Sweet Nothings Crochet: IT'S SO EASY BEANIE

It's So Easy Beanie - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

I have been given yet another 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.

I think this is probably the easiest and coolest beanie you'll ever make

Today's project is completely reversible - so yaay!

This creation has a matching cowl, which is HERE

If you want to add in a pair of fingerless gloves, check the links at the bottom of this blog. Thanks for joining me. Come along, let’s create something beautiful

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 50 gms 4-Seasons DK-ply acrylic with a 5.5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers

The yarn I’ve used is about 1/5 times thicker than our Vardhaman / Oswal acrylic yarns 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 ; 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. Using chunky yarn just means that the project zooms ahead that much faster. So if you want a thicker yarn, just use a few strands together.

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 9"

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 :

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839058772/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837764548/

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

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

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

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

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

Remember to turn at the end of every round

Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and work 9 hdc in it.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn (9 sts)

Round 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st st & in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn (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. Turn (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. Turn (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. Turn (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 4 sts) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn (54 sts)

Round 7 : 2 hdc in the 1st st ; hdc in the next 5 sts ;

(2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next 5 sts) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn (63 sts)

At this point, the diameter of my work is 7"

Please check the top of this blog for a head measurement chart and /or the bottom of this blog for circumference calculations.

Round 8 : 2 hdc in the 1st st & in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn (63 sts)

Rep Round 8 till you are 1" short of the length you want for your beanie (measured from crown to brim). I wanted a length of 9", so I worked till I was 8" from crown, as I was working the Optional Last 2 rounds given below.

Remember to turn at the end of each round.

You could end right here (in which case you work the full length you want for your beanie), or work the last two rounds.

We will now work two rounds with post stitches.

You do not turn at the end of the last two rounds.

Front Post Double Crochet : fpdc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below.

How to work the fpdc : yo, hk into sp between posts of st from row below – going from back of stitch, around st and into the front of the st ; yo, pull yarn through the sps (3 lps on hk), (yo & pull through 2 lps) twice. One fpdc complete

View the video at https://youtu.be/9tL5XiqKi14

Back Post Double Crochet : bpdc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the bpdc at https://youtu.be/l9Nt3miOs3s

Optional Last 2 Rounds : fpdc around the 1st st ; bpdc around the next st ;

[fpdc around the next st ; bpdc around the next st] ;

rep [to] till the last st ;

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

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)

This creation has a matching cowl, which is at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/it-so-easy-cowl.html

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to add in a pair of fingerless gloves, check the links at the bottom of this blog

The set of beanie and cowl ready to be shipped out

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Here are some of my other creations.

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/07/criss-cross-beanie.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/07/seed-stitch-beanie-2.html