Welcome back, everyone, to a new post on Vimla Knit. Today I’m showing you a lovely reversible beanie pattern. This beanie looks the same on both sides. We make it with simple knit and purl stitches. This gives it a smart, clean look. It works as a unisex beanie for mens and womens both.
I made this beanie on straight needles. So you will need to sew one side after you finish. This reversible beanie pattern has four easy steps. I have explained each step step by step below. Even beginners can follow this easily. Just grab your yarn and needles. Let’s start knitting this pretty double-sided beanie together!
Materials & Yarn Needed for This Reversible Knit Hat
Vardhman Woolista Merino Wool Yarn (4 ply/stranded, 8 ply thickness, 100% pure merino wool, Yardage approx. 180-200 mtrs per 100gm ball).
Straight knitting needles (3.25 mm)
A tapestry/yarn needle for seaming
A tape measure
Scissors
Common Knitting Abbreviations for Beginners
SL: Slip Stitch/Stitches
K: Knit
P: Purl
STS: Stitches/Stitch
RS: Right Side
WS: Wrong Side
K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
SL2tog: Slip 2 stitches together
Step-by-Step: How to Knit a Reversible Beanie
Casting On: Cast on 114 stitches using Vardhman Woolista Merino Wool Yarn and 3.25mm straight needles.
Finished Size & Fit: This unisex beanie measures approximately 8.5 inches in total length and is designed to fit a 22–23 inch head circumference comfortably, making it a great one-size-fits-most option for adults.
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Pattern Language: English
Techniques Used: Cast on 114 stitches and work in 2×2 rib until the brim measures 1 inch, or your preferred length. Next, switch to the Zig-Zag Rib (Herringbone Rib) stitch pattern and continue knitting until the hat measures approximately 8 inches in total length (1 inch brim + 7 inches pattern section). After completing the crown decreases, cut the yarn leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitches, pull tight to close the crown, and sew the side seam neatly using the mattress stitch or your preferred seaming method to finish the beanie.
How to Knit the Brim of a Reversible Beanie
First, we cast on stitches onto the needle. After that, we knit the brim. The brim gives the beanie a strong shape. It also stops the bottom edge from curling up.
For this brim, I used a 2×2 rib stitch. This makes the beanie look neat and pretty. The brim pattern for this easy beanie pattern is given below.
Row 1(RS): SL1 (P), * P2, K2 * repeat from * to * ……………. last sts P1
Row 2 (WS): SL1 (P), * P2, K2 * repeat from * to * ……………. last sts P1
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the border measures 1 inch. For my beanie, I worked 10 rows to achieve the 1-inch border.
How to Knit the Body of the Beanie (Herringbone Rib Stitch)
After the brim is done, we start the body part of the beanie. This part is very important for the beanie’s look. This is where our design comes in.
The pattern in this beanie is called the zig-zag or Herringbone rib stitch. We knit and purl stitches together. This makes lines that look wavy, like a zig-zag. The best part of this reversible beanie pattern is this. It looks exactly the same on both sides. So you can flip the cap and wear it both ways!
This design looks the same on both sides. So you can wear the reversible beanie either way. Complete design details and step-by-step instructions are provided below.
Row 1: SL1(P), * P8, K2, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ……………….. last sts P1
Row 2: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K2, P2, K8 * repeat from * to * ………………. last sts P1
Row 3: SL1(P), * K10, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ……………. last sts P1
Row 4: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K2, P10 * repeat from * to * ……………. last sts P1
Row 5: SL1(P), * K2, P10, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 6: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K10, P2 * repeat from * to * …………… last sts P1
Row 7: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K10, P2 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 8: SL1(P), * K2, P10, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * …………. last sts P1
Row 9: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K2, P10 * repeat from * to * …………. last sts P1
Row 10: SL1(P), * K10, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 11: SL1(P), * K2, P2, K2, P2, K8 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 12: SL1(P), * P8, K2, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * …………… last sts P1
Row 13: SL1(P), * P4, K2, P2, K2, P6 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 14: SL1(P), * K6, P2, K2, P2, K4 * repeat from * to * …………. last sts P1
Row 15: SL1(P), * K6, P2, K2, P2, K4 * repeat from * to * ……… last sts P1
Row 16: SL1(P), * P4, K2, P2, K2, P6 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Repeat these 16 rows until the beanie reaches the desired length. For my beanie, I knitted approximately 8 inches in total (1 inch brim + 7 inches of the pattern section).
How to Decrease Stitches for the Perfect Fit
Once the beanie reaches full length, we start to decrease the stitches. While decreasing, keep following your knit pattern. Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches, even while decreasing.
We don’t decrease all stitches at once. We decrease them at set gaps. This gives the beanie a nice round shape on top. It also stops any extra loose yarn at the top. This helps the reversible beanie fit your head well.
Row 1 (RS): SL1, * K2, P2, K2, P2tog, P6, P2tog * repeat from * to * ……………last sts P1
Now I have 100 stitches remaining.
Row 2 (WS): SL1, * K8, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ……………last sts P1
Row 3 (RS): SL1, * K2, P2, K2, P2tog, P4, P2tog * repeat from * to * ……………………last sts P1
Now I have 86 stitches remaining.
Row 4 (WS): SL1, * K6, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ………. last sts P1
Row 5 (RS): SL1, * K2, P2, K2, P2tog, P2, P2tog * repeat from * to * ……………………last sts P1
Now I have 72 stitches remaining.
Row 6 (WS): SL1, * K4, P2, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ………… last sts P1
Row 7 (RS): SL1, * K2, P2, K2, P2tog, P2tog * repeat from * to * ………………………last sts P1
Now I have 58 stitches remaining.
Row 8 (WS): SL1, * K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ………… last sts P1
Row 9 (RS): SL1, * K2tog, P2tog * repeat from * to * ………………last sts P1
Now I have 30 stitches remaining.
Row 10 (WS): SL1, * K1, P1 * repeat from * to * …………last sts P1
Decreasing the stitches the right way is very important for good finishing. It makes your beanie look neat and professional.
After binding off all stitches, 30 stitches will remain. Now cut a long piece of yarn. Thread it through a sewing needle.
Pass the needle through all 30 remaining stitches. Pull the yarn tight and secure it well. Finally, join both edges of the beanie together. Sew them with the needle. Once done, cut off any extra yarn.
If you want to know how to sew the beanie using mattress stitch, check out this detailed video tutorial: [Mattress Stitch to Sew Your Beanie]
Your double-sided reversible beanie pattern is now ready! You can wear it, or give it as a gift.
Conclusion: A Simple Reversible Beanie for Everyone
I hope you liked this reversible beanie pattern! Do tell me your thoughts in the comments below.
Your feedback means a lot to me. I tried my best to write this post in very simple words. This way, even beginners can follow along and make this reversible beanie easily at home.
You will find many more easy and beautiful knitting projects on my website. If you are new here, do visit once. I am sure you will love my other patterns too. They will give you fresh ideas and inspire you to create something new.
You can tag me on Instagram with your knitted beanie. I would love to see how yours turns out!
That’s all for today’s post! See you soon with another lovely project. Until then, bye bye and take care. If you want to learn more fun and creative knitting patterns, keep visiting Vimla Knit for easy, step by step guides made for everyone!
Common Questions About Knitting a Reversible Beanie
Is this reversible beanie pattern good for beginners?
Yes! This pattern uses only simple knit and purl stitches, so it’s perfect for beginners.
Do I need circular needles for this pattern?
No, this pattern is knit flat using straight needles. If you’ve tried knitting it in the round and figured out the pattern details, please share them in the comments below, it will help other readers who want to try that method too!
Can I make the brim longer than 1 inch?
Yes, you can adjust the brim length to your preference.
Do I need any special skills for the Herringbone stitch?
No, it only uses basic knit and purl stitches in a set pattern.
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