It can get pretty cold in the winter, so why not knit yourself a cozy beanie to help stay warm?

Beanies are really easy to knit, so this tutorial is perfect if you're a beginner.

This project uses two straight knitting needles and is flat-knit—no need to worry about circular knitting.

Have fun!

Supplies

For this project, you'll need the following supplies:

Yarn (medium, 4 is what I used) - I used two colors, but if you want to use just one or go crazy with three or more, you can do that.
Knitting needles - Size 8. The longer the better, you'll have a lot of stitches on at once!
Yarn needle - for sewing the hat up.

You'll also need a pair of scissors.

Gauge: 2x2 inches = 8 stitches and 12 rows. Check while you’re knitting to make sure that your gauge is similar (a difference of a stitch or two is not the end of the world).

Step 1: Casting On

Choose the color for the rim of your hat. Using that color, cast on 72 stitches using your preferred method (I used the knitting cast on).

Note: This pattern is optimized for a head circumference of around 22 inches. If your head circumference (measuring around your ears) is bigger than that, then I suggest casting on 80 stitches. The process for making the hat will remain the same, except you’ll have more stitches and the hat will turn out bigger.

Step 2: Rim of Hat

Continuing in your bottom color, knit using a 2x2 rib stitch. That means you'll do this:

Row 1 (RS): (k2, p2) until end of row.

Row 2 (WS): (k2, p2) until end of row.

Repeat these two rows until you have 1 1/2 inches of knitting, or around 10 rows.

Step 3: Main Part of Hat

After you've knitted the rim, change to your main color (if you're using multiple colors). Knit using a stockinette stitch. That looks like this:

Row 1 (RS): Knit until end of row.

Row 2 (WS): Purl until end of row.

Repeat these two rows until you have 7 inches of knitting (total—including the rim!), or after about 30 rows of knitting in the new color. Make sure you've ended on a wrong side row. Now you're ready to start decreasing!

Step 4: Decreasing

Here's what you'll do:

Row 1 (RS): (k1, k2tog) until end of row.

Row 2 (WS): Purl until end of row.

Row 3 (RS): (k2tog) until end of row.

Row 4 (WS): Purl until end of row.

Row 5 (RS): (k2tog) until end of row.

Row 6 (WS): Purl until end of row.

Row 7 (RS): (k2tog) until end of row.

Row 8 (WS): Purl until end of row.

If you casted on 72 stitches, you’ll end up with a total of 6 stitches on your needle. (If you casted on more than that, you’ll have some more stitches—that’s okay.)

Now, cut the yarn, leaving a tail about a foot long. Take your yarn needle and thread it using this tail. Remove the six stitches from the knitting needle and put the yarn needle through, pulling it tight.

Step 5: Sewing

Now, you’re ready to sew up your beanie. Using the tail from the main part, sew the two sides together using the mattress stitch.

Once you get to the rim, turn the beanie inside out. Tie off and cut the tail on the inside.

Turn the beanie right side out again. Then, thread your yarn needle using the yarn that we cut when changing colors (it should be attached to the top of the rim). Again, using a mattress stitch, seam the beanie. Because one side is in knit stitch and the other side is in purl stitch, you’ll need to sew from the wrong side when you get to the side with the purl stitches.

Once you get to the end, tie off and cut the tail.

Weave in the loose ends and you’re done!