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When I first picked up my knitting needles, I was excited yet apprehensive. Like many beginners, I wanted a project that would build my confidence without being overly complicated. That’s when I discovered the Bow Beanie pattern, an ideal project for novice knitters. Not only is this beanie straightforward and easy to follow, but it also includes an adorable bow that can be attached to a clip, making it a versatile accessory for any outfit.

The Bow Beanie is crafted using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted yarn, which is both affordable and a joy to work with. This yarn is known for its durability and softness, making it perfect for creating a cozy beanie that will keep you warm during the colder months. Plus, it comes in a wide range of colors, allowing for endless customization options.

Getting Started

The beauty of the Bow Beanie lies in its simplicity. This project uses basic knitting stitches and techniques, making it a perfect choice for beginners who are just getting comfortable with their needles. The pattern involves knitting in the round, which eliminates the need for seams and gives the beanie a smooth, professional finish.

For this project, you’ll need a set of circular knitting needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown shaping. Don’t worry if you’ve never used DPNs before; the pattern guides you through each step, and you’ll find it’s easier than it looks.

Choosing Your Yarn

As I mentioned, KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted yarn is an excellent choice for this beanie. It’s a worsted weight yarn, which means it’s not too thick or too thin, providing just the right amount of warmth without being bulky. The yarn is made from 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, which offers a lovely texture and stitch definition.

One of the joys of knitting is selecting the perfect color for your project. With Wool of the Andes Worsted, you’re spoiled for choice. Whether you prefer classic neutrals, vibrant jewel tones, or soft pastels, there’s a shade to match your style. For my Bow Beanie, I chose a rich, deep blue that complements my winter wardrobe.

Knitting the Beanie

The Bow Beanie pattern starts with a simple ribbed brim, which helps the beanie fit snugly around your head. Ribbing is a fantastic technique for beginners to practice, as it’s essentially alternating knit and purl stitches. This section is quick to knit up and gives the beanie a nice stretchy edge.

Once the brim is complete, you’ll move on to the body of the beanie. This section is knit in stockinette stitch, which is the most basic knitting stitch – just knit stitches in the round. It’s a great way to develop a rhythm and improve your tension.

As you approach the top of the beanie, you’ll need to switch to DPNs to shape the crown. This part might seem intimidating at first, but take it one step at a time. The pattern provides clear instructions on how to decrease stitches evenly, creating a neat, rounded top.

Adding the Bow

The removable bow is what sets this beanie apart and adds a touch of whimsy. Knitting the bow is a simple process, and it’s a great way to practice your knitting skills on a smaller scale. The bow is knit flat and then gathered in the middle to create that classic bow shape.

To make the bow removable, you can attach it to a clip. This way, you can easily switch it out or remove it if you prefer a more understated look. It also allows you to make multiple bows in different colors, giving you the option to change up the look of your beanie depending on your mood or outfit.

Finishing Touches

Once you’ve completed the beanie and bow, it’s time to weave in any loose ends. This step is crucial for giving your finished project a polished look. Use a tapestry needle to weave the yarn tails into the fabric of the beanie, ensuring they’re secure and invisible from the outside.

Before you wear your new beanie, it’s a good idea to block it. Blocking helps even out the stitches and gives the beanie its final shape. Simply soak the beanie in lukewarm water, gently squeeze out the excess water, and lay it flat to dry. You can use pins to shape it if needed, but for a simple beanie like this, laying it flat should be sufficient.

Why I Love the Bow Beanie

There are so many reasons to love the Bow Beanie pattern. For starters, it’s a fantastic project for beginners. The pattern is straightforward, and the techniques used are foundational to many knitting projects. By the time you finish your beanie, you’ll have gained confidence in your knitting abilities and be ready to tackle more complex patterns.

The beanie itself is incredibly practical. It’s warm, comfortable, and fits well, making it a staple in any winter wardrobe. The addition of the removable bow adds a playful touch and allows for customization. Whether you’re making the beanie for yourself or as a gift, the recipient is sure to appreciate the thought and effort that went into creating such a lovely handmade item.

Moreover, the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted yarn is a pleasure to work with. It’s budget-friendly without compromising on quality, and the wide range of colors means you can make a beanie to match any outfit. The yarn’s durability ensures that your beanie will last for many winters to come.

Final Thoughts

The Bow Beanie pattern holds a special place in my heart. It’s the project that helped me fall in love with knitting and gave me the confidence to try more challenging patterns. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first project or an experienced knitter wanting a quick and enjoyable knit, the Bow Beanie is a perfect choice.

I hope you find as much joy in knitting this beanie as I did. There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating something beautiful and functional with your own hands. So grab your needles, choose your favorite yarn, and get started on your Bow Beanie. Happy knitting!

Materials and Info

Materials: 1-2 skein of KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in each color, size 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles, yarn needle optional-a clip if you would like to make the bow attachable instead of sewn on

Gauge: 4st/in

Gauge is very important!!!

Sizes (appx finished circumference) – small preemie (10ins), medium preemie (11ins), large preemie (12ins), newborn (13ins), 0-3mths (14ins), 3-6mths (15ins), 6-12mths (16ins), toddler (17ins), child (18ins), teen (19ins),  adult small (20ins), adult large (21ins)

Bow Beanie Pattern

Small Preemie

Cast on 40 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-4 – K2P2 around

Knit 1 round. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 1.75ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (35sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (25sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (20sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (15sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (10sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends.  Bow directions are on the last page.

Medium Preemie

Cast on 44 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-5 – K2P2 around

Knit 1 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 2ins from cast on edge.
Decreases

Rd 1 – k2tog k9 – repeat around (40sts)
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (35sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (25sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (20sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (15sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (10sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends.  Bow directions are on the last page.

Large Preemie

Cast on 48 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-5 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 2.5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (42sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (36sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (24sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (18sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (12sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (6sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends.  Bow directions are on the last page.

Newborn
Cast on 52 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-6 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 3ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k11 – repeat around (48sts)
Rd 2 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (42sts)
Rd 3 – knit around
Rd 4 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (36sts)
Rd 5 – knit around
Rd 6 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 7 – knit around
Rd 8 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (24sts)
Rd 9 – knit around
Rd 10 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (18sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (12sts)
Rd 12 – k2tog – repeat around (6sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends.  Bow directions are on the last page.
0-3mths
Cast on 56 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-6 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 3.5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (49sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (42sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (35sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (28sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (21sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (14sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (7sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

3-6mths
Cast on 60 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-7 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 4.25ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k13 – repeat around (56sts)
Rd 2 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (49sts)
Rd 3 – knit around
Rd 4 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (42sts)
Rd 5 – knit around
Rd 6 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (35sts)
Rd 7 – knit around
Rd 8 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (28sts)
Rd 9 – knit around
Rd 10 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (21sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (14sts)
Rd 12 – k2tog – repeat around (7sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts.  Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

6-12mths
Cast on 64 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-7 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (56sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (48sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (40sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (32sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (24sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (16sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (8sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Toddler
Cast on 68 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-8 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 5.5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k15 – repeat around (64sts)
Rd 2 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (56sts)
Rd 3 – knit around
Rd 4 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (48sts)
Rd 5 – knit around
Rd 6 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (40sts)
Rd 7 – knit around
Rd 8 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (32sts)
Rd 9 – knit around
Rd 10 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (24sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (16sts)
Rd 12 – k2tog – repeat around (8sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Child
Cast on 72 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-8 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 6ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (63sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (54sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (45sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (36sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (27sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (18sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (9sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Teen

Cast on 76 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-8 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 6.5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases

Rd 1 – k2tog k17 – repeat around (72sts)
Rd 2 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (63sts)
Rd 3 – knit around
Rd 4 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (54sts)
Rd 5 – knit around
Rd 6 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (45sts)
Rd 7 – knit around
Rd 8 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (36sts)
Rd 9 – knit around
Rd 10 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (27sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (18sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (9sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Adult Small

Cast on 80 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-8 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 
Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 7ins from cast on edge.
Decreases
Rd 1 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (70sts)
Rd 2 – knit around
Rd 3 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (60sts)
Rd 4 – knit around
Rd 5 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (50sts)
Rd 6 – knit around
Rd 7 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (40sts)
Rd 8 – knit around
Rd 9 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 10 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (20sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog – repeat around (10sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Adult Large

Cast on 84 sts in the main color.  Join to work in the round.

Rounds 1-8 – K2P2 around

Knit 3 rounds. 

Pick up contrasting color.

Knit 4 rounds. 

Pick up main color.
Knit until your work measures 7.5ins from cast on edge.
Decreases Rd 1 – k2tog k19 – repeat around (80sts)
Rd 2 – k2tog k6 – repeat around (70sts)
Rd 3 – knit around
Rd 4 – k2tog k5 – repeat around (60sts)
Rd 5 – knit around
Rd 6 – k2tog k4 – repeat around (50sts)
Rd 7 – knit around
Rd 8 – k2tog k3 – repeat around (40sts)
Rd 9 – knit around
Rd 10 – k2tog k2 – repeat around (30sts)
Rd 11 – k2tog k1 – repeat around (20sts)
Rd 12 – k2tog – repeat around (10sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving several inches (appx 6-8) and pull through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends and enjoy!  Bow directions are on the last page.

Bow

Preemie-Newborn

Cast on 15sts in contrasting color.

Knit 15 rows (creating a garter st pattern).

Bind off.

3-6mth – Adult

Cast on 20sts in contrasting color.

Knit 20 rows (creating a garter st pattern).

Bind off.

To form the bow, cinch the bow in the middle and tie a knot in the back as shown in the photo.  I like to wrap the yarn around several times to create the look in the photo next to the title.  You can now either sew the bow directly onto the hat or attach it to a clip to make it removable.

Bow Beanie PDF