Tuesday 24 October 2023

CONFOUND-IT BEANIE

CONFOUND-IT BEANIE - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This is a surprising beanie - while it is pretty easy using basic stitches, the end result looks so confusing, doesn't it. 

In my patterns, I get you to think, just a little bit - but that's half the fun  in creativity and making a unique project.  With this project, you have a readymade pattern from start to finish using any yarn (with its suitable crochet hook) but you may have to do a small bit of calculation.  There are several ideas right through the blog, and that's not just for making it for different sizes, but for different finishes too - so remember to scroll through till the end, and read carefully.  Enjoy.

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The Anette Ericksson denim yarn used for this CONFOUND-IT BEANIE
Anette Eriksson Neon Jeans cotton yarn 

Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 60 gms Anette Eriksson Neon Jeans cotton yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers 
For Indians The cotton demin 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.  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 : Intermediate to Advanced.
Size made : Adult beanie : 22" x 8.25"
Size only given for yarn estimation.

Stitches used :  Using U.S terminology
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

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

Abbreviations used : using U.S terminology
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     
dc : Double crochet

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

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


Round 1  : Start with a magic circle and work 12 dc in it. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (12 sts)

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
Round 2 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st dc ; fpdc around the same 1st st ;
(dc in the next dc ; fpdc around the same next st) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (24 sts)
First 2 rounds of the CONFOUND-IT BEANIE
Round 3 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st st ; 
dc in the next st ; fpdc around the same next st or fpdc ;
(dc in the next dc ; dc in the next st ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (36 sts)
Note : Soon you will clearly see the ridge of the fpdc cables stringing out beautifully.
Zoomed in view of Round 3Round 3 complete

Round 4 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st 3 sts ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 3 sts ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (48 sts)
Zoomed detail of Round 4Round 4 complete

Round 5 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st 4 sts ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 4 sts ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (60 sts)
See how beautifully the fpdc are cabling out in the pattern.
Zoomed in detail for Round 5Round 5 complete
Working without increase from Round 5
working more rounds without increase after Round 5

Note : Please check how to calculate how many rounds you need to work on (under Circumference calculations below) before heading on.

Round 6 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st 5 sts ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 5 sts ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (72 sts)
Zoomed in detail for Round 6Round 6 complete

Note : Give your work a slight pull / stretch and measure your diameter before you continue working. If you are the circumference needed, then work Round 7 (non-increase round) 
If you need a little more circumference, please continue on to Optional Round 7 (Increase round and then work the Optional Round 8 non-increase round)

Round 7 (Non-Increase round) : dc in the 1st 5 dc ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 5 dc ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (72 sts)
If you are at the circumference needed, then continue on till you have the length needed for your beanie, without any further increases.
Non-increase round complete with 72 sts

In case you need to continue to increase (for a circumference of 24" etc), here's what I'd do.
Remember to scroll just above the pattern instructions for links of beanie measurements.
If you have reached the circumference needed, stop now and work Round 7 (non-increase rounds) till you have the length you need for your beanie.
Remember if you have worked Optional Round 7 with an increase, then work Optional Round 8 - your stitch count will be 84 sts from now on till the end of your beanie.

Optional Round 7 (Increase round) : dc in the 1st 6 sts ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 6 sts ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (84 sts)

Round 8 (Non-Increase round) : dc in the 1st 6 dc ; 
fpdc around the fpdc ;
(dc in the next 6 dc ; fpdc around the fpdc) ;
rep (to) all around ;
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (84 sts)

Once you reach the length needed for your beanie (or maybe 1/" before the length needed), go to the finishing instructions 
Why stop 1" before? Well, I've worked a few rows of plain sts all around, interchanging colors - so in case you want to do that then that's the 1"

Finishing :
Finishing Round 1 : sc in the 1st st and in every st all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Finishing Round 2 : sc in the 1st sc and in every sc all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Finishing Rounds 3 - 4 : Rep Round 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

How do I work the finish in 2 colors?
Easy as... Work Finishing Round 1 in one color, leave the yarn at the last st and loop in your contrast color, and then work Round 2 in the contrast color (or vice-versa : i.e. starting with contrast color and going back to main color)
The most important thing to remember here is to lock the last stitch in with the 2nd color so its all a neat finish.
Finishing detail

How do I make this beanie for a baby or young adult?
I would start with the same instructions, using any yarn you need with a suitable hook, and then use the circumference calculations and the beanie measurement chart to see what round you need to stop the increase rounds.

What does this mean?
Let's take a practical example.  Take the 3month beanie size from the head sizing chart below (which is from the links above, just fyi)

So the circumference of a  3-month old beanie is 16". Our circumference calculations say divide the circumference by 3.14 - so we divide 16/3.14 = 5.09"
This means that once your circumference of work is around 5", you stop the increase rounds and start working just the non-increase rounds.
You will then continue working the non-increase round pattern all the way till the length desired (which for this 3-month baby beanie example is 6"

Exactly the same thing for all sizes - so for Adult Small it is 22/3.14 = 7 and work this for a length of 8.25".
Easy enough, right?
Head sizing chart

All finished Confound-It beanie
and before you know it, here's a beautiful beanie all done.
 
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