Sweet Nothings Crochet: KEEP IT TOGETHER BEANIE

KEEP IT TOGETHER BEANIE

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 matching cowl - that's a beautiful project too.. and you can find that at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/keep-it-together-cowl.html

Today's project is completely reversible - so yaay!

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 60 gms of unbranded 8-ply acrylic with a 5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is just slightly 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 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 :

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

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

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)

At this point, I have a diameter of 4.25", which with my yarn, will give me a circumference (22-23"") for an adult.

This pattern really opens up and if you have a nice stretchy yarn, then you're gonna have a lovely soft n stretchy project

Check the top of this blog for the head measurement chart or check this cool calculation reference below.

Right then, let's start on our pattern.

We work the dc 2-tog for our pattern.

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.

In case this video tutorial does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg

There's a small twist in our use of the dc 2-tog. We will work it over 2 sts, but also work it over the previous st and the next st.

What does this mean?

So first dc 2-tog is over sts 1 & 2 ;

second dc 2-tog is over sts 2 & 3 ;

third dc 2-tog is over sts 3 & 4 ;

so you work over the previous st and the next st all around. Got it?

We also Turn at the end of each round.

Round 6 : dc 2-tog is over the 1st & 2nd st ;

(dc 2-tog is over the previous st & the next st) ;

rep (to) all around till the last st ;

dc 2-tog is over the last st and the 1st st ;

and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Turn. (45 sts)

Rep Round 6 for as long as you want the beanie from crown to brim

You could end just like this, or you could work one of the optional finishes.

Optional finish :

I have opted to work a small brim with just plain hdc.

To start run a round of sc or hdc all around the open end (brim end).

There is no specific stitch count. Work 1 st in each horizontal dc bar, and 1 dc per st.

Just ensure that (a) the round you work stays flat (doesn't fan out) and you get a relaxed circumference that you need for your beanie. (So in my case I've got 22" round and that's what I wanted)

Simple Finish 1 :

Round 1 : hdc in the1st st and in each st all around. (45 sts)

Rounds 2 - 3 : Rep Round 1. (45 sts)

Finish 2 :

Work about 1 1/2 - 2" (depending on how long you want it from crown to brim),in fpsc, fhdc or fpdc all round.

To start, work Round 1 of the Simple Finish 1.

Front post single crochet : fpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch on the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fpsc at https://youtu.be/OQa8YLpkdXs

Front post half double crochet : fphdc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fphdc at https://youtu.be/R_dVr9FnBkk

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

Fasten off and weave in ends.

This project as I said before, has a matching cowl / scarf. Find that. at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/keep-it-together-cowl.html

Head Circumference Calculations

and 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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Have a great day and see you soon.

Here are some of my other creations.

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/08/herringbone-beanie.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/08/easy-reversible-beanie.html