Easy Colorful Knitted Hat Pattern for Beginners

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Simple color change easy knitted beanie for beginners. Knits up in about an 1 hour with any super bulky yarn. Simple 2 row repeat. Great project for beginners or advanced beginners because you only work one color at a time. Let the yarn do the fancy color changes for you by choosing a variegated yarn. Need a last-minute gift idea? This hat makes a beautiful and practical gift!  Just grab 2 different colored super bulky yarns, 16 inch circular needles, size US 11 and get started knitting up this hat! 

Easy Color Change Knitted Hat Pattern- The Aspen Beanie

by Hannah Schneider @ Naptime Knitter Design

• This stretchy and textured beanie is knitted in the round and knits up FAST!
• chunky knitted hat that is warm, thick and stretchy.
• Worked in 2 colors, but only 1 color at a time making it beginner-friendly and easy to change colors.
• Adult size/Women’s average size
• Skill Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner

Materials

US Size 11 circular needles 16 inches long, or size needed to obtain gauge.

2 different colors of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick or Malabrigo Rasta or any Super Bulky (6 weight) yarn, about 45 yards of each. The color combos are endless!

1 Stitch marker

Darning needle for finishing

Faux fur pom pom (optional) (shown in my handmade Caramel Blonde color M/L size and Large Black faux fur pom pom @ Naptime Knitter Design on Etsy)

Gauge: 9 st and 13 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette st

Finished Size:

◾Women’s average size measures 9 inches tall and 21-24 inch head circumference

Tips and Skills to know:

This hat is worked in the round, 1 color at a time (no complicated color changes)

Skills and terms you will need to know:

• knit (K) purl (P), knit1 through the back loop (K1TBL) and Knit 2 stitches together (K2TOG).
• Casting on: When you cast on, make sure you do not pull the yarn too tightly, just relaxed yet even tension.
• Decreasing Rounds: You can switch to double pointed needles when you begin decreasing your stitches, but I find the magic loop method works well.
• Fit of finished hat: I design my hats to keep your ears warm, so the ribbing is tighter and less likely to stretch out over time (thanks to the twisted rib stitch at the bottom of the hat. I like when a hat covers my ears and hugs my head. However, if you like a looser fit, you can go up a needle size, or .you may find that after a few wears the yarn will relax a bit.
• This is an easy pattern to modify for different sizes, simply CO an even number of stitches and knit it as tall as you would like in the pattern. Just allowing for about an inch of decreasing rows.

download the PDF here

The Aspen Knitted Hat

Free chunky knitted hat pattern with easy color changes. Great pattern for beginners. Knits up quickly with any super bulky yarn.

Print

Materials

• US Size 11 circular needles 16 inches long, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• 2 different colors of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick or Malabrigo Rasta or any Super Bulky (6 weight) yarn, about 45 yards of each. The color combos are endless!
• 1 Stitch marker
• Darning needle for finishing
• Faux fur pom pom (optional) (shown in my handmade Caramel Blonde color M/L size and Large Black faux fur pom pom @ Naptime Knitter Design on Etsy)
• Custom tag (if using)

Instructions

The Pattern:

Choose your 2 colors (noted as: Color A, Color B). Worked in a 2 row repeat pattern.

With color A, CO 36 stitches with even tension, but NOT tightly.

Join in the round, careful not to twist the yarn. Place stitch marker between first and last stitch, slip your stitch marker between each round.

• Round 1: With color A- *K1, P1*, repeat from * around

• Rounds 2-8: With color A- work the Twisted rib stitch: *K1TBL (knit 1 through the back loop), P1*, repeat from * around.

Begin Pattern repeat:

• Round 9: With color A- Knit all stitches around.

• Round 10: With color B- *K1, P1*, repeat from * around

• Repeat Rounds 9 and 10 until hat measures 8 inches tall, about 19 rounds from the beginning of the pattern repeat. End with a K1, P1 round.

Decreasing rounds:

(switch to double pointed needles if desired or use magic loop method, like me.)

• Round 1: With A-*K2TOG, K2* repeat from *
• Round 2: With B- Knit all stitches around
• Round 3: With A- *K2TOG, K2*, repeat from *
• Round 4: With B- Knit all stitches around
• Round 5: With A- K2TOG around.

Finishing:

• Cut yarn, leaving a 8-10 inches tail for finishing. Using your darning needle, thread end through remaining stitches being careful to go through the middle of each stitch . Pull knitting needle off of stitches. Pull yarn tightly and secure. Weave in any loose ends. Attach your faux fur pom pom or tags, if using.

If the ribbing section of the hat feels a bit snug, it will relax after a few wears or you can put your hands in it and firmly shape it so the yarn will relax.

Please do not resell any of my patterns, as they are written by me. You have permission to sell your finished hats and scarves.

Notes

Skills and terms you will need to know:

• knit (K) purl (P), knit1 through the back loop (K1TBL) and Knit 2 stitches together (K2TOG).
• Casting on: When you cast on, make sure you do not pull the yarn too tightly, just relaxed yet even tension.
• Decreasing Rounds: You can switch to double pointed needles when you begin decreasing your stitches, but I find the magic loop method works well.
• Fit of finished hat: I design my hats to keep your ears warm, so the ribbing is tighter and less likely to stretch out over time (thanks to the twisted rib stitch at the bottom of the hat. I like when a hat covers my ears and hugs my head. However, if you like a looser fit, you can go up a needle size, or .you may find that after a few wears the yarn will relax a bit.
• This is an easy pattern to modify for different sizes, simply CO an even number of stitches and knit it as tall as you would like in the pattern. Just allowing for about an inch of decreasing rows.

Here’s another 1 hour free knitting hat pattern