Beanie Cast-On Calculator

How this works

Beanies are knit in the round, bottom-up — cast on at the brim, knit ribbing, switch to the body stitch, knit straight for a few inches, then start crown decreases. This calculator handles the cast-on count; the hat crown decrease calculator handles the decrease schedule.

Negative ease keeps the beanie on your head. 5% is the default for a standard fit. Use 0% for slouchy beanies (full head circumference at the brim), and bump to 10% for skullcap-tight fits or very stretchy yarn.

What stitch multiple should I pick?

The brim is almost always ribbed — that's what gives the beanie its grip. Pick the multiple that matches your ribbing:

• k1p1 ribbing — multiple of 2 (default).
• k2p2 ribbing — multiple of 4.
• Twisted-rib or wider patterns — multiple of 6 or 8.
• Cabled patterns — multiple of the cable repeat, often 6 or 8.

Tips

• Knit a swatch in the round, not flat. In-the-round gauge often differs from flat gauge by a stitch or two — and beanies are knit in the round.
• Use a circular needle 16" or smaller; bump to DPNs or magic loop once the crown decreases shrink the diameter past the cable length.
• Standard adult beanie depth is 8–10 inches total (brim to crown). Body length (the straight portion) is whatever you have left after subtracting the crown decrease depth. The crown decrease calc tells you that depth based on your decrease cadence.
• For a child or baby beanie, drop the head circumference and the cast-on follows. Babies run 14–16", toddlers 17–19", children 19–21", adult S 21", M 22", L 23".