Adding Colour with Duplicate Stitch Knitting!
With Valentine’s Day coming up, now’s the perfect time to share with you a pattern that is close to my heart: a simple, yet beyond cozy double-brimmed beanie. This hat is truly a cozy hug for your head.
A heart is added to the brim of this hat using a technique called duplicate stitch knitting. This method for adding colour is one of my favourite, because it’s done after you’ve knit the fabric! You just take a needle and some yarn and follow the path of the stitches that are already there, kind of like tracing over them to add new colours or designs. It’s the knitting version of embroidery; and it is super simple, super effective, and super fun.
Knitting the Duplicate Stitch – How to Video
I know some of you might be new to the duplicate stitch or simply want to see it in action for a refresher, so I’ve put together a video tutorial and shared it on my YouTube channel at the following link: How To Add Colour Work to your Knitting with the Duplicate Stitch. You can also find the video below on this page with the pattern.
In the video, I demonstrate each step so that you can confidently add the heart to your beanie, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The photo below shows my work in progress when adding the heart design using duplicate stitch knitting.
Yarn Choice for Duplicate Stitch Knitting:
I wrote this pattern for Wool of the Andes Worsted Weight yarn from Knit Picks because I wanted to use 100% wool. Wool is perfect for patterns that use the duplicate stitch to add colour, because it has this amazing ability to blend seamlessly with your existing knit, thanks to its natural fibers. It becomes one with the piece you’re working on, creating a smooth, cohesive look that other fibers might not achieve as well.
I also wanted this beanie to be super warm and durable, but not scratchy. Wool of the Andes is one of my favourite yarn lines when I’m planning on knitting with real wool, not only because of the excellent quality and price, but also for the huge variety of colour options – which comes in handy when adding colourful artwork to your knitting projects. I highly recommend using this yarn to knit your beanie if you want the same result, and I promise you’ll love it!
Pay it Forward!
I hope you enjoy this pattern! If so, please feel free to share the link to this page on your social media or Pinterest account.
I truly appreciate all of you who get the word out about this site and my patterns!
❤️
Alnaar
Knitting the Double Layered Brim
The double-layered brim of this beanie allows you to hide the backside of your colour work. You work the brim by knitting in the round for twice the number of inches you desire for the brim’s length. Next, you add the heart with duplicate stitch knitting, and then fold the fabric inward (with the purls and opposite side of the heart hidden on the inside). Seam the ends together by picking up stitches from the cast-on end and knitting them together with the stitches on your needle.
The Provisional Cast On
I love using the Provisional Cast-on method for this process. This technique is a game-changer, and I’ve created a YouTube short video to demonstrate it: The Provisional Cast-on in Action. Let me know in the YouTube comments if you’d like a full video tutorial. Unfortunately Youtube only allows 60 seconds for shorts and I had to speed it up considerably.
With all of that said, I really think you will love this pattern. It’s a great challenge, and will introduce you to a couple of new techniques if you haven’t already come across the duplicate stitch knitting and the provisional cast-on.
The free pattern for this beanie 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.
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Beyond Cozy Double Brimmed Beanie – Free Pattern
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What You’ll Need:
You will need the following materials to make one beanie:
- Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Weight Yarn: 1.5 Skeins (165 yards) Main Colour and 4 yards Secondary Colour. Colours from photos are Gull (MC), Icicle Heather (SC), and Blossom Heather (SC).
- Size 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needles (16″ cord).
- Size 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles (optional).
- Scissors.
- Tapestry/yarn needle.
- Stitch markers.
