I call this pattern a ‘Beanie in a Jiffy’, because I literally made it one morning before my little boy Matthew went off to school. I am embarrassed to admit that he only had two beanies, both of which were in the wash and both were not made by me. In my defence he never wanted to wear beanies, but ever since he saw our helper, Rejoice (and as Matthew says – his best friend forever) wear beanies, he just had to start wearing them too. Thankfully it was about 5h00 and he leaves for school at 7h30, so I knew I had some time to quickly make one.
I didn’t have time to look for a pattern, so I simply measured it on his head a few times to get the perfect fit and of course used the basic principles of beanie making. As you work through the pattern you will note that I work 2 rows of hdc just before the ribbing – this not an original idea, so I cannot claim any credit for this. I don’t know the actual reference, I just recall reading this somewhere on the internet about giving the beanie a better shape and fit. I suppose 2 rows of sc would also do the trick. Try it and let me know!
Matthew is 3 yrs old, so I would say this should fit a 3-5 yr old and because it is stretchy possibly even up to 6 yrs. For an older child you should probably make the adult version. My first beanie was in a single colour, as I didn’t really have time this sew away the tails. Matthew loved the beanie so much, that he requested a red, and green, and yellow, and black, and as if I didn’t have enough requests from him, he wanted me to make a matching one for Rejoice.
Materials:
Double knit yarn of your choice. I used 2 colours – Colour A (main colour) and Colour B
4mm and 3.5mm crochet hook for the children’s version
4.5mm and 4mm for the adult version
Sewing needle for working in the ends
Gauge and Tension:
Initially I wasn’t too concerned about gauge and tension as these beanies fit my models perfectly.
Roxan Zumani tested this pattern and found that the adult version didn’t even fit her 14 year old
son. Her tension is much tighter than mine, so I decided to do a tension test swatch as follows:
Ch 12, 1dc into the 4th chain from the hook, and 1 dc into the remaining 8ch = 10 dc
(note the first ch3 counts as your 1st dc)
I worked 6 rows to get a 7cm square.
So please check your tension, if you find your square is too small then hook up, if your square is
too big hook down. The ribbing is worked with a hook size smaller than what you use for the beanie.
Abbreviations
Note this pattern uses US terminology
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
fpdc – front post double crochet Insert your hook from front to back around the post of the stitch from the previous round and work a dc
hdc – half double crochet
sl st– slip stitch
st/sts – stitch/stitches
st-bpdc – standing back post double crochet
I start with a standing stitch with a slip knot on my hook instead of yo twice. Yo, insert the hook back to front around the post of the st from the round below and work a dc.
st-dc – standing double crochet
I start with a standing stitch with a slip knot on my hook instead of yo twice (only because I am paranoid about sts unravelling) –the correct way to do this is yo the hook twice, insert into the indicated st/sp and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops, yo and pull through 2 loops – as you would work a double crochet – keep the tail taut whilst doing this st.
st-hdc – standing half double crochet
I start with a standing stitch with a slip knot on my hook instead of yo twice (only because I am paranoid about sts unravelling) –the correct way to do this is yo the hook twice, insert into the indicated st/sp and pull up a loop, yo and pull through all the loops – as you would work a half double crochet – keep the tail taut whilst doing this st.
To get started – CHILD’S BEANIE
Using a 4mm hook make 4ch using Colour A and sl st into the 1st ch to form a ring. Alternatively you can start with a magic ring or a double magic ring. If using the magic ring method (I always prefer a double magic ring, as I feel that this is somewhat stronger), please remember to work away the initial tail very securely. You do not want your beanie to unravel.
Round 1: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), 9dc into the ring. Join at the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
10 dc
Round 2: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc) 1dc in the same st as the sl st join, 2dc in each of the next 9 sts. Join to the beg ch3 with a sl st.
20 dc
Round 3: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), (2dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st) 9 times, 2dc in the last st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
30 dc
Round 4: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), (2dc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts) 9 times, 2dc in the last st, 1 dc in the last st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
40 dc
Round 5: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), (2dc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 3 sts) 9 times, 2dc in the last st, 1 dc in each of the last 2 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
50 dc
Round 6: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), (2dc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 4 sts) 9 times, 2dc in the last st, 1 dc in each of the last 3 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
60 dc
Round 7: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), 1 dc in each of the next 59 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
60 dc
Round 8: Colour A
As per Round 7
60 dc
Round 9: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), (2dc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 5 sts) 9 times, 2dc in the last st, 1 dc in each of the last 4 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
70dc
Round 10: Colour A
Ch3 (this counts as the 1st dc), 1 dc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
70dc
Rounds 11 – 12 : Colour A
As per Round 10
70dc
Round 13: Colour A
As per Round 10
Note: if you are using 2 colours, fasten off and work away the tails – use an invisible join, it is much neater and saves working in tails at the end. Click here if you want to know how to do an invisible join.
70dc
Round 14: Colour B
If you are working in a single colour; ch2 (this counts as your 1st hdc). If you are using 2 colours, start with a st hdc, 1 hdc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of beg ch2/st-hdc with a sl st.
70hdc
Round 15: Colour B
Ch2 (this counts as your 1st hdc), 1 hdc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of beg ch2 with a sl st.
Note: if you are using 2 colours, fasten off and work away the tails.
70hdc
Round 16: Colour A
If you are working in a single colour; ch3 (this counts as your 1st dc). If you are using 2 colours, start with a st-dc, 1 dc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of beg hdc/st-hdc with a sl st.
70dc
Round 17: Colour A
As per Round 16.
Note: if you are using 2 colours, fasten off and work away the tails.
70dc
Round 18: Colour B
Change to a 3.5mm hook
If you are working in a single colour; ch3 (this counts as your 1st bpdc). If you are using 2 colours, start with a st bpdc, (1fpdc in the next st, 1 bpdc in the next st) 34 times, 1fpdc in the next st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 / st bpdc with a sl st.
35fpdc, 35bpdc
Rounds 19 – 22: Colour B
Ch3 (this counts as your 1st bpdc). (1fpdc in the next st, 1 bpdc in the next st) 34 times, 1fpdc in the next st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
35fpdc, 35bpdc
Round 23: Colour B
Ch2 (this counts as your 1st hdc), 1 hdc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of beg ch2 with a sl st or an invisible join.
Fasten off and work away the tails.
70hdc
Here are my two models (Matthew and his BFF) in their matching beanies
FOR THE ADULT VERSION
Using a 4.5mm hook
Work the pattern above up to Round 16.
Round 17: Colour A
As per Round 16.
70dc
Round 18: Colour A
As per Round 16.
Note: if you are using 2 colours, fasten off and work away the tails.
70dc
Round 19: Colour B
Change to a 4mm hook
If you are working in a single colour; ch3 (this counts as your 1st bpdc). If you are using 2 colours, start with a st bpdc, (1fpdc in the next st, 1 bpdc in the next st) 34 times, 1fpdc in the next st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 / st bpdc with a sl st.
35fpdc, 35bpdc
Rounds 20 – 24: Colour B
Ch3 (this counts as your 1st bpdc). (1fpdc in the next st, 1 bpdc in the next st) 34 times, 1fpdc in the next st. Join to the top of the beg ch3 with a sl st.
35fpdc, 35bpdc
Round 25: Colour B
Ch2 (this counts as your 1st hdc), 1 hdc in each of the next 69 sts. Join to the top of beg ch2 with a sl st or an invisible join.
Fasten off and work away the tails.
70hdc
Essentially the adult version has an additional round of dc after the 2 rounds of hdc and an additional round of ribbing.
And there you go…a beanie in a jiffy. This is a great pattern for charity beanies because they are so quick and easy to make.
A very special thank you Kim Lategan and Roxan Zumani for testing this pattern. I’ve included pics from my awesome testers.
Roxan had a bit of fun making these for her niece and daughter. How gorgeous are these models?