Men’s Knit Hat pattern
The third beanie in my Fair Isle series is a men’s knit hat pattern, and I’m so excited to share this one. I’ve had a ton of requests for more designs for men and boys, and I’ve been listening! It’s a major goal of mine this year to share more “manly” patterns. Plus I love to knit for my husband and son, so I’m really enjoying this new challenge of designing patterns that they would wear. And, since he’s so handsome, I thought it would be a fun change to use my husband Brett as the model for this pattern. He’s pretty shy about this kind of thing, but he was a great sport and I have to say I’m impressed by his smizing abilities 😆.
The Northshore Men’s Beanie Pattern
I named this hat pattern the Northshore beanie because it was inspired by the icy waters of Lake Louise in the Rocky mountains near my home. There’s something so very magical about the cold, glassy water and I really wanted to reflect the feeling of this in the design.
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I hope you love this pattern as much as I enjoyed creating it! If you do, feel free to share the link to this page on your social media platforms or Pinterest account. Sharing not only helps more knitters discover these patterns, but it also supports my work in a huge way.
I’m truly grateful for all of you who help spread the word about this site and my patterns. Your support means the world to me!
❤️ Alnaar
Choosing Colours For this Hat
You can absolutely switch up the colours and make this hat your own. One of the best parts of Fair Isle knitting is getting to play with different combinations and create something that really matches your style.
And if choosing colours feels a bit intimidating, I’m actually presenting at this year’s Yarn to Wardrobe Summit on that exact topic. The summit is completely free to attend, and it’s packed with genuinely useful workshops. I’ll be watching the other sessions myself and can’t wait to learn from the talented presenters. There’s also an optional bonus superpack you can purchase if you want to keep all the presentations for later -it also includes valuable bonus material. I’ve included more info and sign-up links below.
- Free 4-day online event for knitters and crocheters
- February 17–20, 2026
- Focused on wearables that actually get worn (hats, socks, sweaters, garments)
- Teaches the foundations most makers are missing: gauge, fit, sizing, yarn choice, adjustments, finishing
- Applies to knitting, crochet, or both
- 20+ expert designers teaching practical, transferable skills
- Free ticket includes 48h replay access per session
- Optional Superpack upgrade for ongoing access + bonuses
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. I use all of the products listed on this page and recommend them because they are companies that I have found helpful and trustworthy. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything I have recommended!
Free PatterN- Northshore Beanie/Hat
Materials & Supplies:
You will need the following supplies to make one hat
- Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Weight Yarn in the following colours:
- Colour A: Mink (Approx. 70 yards for adult / 62 yards for child)
- Colour B: Icicle Heather (Approx. 40 yards for adult / 35 yards for child)
- Colour C: White (Approx. 32 yards for adult / 29 yards for child)
- Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular Knitting needles (16″ cord)
- Size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needles (16″ cord)
- Size 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
- Scissors
- Tapestry/yarn needle
- Stitch markers
About the Yarn
Once again, I designed this beanie pattern to use Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted weight yarn. A few months ago, after a couple glasses of wine, I may have ordered over $300 worth of this yarn line… and I regret absolutely nothing! I love how it’s 100% wool, making it the perfect yarn for fair isle knitting. And with so many colours to choose from, I can make each design look exactly the way I pictured it in my head.
Helpful Video Tutorials for Knitting This Hat
A demonstration of how I change colours in stranded/fair isle knitting.
My favourite method for a stretchy cast on that is perfect for knit ribbing.
Gauge
20 stitches, 22 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
Sizes
- Child (head circumference 18-20 inches).
- Adult (head circumference 21-24 inches).
Abbreviations
K: Knit
P: Purl
St: Stitch
Pm: Place stitch marker
Sm: Slip stitch marker
K2tog: Knit two stitches together
Ssk: Slip 2 stitches knitwise, one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops
Ad Free PDF File
The free knitting pattern for this fair isle hat is available right here on this page, as this site is sustained through ad support.
If you like things a little more streamlined, I’ve put together an ad-free, downloadable PDF version of the pattern. It’s perfect for easy printing and can be can be purchased through My Ravelry Store or by clicking the “Purchase PDF File” button to the right.
Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me, and I’m beyond grateful to be able to share my passion with you all.
Special Stitches
Stockinette Stitch: Knit every stitch when working in the round.
1X1 Rib Stitch: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Pattern Notes
This is a Fair Isle (also called stranded knitting) pattern.
The hat is knit in the round from the bottom up with a 1×1 ribbed brim followed by a Fair Isle chart for the colourwork section.
Because the hat is knit in the round, circular needles are required. You may switch to double-pointed needles when shaping the crown, or use the magic loop method with a long circular needle instead.
Instructions are written for both sizes as child (adult). For example, cast on 84 (96) means cast on 84 stitches for the child size and 96 stitches for the adult size.
More Free Knit Hat Patterns from Leelee Knits!
Northshore Beanie Men’s Hat – Free Knitting Pattern
Using size 5 circular needles and Colour A, cast on 84(96) stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round and then join, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Work in the round with 1X1 rib stitch for the brim for 12 rounds.
Change to size 8 circular needles and knit the remainder of the hat in stockinette stitch, following the chart on the next page for the size you are making.
The charts are read from the bottom up, with each square representing one stitch. Because the hat is knit in the round, read each chart row from right to left. Each chart row corresponds to one round of knitting. Note: the child and adult charts have different row counts. Work all rows shown for the size you are making.
After completing the final round of the chart, place stitch markers after every 21 (24) stitches to divide the hat into four sections. You will now begin shaping the crown.
Shaping the Crown of Your Beanie
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: *K1, k2tog, k to two stitches before the next marker, ssk, slip marker; repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 12(16) stitches remain (switch to double-pointed needles or magic loop as needed when stitches become too few to comfortably fit on the circular needle).
When 12(16) stitches remain, cut the yarn, leaving an 8–12″ tail. Thread the tail onto a yarn needle, draw it through the remaining stitches, and pull tight to close the crown.
Bring the tail to the inside of the hat and secure it. Weave in all ends and wet block to relax the stitches. Wet blocking is highly recommended for stranded knitting, as it helps even out the stitches and makes the colour work look tidier.
Pattern PDF File
I hope you enjoyed this free pattern for the Northshore Men’s Knit Hat.
If you’d like your own copy, the Ad-Free PDF file (which will be emailed to you automatically) can be purchased through Ravelry, or by clicking the “Purchase PDF File” button to the right.
Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me, and I’m beyond grateful to be able to share my passion with you all.
