CCC - February Crochet Beanie

Wow y'all. We DID it. We completed the first month of our Crafty Cuntry Club! I am so freakin’ proud of us. Now it's time to jump into month two with both feet. I realized our first project required a lot in terms of materials and tools, so I wanted to step back a little bit and give everyone a bit of a break.   And with that, I'd like to introduce our theme for this month…

Crochet!!

I know what you're thinking. "Gosh, but it's so complicated - I could never get my brain around all those tiny little stitches!" Well… you totally can. Crochet is actually really simple - it's just a bunch of slip knots. Can you make a slip knot? Can you tie a shoe? Then you are good to GO, babe.

A little reminder on how this all works. I’ve provided here for you a list of everything you’ll need to complete this month’s project. Materials, a pattern (which I would keep handy if I were you), some tips, etc. However, if you’ve never crocheted anything before, FEAR NOT! You are not alone! We will be doing this together. Every week, we’ll be working on the project in live Instagram videos (uploaded to FB for later viewing if needed) so I can show you how to actually do the craft. By the time we finish, you’ll be an expert. I made this pattern specifically so that you will learn 5 different crochet stitches so you can go out and make your own shit and feel totally confident in your abilities when we’re done. :D

Another note… if you choose to go the pom pom route on this beanie that pom maker might just come in handy for future CCC projects. WINK. Winky wink. ;)

CCC - Feb.png

Tools & Materials:

Yarn*:

The biggest thing here is to make sure that you are buying size 4-5 in yarn, otherwise the piece will be too bulky for the effect we’re aiming for. Otherwise, go nuts. You will only need about half of one ball of yarn.

  • Periwinkle

  • Rust (I know, I'm reusing from last month, but this is basically a giant hint that you can just reuse last month’s yarn, if you want!)

  • Mustard

*If you want to add a pom pom, I'd recommend getting two different yarn colors (one for the hat, one for the pom). The contrast looks amazeballs.

Crochet Hook (5mm):

I prefer using a wooden crochet needle, but this is mostly due to the feel and coziness… and also cause Winnie likes to nibble on the needle while I work which is both irritating and adorable. However, it's about double the price of a metal needle, so I've included both options here.

Tapestry Needle:

This pack has a few of 'em in case you lose them all the time like I do.

Pom pom Maker (optional):

I have this exact one but there are SO many… some are so freaking cute. It's wrong to get a version of something functional you already own, just cause it's cute, right? …Right?

Other Tools (that I hope you don't need Amazon for):

  • Scissors (SHARP ones, your punch needle shears will work)

  • A Boss Bitch Attitude

  • Pom pom materials:

    • Small towel for collecting shavings

    • bandana to protect your face (breathing in fiber is not so great for you)

    • Larger scissors for shaping

Pattern

Adapted from:

https://mariasbluecrayon.com/2018/08/sierra-beanie-free-crochet-pattern.html

https://www.acrochetedsimplicity.com/argyle-beanie-slouch-free-crochet-hat-pattern/

Gauge: All you, boo! This is basically how many stitches per inch you tend to make. But we will discuss, worry not! For reference, my gauge is 2" x 2" = 8 st x 4 rows in single crochet. I have a hella loose stitch. Some people are tighter. Just depends on your style.

Abbreviations (US terms):

Crochet babes loooooove to abbreviate. It makes us feel cool, like we all speak some sort of secret language. Here’s your Decoder Ring.

Ch = chain,

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

fpdc = front post

RS = right side

WS = wrong side

bpdc = back post double crochet

Blo = back loops only

St = stitch

dfiu = don’t fuck it up

STRETCHY-ASS BAND

Row 1 (RS): Using a 5mm crochet hook, ch 9, working into the back hump of the foundation ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn.  (8 sts) *Mine was about 2" wide, but if you want that part of the beanie that folds up wider or skinner, adjust your number of stitches as needed. dfiu.

Row 2: Ch 1, BLO, sl st in each st across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, BLO, sc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 4 – 64: Rep Row 3. 

Approximate length at this point (un-stretched): 18.25″ - adjust number of rows as needed.

Row 55 – Seam Row: With RS facing out, bring the first row up to meet the last row (the first row should be in front if you kept the RS facing out). At this point, my rows looked a little something like this (ignore that top bit, we’ll get to that in a second)…

Photo Jan 03, 11 30 49 AM.jpg

Ch 1, slip stitch the rows together. Continue in this way across the hat band to complete the seam. (8 sts)

HAT BODY

Turn 90 degrees to work on the side of the rows. *Do not fasten off*

Body Round 1: Ch 2, dc into each side of sc from the brim.(66)

*Here, we will start to work in a spiral. Put in a stitch marker using an extra lil piece of yarn you have laying around. Stick it in that first stitch to mark the beginning of your row so you know when to change up your stitches and move it up a row every time you come back around.

Round 2: Ch 2, dc around.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2

Round 4: Ch 2, *fpdc, bpdc, repeat from * around.

Round 5: Ch 2, *bpdc, fpdc, repeat from * around.

Round 6-8: Ch 2, dc around.

Repeat rounds 4-8 until hat measures 11-12” in length. Any longer and you will look like an elf. Fasten off, leave long tail. You’ll want your project to look vaguely like the below picture. Hat-shaped. And obviously, you’ll want it to fit on your damn head.

Photo Jan 04, 5 03 59 PM.jpg

Weave in and out of the top stitches, pull tight and secure. Weave in ends. If you want, attach pom pom. Then it’s all done and OHMIGOSH you made a beanie!!

Photo Jan 30, 3 28 13 PM.jpg

Tips & Tricks

  • The tighter your crochet, the more frustrated you will be. That's kind of a joke, kind of not. Working loosely makes it so much easier down the line - easier to work your hook into stitches, and it makes it so your hands don't get sore cause you're not battling the yarn every step of the way.

  • Always leave a long tail when you're working! You might need it to stitch together ends later, and you can always weave it into your work when you're done. Just never cut it really short, it will look awkward and be difficult to hide.

  • Working with a lighter yarn when you're first starting is best, cause you can freaking see what you're freaking doing.

  • Throughout your project, fit it on your goddamn head! I'm serious! When you finish the band, make sure it fits around your head (it's okay if it stretches a bit, beanies stretch). When you finish the hat, shove it on your noggin and see if it's the right length. It's YOUR hat, you're basically the perfect model for greatness.

  • The pom pom is optional, you can totally make the beanie without the pom. But like, it's really really fun!

Getting Started

Practice single crochet. Just do it. Check the Resources section for some quick getting started videos that helped me learn when I was first starting up. Make a few rows, get a feel for the craft and how the yarn works when you're creating your little loops. Understanding the very boiled-down basics is the key to crochet. Otherwise, we will cover EVERYTHING in the live sessions!

Schedule

Please note: All IG Live Seshs will be posted to FB in perpetuity 24 hours after the video airs.

  • Feb 1-6th: Order your stuff!

  • Feb 7th, 6pm PST: IG Live Sesh - How To: basic stitches, reading a crochet pattern, foundation chain, finding your gauge, starting that hat band

  • Feb 13th*, 6pm PST: IG Live Sesh - Seaming the hat band, working in the round, making the actual HAT, troubleshooting and how to fix your shit.

    • *Note that this one is early, on a Thursday, due to some travel plans I've got in the works.

  • Feb 21st, 6pm PST: IG Live Sesh - Back/Front post double crochet stitch and more hat creation efforts!

  • Feb 28th, 6pm PST: IG Live Sesh - Finishing your hat & making your pom pom! Also, beanie fashion show. Obviously.


Resources

Helena Stark