The Alpine Trail Beanie & the Yarns I Can't Stop Reaching For
Hi friends!
I've been thinking about starting a blog space for a while now, and I'm so excited to finally make it happen. This is going to be a cozy corner of the internet dedicated to all things knitting and yarn — tips for my patterns, honest yarn reviews, and yes, free patterns too. I can't wait to share everything I've been learning and loving along the way.
To kick things off, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of my absolute favorite patterns to knit: the Alpine Trail Beanie. It's one of those patterns that's satisfying from cast-on to bind-off, and it works beautifully across multiple yarn weights — which means there are a lot of yarns I've gotten to fall in love with while making it.
So let's get into it.
Super Bulky? Here's What I Reach For
The super bulky version of the Alpine Trail Beanie knits up so fast, and it's honestly such a joy to work with chunky yarn. My most-used and most-loved yarns for this size are:
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick — a classic for a reason. It's widely available, comes in tons of colors, and is so beginner-friendly.
- Malabrigo Rasta — if you know, you know. This yarn is a dream. The colors are stunning and it's incredibly squishy.
- Baah Yarn Mammoth — a hidden gem. The colorways are stunning and the softness is next level — it feels so luxurious to knit with.
- Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok North — a rustic, earthy yarn that gives the beanie such a cozy, outdoorsy feel (very fitting for the Alpine theme!).
- Hedgehog Fibres Super Bulky — for when you want something a little more special. The tonal colorways are absolutely beautiful.
Colors shown here: Malabrigo Rasta in Aquamarine, Baah Yarn Mammoth in Cotton Candy Clouds, Hedgehog Fibres Super Bulky in Wisteria, and Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok North in Cast Iron (All yarn except Hedgehog Fibres are available to purchase here)
For the Chunky Size
When I'm knitting the chunky version, I almost always reach for Malabrigo Chunky. It has that same gorgeous, painterly color that Malabrigo is known for, but in a weight that gives the beanie a slightly more refined, everyday look. It's one of my all-time favorite yarns!
Colors shown here: Malabrigo Chunky in Periwinkle (shop here)
Light Bulky — A Cozy Favorite
The light bulky version of the Alpine Trail Beanie has such a great drape and stitch definition, and Malabrigo Vientos is my go-to for it. It's soft, it's dreamy, and the colors are always something special. If you haven't knit with it yet, I really think you should — it might just become a new favorite.
Colors shown here: Malabrigo Vientos in Pisces
Now I want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite yarn you love knitting the Alpine Trail Beanie with? Drop a comment below and let me know — I'm always on the lookout for new yarns to try, and I'd love to know what you've been loving.
That's a wrap on my first blog post! I hope this is helpful if you're trying to figure out which yarn to grab for your next Alpine Trail Beanie. I'll be sharing a lot more here — pattern tips, yarn deep dives, and free patterns coming soon.
Pattern can be purchased here.
Happy knitting 🧶
~ Stephanie