The Moonbeam Beanie is made up of unique round cables and right twisted mock cables. The round cables are reminiscent of a full moon and the twisted spirals represent the glowing beams of light. This pattern is for an adult size beanie that will fit a head circumference of approximately 22-24 inches. Below you will find instructions for four yarn weights, medium worsted No. 4, Aran/light bulky, bulky No. 5 and super bulky No. 6. Happy Knitting! If you love this hat, be sure to check out my other free patterns!
Gauge:
- Medium Worsted yarn (4): 2 x 2 inch stockinette 11 sts x 15 rows using US 8/5.0 mm needles knit flatLight
- Bulky/Aran: 2×2 inch stockinette 8 sts x 11 rows using US 10 ½/6.5 mm needles knit flat
- Bulky (5): 2×2 inch stockinette 6 sts x 8 rows using US 11/8.0 mm needles knit flat
- Super Bulky (6): 2×2 inch stockinette 5 sts x 7 rows using US 15/10 mm needles knit flat
Materials:
- Yarn: Medium worsted, Light bulky/Aran, Bulky or Super Bulky ( See Chart)
- 16 inch circular knitting needles (see chart for size)
- 2 Cable Needles
- Long cord or DPN’s for decrease
- Stitch Marker
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
- Tape Measure
Abbreviations:
K– Knit
P– Purl
RT (Right Twist)– RT (Right Twist)– Go into two stitches as if to knit, wrap your yarn and pull through both stitches but do not slide them off the left hand needle. Use the tip of your right hand needle to knit into the first stitch, then slide work off of your left hand needle. (Video Tutorial linked below)
RC (Round Cable)- RC (Round Cable)– The round cable is worked over a series of five stitches. Using a CN slip the first stitch purlwise onto the CN and hold towards the front of your work. Next, use a second CN and slip 3 stitches purlwise onto the CN and hold towards the back of your work. Knit one stitch from the left hand needle onto the right then pick up the back CN and knit the 3 stitches from the CN onto the right hand needle. Lastly, knit the stitch off of the front CN onto your right hand needle. (Video Tutorial linked below)
SSK ( Slip Slip Knit)– Individually slip 2 stitches knitwise from your left hand needle onto your right hand needle. Transfer those two stitches back to the left hand needle and then knit them together through the back loop
K2TOG– Knit two stitches together
K3TOG- Knit 3 stitches together
P2TOG– Purl two stitches together
CO– Cast On
Sts– Stitches
** Repeat instructions within the asterisks
SB– Single Brim
FB– Folded Brim
YDS– Yards
Below is a chart that I have included to help organize the materials needed to knit your beanies in several different weights. Locate the yarn weight you wish to use in the far left column and easily find the yardage, needle size, number of cast on stitches and final dimensions for each weight.
****Folded brim final length measured with the brim folded****
How to adjust your beanie: You can adjust the size of your hat by increasing or decreasing the number of CO stitches by multiples of 12. You may knit your hat to any length that you prefer. The decrease will add approximately ½ inch to your beanies length so keep that in mind when making adjustments.: You can adjust the size of your hat by increasing or decreasing the number of CO stitches by multiples of 12. You may knit your hat to any length that you prefer. The decrease will add approximately ½ inch to your beanies length (or 1 inch for super bulky yarn) so keep that in mind when making adjustments.
Moon Beam Beanie Medium Worsted (4)
Brim: You have the option to create a single brim or a folded brim
Single brim: *K1, P1* for 12 rounds
Folded brim: *K1, P1* until your brim measures 4 inches from the CO edge
Once Brim is complete, switch to US 8 (5.0 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles. Knit one set up round before beginning the body of the hat. Set up round: *K5, P2, K3, P2*
Body:
- *RC, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
If you are knitting a single brim hat, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 8 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
If knitting a hat with a folded brim, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 10 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
Decreasing will add roughly ½ inch to your hat. Once finished, your hat should measure 9 inches total for a single brim and 11 inches total for a folded brim when measured from the cast on edge to the top of your hat.
Decrease:
- *SSK, K1, K2TOG, P2, K1, K2TOG, P2* (72 sts)
- *K3, P2, K2, P2* (72 sts)
- *K3TOG, P2, K2TOG, P2* (48 sts)
- *K1, P2TOG* (32 sts)
- *K2TOG* (16 sts)
Moonbeam Beanie Light Bulky/Aran
Instructions: Using US 9 (5.5 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles CO 72 stitches and join in the round.
Brim: You have the option to create a single brim or a folded brim
Single brim: *K1, P1* for 12 rounds
Folded brim: *K1, P1* until your brim measures 4 inches from the CO edge
Once Brim is complete, switch to US 10.5 (6.5 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles. Knit one set up round before beginning the body of the hat. Set up round: *K5, P2, K3, P2*
Body:
- *RC, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
If you are knitting a single brim hat, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 8 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
If knitting a hat with a folded brim, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 10 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
Decreasing will add roughly ½ inch to your hat. Once finished, your hat should measure 9 inches total for a single brim and 11 inches total for a folded brim when measured from the cast on edge to the top of your hat.
Decrease:
- *SSK, K1, K2TOG, P2, K1, K2TOG, P2* (54 sts)
- *K3, P2, K2, P2* (54 sts)
- *K3TOG, P2, K2TOG, P2* (36 sts)
- *K1, P2TOG* (24 sts)
- *K2TOG* (12 sts)
Moonbeam Beanie Bulky (5)
Instructions: Using US 10 ½ (6.5 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles CO 60 stitches and join in the round.
Brim: You have the option to create a single brim or a folded brim
Single brim: *K1, P1* for 12 rounds
Folded brim: *K1, P1* until your brim measures 4 inches from the CO edge
Once Brim is complete, switch to US 11 (8.0 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles. Knit one set up round before beginning the body of the hat. Set up round: *K5, P2, K3, P2*
Body:
- *RC, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
If you are knitting a single brim hat, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 8 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
If knitting a hat with a folded brim, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 10 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
Decreasing will add roughly ½ inch to your hat. Once finished, your hat should measure 9 inches total for a single brim and 11 inches total for a folded brim when measured from the cast on edge to the top of your hat.
Decrease:
- *SSK, K1, K2TOG, P2, K1, K2TOG, P2* (45 sts)
- *K3, P2, K2, P2* (45 sts)
- *K3TOG, P2, K2TOG, P2* (30 sts)
- *K1, P2TOG* (20 sts)
- *K2TOG* (10 sts)
Moonbeam Beanie Super Bulky (6)
Instructions: Using US 13 (9.0 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles CO 48 stitches and join in the round.
Brim: You have the option to create a single brim or a folded brim
Single brim: *K1, P1* for 7 rounds
Folded brim: *K1, P1* until your brim measures 4 inches from the CO edge
Once Brim is complete, switch to US 15 (10 mm) 16 inch circular knitting needles. Knit one set up round before beginning the body of the hat. Set up round: *K5, P2, K3, P2*
Body:
- *RC, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, RT, K1, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
- *K5, P2, K1, RT, P2*
- *K5, P2, K3, P2*
If you are knitting a single brim hat, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 8 inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
If knitting a hat with a folded brim, repeat rounds 1-8 of the body until your hat measures 10 and ½ inches from the cast on edge. End after round 1, 3, 5 or 7. Then begin to decrease.
Decreasing will add roughly 1 inch to your hat. Once finished, your hat should measure 9 inches total for a single brim and 11 and 1/2 inches total for a folded brim when measured from the cast on edge to the top of your hat.
Decrease:
- *SSK, K1, K2TOG, P2, K1, K2TOG, P2* (36 sts)
- *K3, P2, K2, P2* (36 sts)
- *K3TOG, P2, K2TOG, P2* (24 sts)
- *K1, P2TOG* (16 sts)
- *K2TOG* (8 sts)
Thank you for stopping by! If you have any questions please feel free to message me through Etsy and I will respond as soon as possible. You are more than welcome to sell your Moonbeam Beanies in small quantities, but please give credit to Celeste Griswold at www.griswoldknits.com. Please do not copy, recreate, sell or distribute my pattern ©2025 GriswoldKnits, All rights reserved. I would love to see your work! Tag me on instagram @griswold.knits and use the hashtags #Griswoldknits and #moonbeambeanie
