Saturday 12 June 2021

DIAMOND BEANIE - 2

DIAMOND BEANIE - 2

I have been given a second bag of yarn and requested to make beanies & / or scarves for the homeless.  I'm hoping that there's going to be even more yarn - which also means there will be more patterns discovered and written.

This is my 2nd diamond beanie, and using this pattern, I've also made a matching cowl at  https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/diamond-cowl.html


I've used this stitch before to make a  bag - that's a beautiful project too.. and you can find that at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2018/10/diamond-tote-bag.html

Today's project is completely reversible - so yaay!

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 50 gms Stallion 8-ply acrylic  yarn with a 4.5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers 

For Indians The yarn I’ve used is similar in thickness to our Vardhaman acrylic yarn or Laura knitting cotton .
You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Oswal acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.  
     
International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.
but I think you could also use Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn
You may just have to tweak the gauge a bit.


Difficulty level : Easy to Intermediate.
Size made : Adult beanie : 22" x 8.25"
Size only given for yarn estimation.

Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); 

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made.  

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo 

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc. 

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Abbreviations used :
sc : single crochet            hdc : Half Double crochet
ch : chain                         ch-sp : chain space
sp : space                        rep : Repeat
hk : hook                          lp (s) : loop(s)
yo : yarn over                   sl-st : slip stitch     


Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.
Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ; 

yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made.  

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8


Our stitch count for the pattern is in multiples of 3.

Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and work 9 hdc in it.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (9 sts)

Round 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st st & in each st all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (18 sts)

Round 3 : 2 hdc in the 1st st ; hdc in the next st ;
(2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next st) ;
rep (to) all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (27 sts)

Round 4 : 2 hdc in the 1st st ; hdc in the next 2 sts ;
(2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next 2 sts) ;
rep (to) all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (36 sts)

Round 5 : 2 hdc in the 1st st ; hdc in the next 3 sts ;
(2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next 3 sts) ;
rep (to) all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (45 sts)

Round 6 : 2 hdc in the 1st st ; hdc in the next 4 sts ;
(2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next 3 sts) ;
rep (to) all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (54 sts)


At this point, the diameter of my circle is 5.25".
This pattern opens out, so we will get a circumference (22") for an adult.

We will now start on the pattern for our diamond beanie

Here's a video tutorial for the stitch
In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/wLF9x1JpO0g

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); 
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made.  
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo 
Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0 

What is a chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY



For the bottom half we will call it our “V-1 st” which is (dc ; ch 3, sl-st in the same st ; ch 3 ; dc) all in the same st.

Round 6 : “V-1 st” in the 1st hdc ;
*sk next 2 hdc ; “V-1 st” in the next hdc* ;
rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.  (18 V-sts)

We have the lower “V” section of our diamond stitch done.

The top section of our diamond is as simple, but will sound complicated.
So before we look at the instructions, I need you to visualise the stitch.
We will once again have 2 dc and 2 sets of ch-3 to make this half.
We will be working one set of ch 3 and dc on one half of the “V-1 st” and the second dc and second ch 3 on the second half.
Now, the dc that we work will be a dc 2-tog but we will work one half of the dc 2-tog over one side of the “V-1 st” and the second half of the dc 2-tog over the second half of the “V-1 st”.
Sounds terribly complicated, but it isn’t now, is it?

So our “V-2 st” is (ch 3 ; dc 2-tog over the 2 legs of the “V-1 st” ; ch 3) all over the same “V-1 st”.
This will make it a diamond stitch.

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ; 
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times.  One dc 2-tog made. 
This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.  
Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w 

Round 7 :  “V-2 st” over the 1st “V-1 st” ;
and in each "V-1st" all around.
ch 3, and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (18 V-sts)

For the next round, we will work on the top of the "V-2 st"
Round 8 : “V-1 st” in the 1st st ;
and in each stitch all around ;
join with a sl-st to the 1st st.  (18 V-sts)
and once again, we have the lower “V” section of our diamond stitch done.

See what a beautiful diamond stitch – that looks a little like a faux Solomon’s knot too.

Now all you need to do is basically rep Rounds 7 & 8 working the V-1 and V-2 sts to get the diamonds.  Continue working the pattern till you get the length you want for your beanie.
I worked the pattern for a total of 5 times.


Next Round : 3 hdc in the 1st ch-3 sp ; 
(sk the next st ; 3 hdc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) all around ;
join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (54 sts)

Last 2 Rounds : hdc in the 1st hdc & in each hdc all around ;
join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

.. and we're done.  Fasten off and weave in ends.


As I said before, this is my 2nd diamond beanie, and using this pattern,I've also made a matching cowl at  https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/diamond-cowl.html



Circumference calculations
Here's a great way to check  circumference 
To check, you are either going to wear the beanie, or check with the head size chart given at the top of this blog.
Remember that yarn stretches - so if it's a bit snug, it's good

1. Hat circumference = measure around the head just above ears and subtract one inch for a nicely fitted finished hat.
2. Crown width = (this is a flat circular top of the hat) you need to divide hat circumference by 3.14 (pi).
3. Hat height = Head circumference / 10 x 4.

So you need to measure circumference of the head (round head measurement) and keep checking the outer circumference of your work.  
There is another trick for measuring circumference (without running your measure tape all around the edge of your circle as you are working). 
This works for a cap that you are working top down, from the crown of the head.
It works by dividing your round head measure by pi (3.14). 
So say your head measurement is 22, divide 22 by 3.14 = 7.  
Remember when calculating diameter, you must account for the stretch of your yarn too.
So once the ‘flat portion’ for the crown (or the first few rounds while you are still increasing) of your cap is 7” diameter, you can stop increases and start increasing just the length (without increasing stitches for the round)
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