January 2024 update: I am working on revising all my patterns and my Ravelry shop, and so all my patterns are currently unavailable to download. They will be back soon, once they’ve been edited, corrected, and updated! Watch this space…

The Broken Waves Beanie is a cosy, airy hat with lots of slouch! Based on the Chinese Waves stitch pattern and knitted on too-big needles for a quick, easy knit, this hat is a little bit lacy, but is deceptively warm too. It looks just as good in both solid colours and variegated yarns, whether wool, blends or acrylic.

---

YARNS, NEEDLES AND THE LIKE

You will need approximately 120m/131yds of aran or light worsted weight yarn, such as…

• Stylecraft Special Aran With Wool (816m per 400g ball = 204m per 100g, 80% acrylic, 20% wool) (shown in Blue Heather)

• Knitcraft by Hobbycraft Leader of the Pac (170m per 100g ball, 90% acrylic, 10% alpaca) (shown in Forest)

• West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft (166m per 100g skein, 100% wool) (shown in Mossbank)

…or any other similar weight yarn.

Note: as the thickness of individual aran and worsted weight yarns can vary, be aware that a thinner aran will produce more of an airy hat, while a thicker or fuzzier yarn (such as the Leader of the Pac) will be denser, and the pattern will be less noticeable than with a thinner aran.

Suggested needles are…

• 4.5mm circular needles, 40cm long OR 4.5mm double pointed needles

• AND 8mm circular needles, 40cm long…

• AND/OR 8mm double pointed needles if you don’t like magic loop

You can knit the whole hat on circular needles if you choose to use the magic loop method for the decreasing, or you can use double pointed needles for the whole pattern if you prefer. Why not mix and match?

---

SIZES, MEASUREMENTS AND TENSION

The pattern is written in one size, which will fit most heads from teenager to adult.

Unstretched brim circumference: (43 centimetres / 17 inches)
Fully stretched brim circumference: (60 centimetres / 24 inches)

Tension is not important for this pattern, as the rib is very stretchy and the rest of the hat is loose and comfy so doesn’t need to fit closely.

If you knit this pattern, I’d love to see it! Share your WIPs and finished objects on Instagram with the hashtag #IIMSAWdesigns so I can see it!