Long hair

Beanies with room for a ponytail or a bun

A high bun and a winter hat used to be a choice. The fix is a small opening knitted into the back of the crown, and the order you put it on in matters.

Where the opening sits

The gap is knitted high in the back of the crown rather than cut into it, so the edges are finished and will not run. It closes back to almost nothing when there is no hair through it.

Because it is high, it suits a bun or a ponytail gathered up rather than one worn low at the neck. If you wear your hair low, a loose slouchy cap gives you more room than an opening will.

Hair first, band second

Pull your hair through the opening before you pull the band down over your ears. Doing it the other way round means dragging the knit over the bun, which is what stretches the gap out.

Set the band where you want it last. Once the hair is through, the hat sits still and you can put the front edge exactly on your eyebrows or above them.

What the knit will do over a winter

Ribbed knit relaxes a little with wear, and the opening relaxes with it. Washing in cool water and drying flat slows that down more than anything else you can do.

If the gap has opened wider than you want, a cool wash and a flat dry with the edges pushed together brings some of it back. A hot wash brings back none of it and shrinks the rest.