Machine Knit Winter Windows Beanie Hat

For me, a knit winter hat is a must. I have made hats in the past with hand knitting, but I hadn’t on a machine. So, I started work on what would become the machine knit Winter Windows Beanie Hat.

Typically since you can knit in the round with needles, I’ve always just made them there. With them being fairly small and using worsted weight yarn they work up fairly quickly. However, as a machine knitter I wanted one made on my machine.

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I have learned, at least for me, that cables are easier to achieve on a machine than by hand. It does take more time and patience since you have to manipulate the stitches on the machine, but it is easier to place the stitches in the correct orientation on a machine than risk them dropping when knitting by hand.

So, I started coming up with the idea for cables that would move back and forth. Using just one stitch crossing each other in the beanie hat makes it even easier since you don’t have the tension of multiple stitches being pulled in opposite directions.

At the top, where the decreases for the crown is where I wondered if I could achieve a hat on the machine. If decreasing occurred only at the edge of the fabric it would not fit right. The decreases had to be equally spaced around. By using a multiprong transfer tool I was able to move all the stitches together after the equally spaced decreases. Just like the cables, this did require some patience and time. But, it did end up being kind of fun! Figuring out how to move all the stitches together, how many open spaces I could have between stitches being moved, became like a puzzle for me. Watching the stitches move together bit by bit, and then finally getting them all together was really satisfying.

Seaming the edges together gave an invisible join, and the finished hat looks like it was hand knit in the round! It is so comfortable and warm!

The yarn, Premier Wool Select Dk, has unfortunately been discontinued. I have listed some alternatives. Paint Box Yarns has an option that appears super similar in construction, material usage, weight, and yardage. I also was able to create this hat with Premier Cotton Fair yarn. The stitch definition was different since it didn’t fluff up like the wool yarn. Whatever yarn you do use, please check your gauge.

Here are other great machine knit patterns by City Farmhouse Studio:

Machine Knit Winter Windows Beanie Hat
by City Farmhouse Studio

Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
Add it to your Ravelry queue HERE

See the hand knit instructions HERE

Premier – Wool Select – 3.5oz/100g – 273 yd/250m – 75% Acrylic/25% Wool – Category 3 Light Yarn – 1 skein

Alternative yarn recommendations: Paintbox Yarns Wool Blend DK, Plymouth Yarn Encore DK, Knit Picks Heatherly Sport, Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday DK , Mary Maxim Mellowspun DK, Loops & Threads Delicate DK, King Cole Paradise Beaches DK

Mid-gauge knitting machine (pattern was made on a LK150)

Tapestry Needle

Finished hat circumference:  19”

Gauge:  4” x 4” = 20 sts x 24 rows 

Notes:
A YouTube video showing step by step how to make all stitches of the pattern along with more information about the hat construction can be found at https://youtu.be/MCj-OlIqMhk

https://youtu.be/MCj-OlIqMhk

Glossary:
1/1 LC – 1 stitch by 1 stitch Left Cable – where the left stitch crosses before the right stitch to make a left leaning cable on the right side of the fabric.

1/1 RC – 1 stitch by 1 stitch Right Cable – where the right stitch crosses before the left stitch to make a right leaning cable on the right side of the fabric.

Pattern:
With waste yarn and ravel cord cast on 98 sts, 49 sts each side of bed.  E-wrap with pattern yarn.  RC to 000.  Follow chart pattern for 8 repeats across all stitches, leaving both end stitches as a knit stitch.  

Once completed with chart, take the tail of the yarn and weave through the stitches remaining on the needles.  Seam end knit stitches together and weave in ends.