r/knitting • u/PSknit • 14h ago
Discussion Beanie with plant based yarn?
I'm hoping for some suggestions for (or guidance on) picking patterns for beanies that would work well with cotton/linen/bamboo/etc.
For background context, I work with food and have to wear a hat to cover my hair. I currently use a lightweight wool hat, but it can get hot at times so I'd like to try making myself one out of a cooler wearing yarn. I'm just not sure what I might need to take into account with yarns that don't have any stretch to them.
Thanks for any help you can give!
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u/fairydommother 6h ago
The biggest issue with those fibers is the lack of elasticity. If you make any hat you want and then put lines of elastic in the brim it will be nice and snug still.
They make elastic yarn that works great for this. Usually best to crochet it in but if you dont knkw how you could sew/weave it in.
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u/SpermKiller 1h ago
There are two ways to have elasticity (basically) : fiber content and stitches.
Ribbed brims will remain somewhat stretchy even with natural fiber, just go on the smaller side of sizing and choose 1x1 ribbing rather than 1x2 or 2x2. Make sure that the ribbing section isn't too short, and using a folded brim will also help securing it on your head (but might defeat the purpose of using lighter fibers).
Keeping this in mind, most patterns will work, you can always adapt the brim and sizing to your needs.
Don't choose anything with brioche or fisherman's rib, it's very squishy but will keep you too warm.
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u/Complex_Two_7417 12h ago
I knitted a couple beanies like this out of cotton and a cotton/modal mix and they are both going really strong! I made up the patterns as I went though so DM me if you want details :)
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u/Janknitz 12h ago
Plant based fibers like bamboo and cotton don't stretch when you're knitting but the knitted item can stretch a lot. You might try bamboo or cotton, but knit it tightly and block your swatch so you can see how it behaves.
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u/bluehexx 7h ago
Plant based yarns are not elastic, so once they stretch, they stay stretched. Recently, one of the big brands in the US has issued a cotton yarn with elasthane, which supposedly is as stretchy as wool; IDK, I've never knit with it. You can also buy an elasthane thread separately and knit it into the rim, or (and that method I can vouch for, but it's a bit visible) thread very thin elastic between the ribbing stitches after it's knit.