It’s that time of year when knitting season and football season collide! I created this Chiefs-inspired knit beanie pattern several years ago as a birthday gift for a friend, but I decided to turn it into a free pattern due to Taylor Swift’s newfound interest in a certain football player…IYKYK!
This free beanie pattern uses stranded colorwork to create a unique and eye-catching design. This pattern is perfect for any football fan in your life. These beanies make a great gift!
This pattern includes directions for ribbing, knitting in the round, and stranded colorwork. If you’re not sure how to do any of those things, don’t be intimidated. There are plenty of knitting resources online that can help show you any unfamiliar techniques.
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Go Chiefs! Beanie Knitting Pattern
Sizes
Small/Medium Adult (20-21” head circumference)**
**If knitting for a larger head, one option is to size up on your needles to create a stretchier beanie.
Materials Needed
- Main color (MC): Lion Brand Wool-Ease 4-ply worsted in Fisherman (65 yds.)
- Contrasting Color 1 (CC1): Lion Brand Wool-Ease 4-ply worsted in Koi (50 yds)
- Contrasting Color 2 (CC2): Lion Brand Wool-Ease 4-ply worsted in Arrowwood (50 yds)
- Size 5 needle (3.75 mm), 16” circular or DPNs
- Size 6 needle (4.0 mm), 16” circular or DPNs
- Switch to DPNs for decreasing crown stitches OR adjust stitches for magic loop method
- Darning Needle
- Stitch Markers
- Optional: Faux fur pom poms look great on top of this hat!
Yarn Suggestions
- Sample shown in Lion Brand Wool-Ease 4-ply worsted in Fisherman (MC), Koi (CC1), and Arrowwood (CC2)
- Any worsted or aran weight yarn in white, gold, and red will work
Gauge
Take time to check your gauge! If you are a tight knitter, I recommend going up a needle size since fairisle tends to compress stitches and make them less stretchy.
Gauge: 24sts/28 rows per 4 inches of stockinette
Gauge is for stranded colorwork in the round.
Abbreviations
| MC: Main Color (white)
CC1: Contrasting Color 1 (red) CC2: Contrasting Color 2 (gold) CO: Cast On PM: Place Marker DPN: Double Pointed Needle(s) K: Knit P: Purl PM: Place Marker K2tog: Knit two together St(s): Stitch(es) BOR: Beginning of Round |
Ribbed Band
- With smaller circular needles or DPNs, CO 108 stitches with MC yarn.
- PM and join sts for working in the round. Be mindful to not twist the stitches as you are joining.
- (K2 with MC, P2 with CC1) repeat until end of round. Work this pattern for 1” or desired length.
Work Chart Pattern
- Switch to larger circular needle. Begin working Chart A in stockinette stitch starting from 1st round with MC.
- On round 16 (with MC) K 36 sts, PM, K 36 sts, PM. You’ve now divided the hat into 3 sections.
- Continue on to Chart B. The markers will help differentiate your chart repeats for the lettering section.
- Continue on to Chart C, removing all markers except at the BOR.
Begin Crown Shaping
- You will now begin to decrease for the crown. Switch to DPNs or magic loop method when sts become too tight.
- (With CC2): (K7, K2tog) rep until end of row (96 sts remaining)
- (MC): Knit all sts
- (MC): (K6, K2tog) rep until end of row (84 sts remaining)
- (CC1): Knit all sts
- (CC1): (K5, K2tog) rep until end of row (72 sts remaining)
- (MC): Knit all sts
- (MC): (K4, K2tog) rep until end of row (60 sts remaining)
- (CC2): Knit all sts
- (CC2): (K3, Ktog) rep until end of row (48 sts remaining)
- (MC): (K2, k2tog) rep until end of row (36 sts remaining)
- (MC): (K1, k2tog) rep until end of row (24 sts remaining)
- (MC): K2tog all around (12 sts remaining)
- (MC): K2tog all around (6 sts remaining)
- Break yarn leaving a 7” tail. Using a darning needle, thread through remaining stitches and secure tightly.
- Using a darning needle, weave in all loose ends. Block lightly if desired.
- Optional: Add a pom pom on top for extra flair!
Chart A
Chart B
Chart C
Copyright: Pattern Copyright © Emily Coldiron 2023 You are more than welcome to sell your finished items if you’d like, but please do not copy, publish, and/or redistribute this pattern (including translations to other languages).
