Simple Pinwheel Beanie

Hats are great. I still love to make them. Instant gratification projects :) The basic beanie is the next step up from a scarf for beginners. The very first thing I made as a novice knitter was a hat not unlike this one. Even though it's not too hard, I was so pleased with myself making a fitted wearable item; I think it was all the "fancy decreasing" and knitting in the round. The hat gets its "pinwheel" name from the pattern the decreases make on top. This hat is meant to fit snugly and can be embellished with little stars or whatever you can dream up.

Level: Beginner

Size: Fits most adults

Circumference: 24 inches
Height: 8.25 inches

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft [100% acrylic; worsted weight 4ply; 315 yd per 170g skein]; 1 skein; Grey

Needles:

1 16-inch US #10 / 6 mm circular needle
1 set US #10 / 6 mm double-point needles
4 stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 16 sts/22 rows = 4 inches in pattern

Pattern Notes:

PM = place marker. Switch to double pointed needles when stitches get too tight on the circular needles.

Body

CO 84 st.
Rounds 1-4: Knit 2x2 rib.
Rounds 5-24: k [20 rounds] [24 rounds knit total]

Decreases:

Rounds 25-37: *k 19, k2tog, PM, repeat from * to end. Continue to k2tog before every marker [4 markers placed; 13 decrease rounds worked, including the first] [32 stitches on needle after decreases]
Round 38: k2tog before every marker. [16 stitches left on needle]
Round 39: k2tog before every marker. [8 stitches left on needle]
Round 40: k2tog before every marker. [4 stitches left on needle]

Finishing:

Cut yarn leaving at least 6 inch tail. Thread onto seaming needle. Take stitches off knitting needles, thread seaming needle into stitch loops. Pull tight to close hole. Knot yarn. Turn hat inside out to sew in tails.

Embellishment (Optional):

Sew star pattern onto hat using white yarn. Or sew on any other embellishment with whatever color yarn that pleases you.