What I love about the KALDI beanie is that it‘s super quick, fun and easy to make. You only need 1 x 100 g skein and can easily make one in a few hours, so it makes for a great handmade gift. It‘s also very versatile, since you can wear it 3 different ways.

I made my first KALDI beanie over 10 years ago and the pattern was first published in my second book, María Heklbók in 2013. The original idea was this old fur hat my dad had and always wore to work as a builder when I was a kid. This image of him wearing his black lopi sweater and the big skin hat with the fury flaps down, usually some bits of concrete in there too, is very vivid in my mind.

BTW. the knitted sweater my dad is wearing int he pics here was made by mother and is NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BEANIE PATTERN!

Abbreviations (US terms):
ST = stitch/stitches
SS = slip stitch
CH = chain stitch
SC = single crochet
HDC = half double crochet
Yarn & supplies

The beanie itself is made in just one colour, but it really makes it pop if you do the border round with an accent colour. You only need a bit of scraps for that.

You can use various types of bulky, worsted or aran weight yarn for this beanie, 1 x 100 g skein should be enough for 1 beanie.

The size may vary a bit depending on your yarn, but I include the measurements and instructions on how to easily adopt different weight of yarn to the original one size given in the pattern. My wish is that this way it it’s easy for you to use various types of yarn and hopefully something you have at hand in your stash.

I especially recommend bulky weight yarn, for example Re:treat Chunky Roving from West Yorkshire Spinners or something in similar weight. This yarn comes in 100 g skeins = 140 m, 100% wool and one skein is more than enough, using a 6 mm hook.

I also did one in Double Saga from Icewear Garn, 100 g = 100 m, 100% wool. This yarn is also classified as bulky weight but is slightly thicker, one skein should be enough there too, but it’s very exact, so you might need to break into a second one. 6 mm hook for this too.

The original yarn I used in the beanies depicted here was worsted weight, Eco Duo from Cascade Yarns, 100 g = 180 m, that’s 70% alpaca and 30% merino wool. I used 1 x 100 g skein and a 6 mm hook. This yarn is slowly variegated in neutral colors and looks great in this hat. Follow instructions for extra rounds and rows in the pattern to use this or any other worsted weight yarn.

I also made one in Beiroa from Rosa Pomar and a 5 mm hook. This is Aran weight, 100% wool, 100 g = 230 m. I used 1 100 g skein and followed the instructions for extra rows. This beanie came out just slightly smaller and fits my niece that’s 7 years.

Lastly, I made one in DK weight yarn, Saga wool from Icewear Garn, 100% wool, 50g = 100 m. I used one 50 g skein and a 4 mm hook, didn’t do any extra rounds in this one and it fits my little nephew that’s 3 months old.

You also need 3-5 buttons and a sewing needle.
It’s good to have a stitch marker as well, but you can make do with a bit of yarn in a contrasting colour.

Hooks

6 mm for bulky or worsted weight yarn
5 mm hook for the kiddie size in aran
4 mm hook for the baby size in DK

Gauge

Gauge with bulky weight and a 6 mm hook in HDCs:
11 ST & 9 rounds = 10 x 10 cm

Sizes:

The pattern comes in one size, according to the suggested bulky weight yarn and gauge, fitting for adults. You can change the sizes just by going up or down in yarn weight.

General instructions

This pattern comes with written instructions. The beanie is made all in one piece, worked with HDCs in the round and in spiral, so you do not join at the end of each round, just keep going. The ear flaps and front flap are worked straight onto the beanie and those are worked back and forth with SCs.
Lastly there is one SC border round to finish it off, I prefer doing this round with a different colour so that the special form of the beanie is accentuated.

Once you finish, you pop the beanie inside out! That way that last SC round is on the right side out once you fold the flaps up, and you also get a very nice texture on the main body of the beanie, from the wrong side of the HDCs.