There is a current craze on in London to wear cool, rather simple, tight-fitting, knitted beanies. I think they were popularised most by football player David Beckham, who always seems to be wearing one, and this trend was quickly copied. There were two London newspaper articles (sorry, can’t remember which papers) touting the beanies and their popularity, and the beanies are currently selling anywhere from £10 – £20 in the shops and markets, and those are mostly machine made. The handmade ones are going for even more. I devised this pattern to make what I have now termed the “London Beanie.” It sounds so sophisticated; really, it’s just a tight-fitting cap in the round. This pattern has been tried and tested with teenage nephews-they love ’em.

Materials:

• 1 skein worsted (Aran weight) wool, main colour (MC) [FYI: I used Rowan Magpie MC Brown, CC1 Cream, CC2 Rust]
• Odds and ends worsted weight wool for a couple stripes-Contrasting Colours 1 & 2 (CC1, CC2)
• Circular needle, 4.5 mm (U.S. 7)
• 4 dpn’s, 4.5 mm (U.S. 7)
• Marker or loop of yarn
• Darning needle for sewing in ends

Gauge:
20sts and 28 rows = 4 inches on 4.5 mm circular needle