Sweet Nothings Crochet: KEEP IT TOGETHER BEANIE

Keep It Together Beanie - 2 - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

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.

I've made a beanie with the same name & similar stitch before & you can find that at

HERE

I've made a matching cowl HERE

Today's project is completely reversible - so yaay!

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 90 gms 3-ply acrylic 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 / as well as 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.

I worked this pattern with this yarn mainly because it was so light and I wanted to add bulk and warmth

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 n

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

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

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/

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

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

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

For today's pattern, we work with a dc 2-tog (all in the same stitch or ch-sp) all through. I have specially worked this pattern because my yarn is really think and I want it to add bulk and warmth.. it already has a lovely softness to it and the dc 2-tog st will make it softer still.

As I mentioned before, I feel this pattern will work with all thinner yarns.

I do not know what yarn this is, as it's part of a donated bag of yarn and it has lost its label - but it feels like a 3-ply yarn( in thickness).

The trick with this pattern is to work the dc 2-tog like 1 thick stitch 😊

Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and work dc 2-tog in it ;

Work 9 more dc 2-tog sts.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (10 sts)

Round 2 : 2 dc 2-tog in the 1st st & in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (20 sts)

Round 3 : 2 dc 2-tog in the 1st st ; dc 2-tog in the next st ;

(2 dc 2-tog in the next st ; dc 2-tog in the next st) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (30 sts)

Round 4 : 2 dc 2-tog in the 1st st ; dc 2-tog in the next 2 sts ;

(2 dc 2-tog in the next st ; dc 2-tog in the next 2 sts) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (40 sts)

Round 5 : 2 dc 2-tog in the 1st st ; dc 2-tog in the next 3 sts ;

(2 dc 2-tog in the next st ; dc 2-tog in the next 3 sts) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (50 sts)

At this point, the diameter of my work is 6"

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

Round 6 : dc 2-tog in the 1st st & in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (50 sts)

Rounds 7 - 16 : Rep Round 6

Rep Round 6 till you have the length you want for your beanie from crown to brim.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

You can end right here, when you have the length you want, or you can work the Optional last round

Last Round : sc (or hdc) in the 1st st & in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (50 sts)

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)

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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