yarn A, long-tail cast on 48 sts on 1 needle, then transfer the sts to rest of the needle evenly to make a round (view pictures below). Insert a stitch marker at the beg of the round.
If you are unable to do a long tail cast on directly to 4 double pointed needles to make a circle, then you may cast on to 1 needle first then slip the stitches to another 3 needles evenly.
You may watch this video on how to cast on and knit with Double Pointed Needles.
- Arrange the stitches so they are all facing the same way and aren’t twisted on any of the needles.
Insert the 5th needle into the first stitch of the left needle, firmly knit the first stitch to join up the round. Insert a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of the round (oops… I forgot to insert my green stitch marker before taking this picture so it is not shown there).
- Knit the top part of the beanie which is all the increment stitches.
You should have enough stitches to use on the circular needles once you have finished round 24.
- Follow the fair isle color chart to complete the body of the beanie.
- Switch to a smaller needle to knit the 2x2 ribbing band for the beanie.
Then tubular bind off.
- Sew up the top opening and sew to attach the pom-pom.
- I used 3.5″ dia pom-pom for the red beanie.
- For the gray beanie, I used a slightly smaller pom-pom, 2.5″ diameter. Also, the 2 x 2 ribbing band of this beanie is folded type.
The Fair Isle Beanie keeps us warm, comfortable, and, beautiful at the same time.
Notes
Yarn amounts given are based on average requirements and are approximated. You should have leftover on the minority yarn color (yarn B and C) upon completion. Hence, if you are knitting for 2 beanies, you need to buy only 1 set of Yarn B and C.
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/fair-isle-beanie-2/
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Alicia
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Craft Passion, does it matter if you use circular needles instead of double pointed?? Thank you. Alicia
Craft Passion
Monday 30th of March 2020
Either will work. Happy knitting, Alicia.
Hwahwa
Sunday 2nd of June 2019
Hello. May I know if you also have crochet pattern for this beautiful Fair Isle Beanie? Thank you
Craft Passion
Thursday 6th of June 2019
I only have knit pattern :)
gfarny
Sunday 15th of January 2017
THANK YOU so much !
Geneviève .