The beanie for the cold walk to the coffee counter

A chunky cable knit beanie with a fleece lining, made for the stretch of winter when you leave the apartment in the dark and come back in it. The outer is 100% acrylic, and the lining is 95% polyester with 5% spandex. That is the whole fabric story.

The outer layer is 100% acrylic, knitted in a chunky cable pattern. The lining is 95% polyester and 5% spandex, a soft fleece that sits against the head. The listing calls the acrylic AZO free. It describes the two layers as a double layer design, says it retains up to 90% of body heat, and says it holds warmth for over 6 hours outside. Those are the seller’s figures, and the listing does not say how they were measured.

For cold, the listing gives a lower limit of minus 20 degrees Celsius. It also says the inner layer stops itching and that the hat shields ears and brow from wind. It calls the fit highly elastic and suitable for all sizes, though no measurements are given for circumference, height or cuff depth, and it does not say how far the knit stretches. Whether a chunky cable knit suits your face and your coats is a matter of taste, not measurement.

Care is simple but not machine friendly. Hand wash only, in tepid water with a mild detergent, then lay it flat to air dry. That fits a bathroom sink and a spare towel. The listing says only that it is imported, and it does not list colors or weight.