Northbound Beanie
The Northbound Knit Slouchy Beanie is a quick and fun project that creates a cozy, textured hat using simple stitches. It’s a great pattern for newer knitters who want to practice their skills while making something stylish and wearable. Made with bulky yarn, this slouchy beanie works up quickly, so you can start it Friday and be wearing your new hat by the weekend.
You’ll find everything you need to knit the beanie below, including the yarn, knitting needle, a free pattern, and a video tutorial. If you like this pattern, please share it!
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Disclaimer
This post contains affiliate links for the items I used to knit this pattern, at no cost to you. I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. This blog post also displays ads. The revenue from ads and affiliate links allows me to offer this knit pattern for free. Please do not copy, paste, or distribute this pattern. If you prefer not to view the pattern on the blog, you may purchase an ad-free digital PDF in my pattern shops for a small fee (link below). Thank you so much for your support!
Knit Tutorials
If you’re new to knitting, no worries! I have many beginner tutorial videos to guide you through every step of the process. My tutorials are designed to be easy to follow and will help you master the basics and beyond. You can use the search bar anytime to look for a particular stitch or technique.
Yarn Selection
I used Knit Picks Wool of The Andes in Clarity for the pictured beanie. This is a great bulky weight yarn that comes in a wide range of beautiful colors. If substituting you will need about 130 yards (for the largest size) of bulky-weight yarn. See some great options below from least to most expensive.
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Brava Bulky from Knit Picks is a soft, affordable, and durable 100% premium acrylic yarn, perfect for cozy projects that work up quickly. With a smooth texture and vibrant color selection, it’s ideal for everything from warm blankets and scarves to hats and sweaters. This bulky-weight yarn is machine washable and easy to care for, making it a great budget-friendly option.
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Lion Brand Hue + Me is a chunky, wool-blend yarn designed in collaboration with Two of Wands. Made from 80% acrylic and 20% wool, it offers the perfect balance of warmth, durability, and easy care. With a modern, muted color palette that effortlessly coordinates, Hue + Me is ideal for stylish garments, cozy accessories, and home décor projects.
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Berroco Dash is a soft and lofty bulky-weight yarn featuring a unique blend of 92% extrafine merino wool and 8% nylon. With its eye-catching dashes of color spun throughout a neutral base, this yarn creates stunning, painterly effects in projects without the need for complex colorwork. Dash is warm, lightweight, and perfect for cozy accessories, sweaters, and statement pieces.
Knitting Needles Used For Pattern
You’ll need 8mm [US- 11] 16″ circular needles (or DPNs if you prefer). You may need DPNs for decreasing on the crown depending on what you like to use.
After testing numerous brands of knitting needles, I’ve narrowed down my favorites. Below, you’ll find my top picks, ranked from least to most expensive.
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ChiaoGoo Fixed Circular Knitting Needles are renowned for their high-quality stainless steel construction, offering a smooth, lightweight, and durable knitting experience. The precision-crafted tips provide excellent stitch control, making them ideal for intricate patterns and lacework. Featuring a flexible, memory-free red nylon-coated steel cable, these needles prevent kinks and tangles, ensuring a frustration-free knitting process.
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Addi Turbo Circular Needles are beloved for their smooth, fast knitting experience, featuring lightweight brass tips coated with nickel for a slick, low-friction surface. Designed for speed and efficiency, these needles allow stitches to glide effortlessly, making them perfect for everything from simple stockinette to complex lacework. The pliable, kink-resistant blue cord ensures smooth transitions between needle and cable, reducing hand strain and tangling.
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Lantern Moon Interchangeable Knitting Needles in Ebony are a luxurious choice for knitters who love the warmth and smooth glide of wood. Made from sustainably sourced ebony, these needles have a rich, dark finish and a polished surface that allows stitches to flow effortlessly while maintaining just the right amount of grip. The finely crafted tapered tips provide excellent precision, making them ideal for a variety of projects. Paired with strong, flexible cords and smooth, snag-free joins, Lantern Moon’s interchangeable needles offer both beauty and performance for those who prefer the natural feel of wooden needles.
Additional Supplies Needed
You will need a stitch marker to keep track of rounds.
I love how cute ChiaoGoo Stitch Markers are but they are also great stitch markers. They slide easily and come in many sizes in one package so you have one for every project you can think of.
The only other thing you will need is a yarn needle to weave in the ends. My favorite yarn needles are made of metal, they are easy to slide through any yarn. I like the Susan Bates option below.
Gauge For Pattern
Gauge is important for beanies or they will not fit correctly. To achieve the correct size, you will need the following gauge: 4”= 14 STS and 18 rows in the brim pattern.
Video Tutorial
The video tutorial will walk you through the pattern so all levels of knitters can make their own beanie.
Pin For Later
If you’re not ready to start the project yet, pin this page to head back quickly.
Finished Measurements
The pattern can be made in the following sizes:
- Small: Approx. 16” around
- Medium: Approx. 20” around
- Large: Approx. 24” around
- All: Approx. 10” from the top of the crown to the brim
Construction
The beanie is worked in the round from the brim up. Starting with a ribbed brim, you then move onto easy repeats and then finish with an easy crown decrease.
Special Stitch Used In The Pattern
You will need to perform the following special stitch in this pattern:
- sl1 wyif: slip 1 with yarn in front
- With the yarn held in the front, insert the right-hand needle purlwise into the next stitch, slip it onto the right-hand needle without knitting or purling.
Abbreviations Used
- k– knit
- k2tog– knit 2 sts together (one st has been decreased)
- p– purl
- pm– place marker
- Rnd– round
- sl1 wyif– slip 1 with yarn in front
- st(s)– stitch(es)
- *…– repeat instructions after the asterisk
COPYRIGHT
The pattern and all related content are the exclusive property of Knit and Crochet Ever After, protected under copyright and intellectual property laws. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, screenshots, printing, or other electronic or mechanical methods, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from me.
This free knit pattern is intended for personal use only on the blog. By accessing this pattern, you agree to comply with these copyright terms and conditions. Unauthorized sharing or reproduction may result in legal consequences.
Thank you for respecting my hard work and intellectual property!
Northbound Beanie
Get the ad-free version, of the Slouchy Beanie Pattern from my Fourthwall or Ravelry shops. Enjoy a clean, easy-to-read format without distractions. Click the links below to support my work and allow me to make more patterns for you to enjoy!
Special Instructions For The Pattern
- Read through the whole pattern before beginning.
- The instructions are written for the smallest size with the other sizes in parentheses.
- If there are no parentheses, the instruction is for all sizes.
- Yarn yardage is for the largest size, reduce by 15 yards each size you go down.
Brim Instructions
With circular needle, cast on 54 (72, 84) sts. Join and pm, taking care not to twist sts on needle.
Rnds 1-10: *K1, p2; repeat from * around. 54 (72, 84) sts
Body
Broken Rib Section
Rnd 11: *K2, p1; repeat from * around.
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnds 13-18: Repeat Rnds 11 and 12 three more times.
Textured Section
Rnd 19: *K1, sl 1 wyif, k1; repeat from * around.
Rnd 20: Purl.
Rnds 21-26: Repeat Rnds 19 and 20 three more times.
Repeat
Rnds 27-58: Repeat Rnds 11-26 one more time.
Rnds 59-66: Repeat Rnds 11-12 four more times.
Crown
Rnd 67: *K2tog; repeat from * around. 27 (36, 42) sts
Rnd 68: *K2tog; repeat from * around. 14 (18, 21) sts
Note: For the small size, there will be one additional stitch to knit after all k2tog.
Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Using a needle, weave tail through the remaining sts and pull tightly to close.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
I hope you enjoy this pattern and would love to see what you make with it. Be sure to tag me on Insta or Facebook with @knitandcrocheteverafter, I love seeing what you guys come up with!