This is a typical bottom-up beanie, except that the bottom is hemmed and has some two-color knitting. The hem helps keep the bottom flat and the yarn ends tucked in. And what does the Morse code say? Why, anything you want it to, but I’ve charted out how to say F*CK CANCER. But the * is a U. (Morse code has no *!)

Materials:

• Ultra soft, worsted weight yarn, preferably machine washable
  • ~110 yards (50 g) of the main color (MC)
  • ~4 yards of a contrast color (CC)
• A few yards of a smooth waste yarn in a color that contrasts with MC.
• US size 8 (5 mm) needles
  • I use 16” circular needles for most of the hat, plus an additional circular needle for the very top.
  • You could instead use double-pointed needles (DPNs) for all of the hat or just for the top.
• Optional: a second set of needles (DPNs or 16” circular) in the same size or smaller. You’ll use these when you join the hem.
• Crochet hook (any size that works with your waste yarn) for the provisional cast on.
• Markers (optional but helpful): 1 for the end of the round, and 7 more to mark decrease locations.

Techniques:

• Provisional cast on (optional but strongly encouraged; fun, too)
• Knitting in the round
• Purling (just one round)
• Two-color knitting (only 2 rounds!)
• Following a chart (because it’d be silly to write out something this visual)

Even if you’re a beginner, you can do all this with a little help from the web or an experienced knitter.

The most challenging parts—which are more fiddly than difficult—are all within the first 21 rounds. From round 22 onward, this hat is easy and a quick knit!