Enjoy cooler weather with this easy colorwork knitted slouchy beanie.

Design Story and Inspiration for the Plaid Knitted Slouchy Beanie

I love beanies, and I’ve wanted to make a plaid version for quite some time. Finally I decided that this is the year – so I went for it!

I love creating plaid with easy colorwork, so I decided on an easy plaid color chart that uses only two colors in each row. I also decided to use a contrasting color for the brim and top.

Yarn Options for This Slouch Beanie

I chose a yarn that already had the different colors together – no stressing over color choices! I chose the DK weight (category #3) Yarn Bee Sweet Minis, that came in three colors together in mini skeins.

This project is great for using up small amounts of leftover yarn. This particular yarn has been discontinued as of July 2022 (after I made it – boo hoo!), but you can use any DK yarn that gets gauge.

The mini skeins were only 100 yards each, so as long as you have around 40g or 100 yards of each color, you are good to go. Actually, you need even less than that because I had yarn left over after this!

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Beanie Pattern Details

This beanie is meant for someone newer to colorwork patterns. It’s knit in the round with only two colors for each colorwork row.

The ribbed brim is knit in one color, then the colorwork pattern is worked until the decrease for the crown. We change back to the color of the brim for the decrease so there is no complicated color patterning for the top – just a single color as you decrease the crown.

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Plaid Knitted Slouchy Beanie

KNITTED SLOUCHY BEANIE PATTERN

With smaller needles and color B, cast on 104 sts.  Place marker and join for beg of rnd.

Rib

Work in k2p2 rib for one round less than 2.5”.  

Inc Rnd: (K16, kfb) 4 times, (k17, kfb) 2 times – 110 sts.

Change to larger needles and color chart.

Body

Work color chart in colors A and C until piece measures 8.5” from cast-on edge, ending with any chart row.

Shape Crown

Change to color B and work decrease rounds as follows:

Rnd 1:  *K8, k2tog; rep from * to end – 99 sts.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rnd 3: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end – 88 sts.

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rnd 5: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end – 77 sts.

Rnd 6: Knit.

Rnd 7: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end – 66 sts.

Rnd 8: Knit.

Rnd 9: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end – 55 sts.

Rnd 10: Knit.

Rnd 11: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end – 44 sts.

Rnd 12: Knit.

Rnd 13: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end – 33 sts.

Rnd 14: Knit.

Rnd 15: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end – 22 sts.

Rnd 16: Knit.

Rnd 17: *K2tog; rep from * to end – 11 sts.

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving a generous tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches on the needle. Pull gently to close hole. Weave in tail.

Weave in ends.

Final Thoughts on This Knitted Slouchy Beanie Pattern

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it! It’s designed for those newer to colorwork (but of course it can be made by a more advanced knitter!) and it uses three colors of DK weight yarn.

It’s a fun, fast knit that you’ll look forward to wearing again and again or giving as a gift!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda