The Sid Beanie

I have been working on this one for quite a while, but after having a baby and then moving halfway around the world here I am, finally getting around to writing it down.

1. Materials
2. Important Notes
3. Written Instructions
4. Chart
5. Closing

Materials

• Paintbox Simply Aran yarn, available here
• Size J/6.00 mm crochet hook

Important Notes

• The main part of the beanie is worked in the back loops only.
• Gauge is 8 st X 8 rows of sc in blo is 2″ square
• Colorwork is require to create the image of the skull. I carried the black strand through the white, but did not carry the white strand through the black beyond the last white stitch of each row. This can take some practice if you have not done it before, but this is a great small project to work on it! Here is a link with some information on colorwork and a photo tutorial on how to change colors. I am sure there are many youtube videos on how to do this as well.
• All slip stitches should be on same side of your work. This will be the top of the hat.
• Color changes are noted with highlighting. Black background instructions are worked with black, white background is worked with white.

Written Instructions

***ALL STITCHES WORKED IN BACK LOOP ONLY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED***

1. ch 36, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across (36 ch, 35 sc)
2. turn, slst in first 5 st, sc in next st and each st across (5 slst, 30 sc)
3. turn, ch 1, sc in first 30 st, slst in last 5 st (ch 1, 30 sc, 5 slst)
4. Repeat rows 2 and 3 for next 20 rows–you should have 23 rows total of solid black sc with 5 slst all on one side before moving on to next step
5. turn, slst 5, sc 13, sc 5, sc 12
6. turn, ch 1, sc 9, sc 10, sc 11, slst 5
7. turn, slst 5, sc 10, sc 7, sc 2, sc 3, sc 8
8. turn, ch 1, sc 8, sc 2, sc 4, sc 7, sc 9, slst 5
9. turn, slst 5, sc 9, sc 7, sc 4, sc 3, sc 7
10. turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 6, sc 4, sc 8, sc 8, slst 5
11. turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 9, sc 2, sc 8, sc 3
12. turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 2, sc 3, sc 13, sc 8, slst 5
13. turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 12, sc 3, sc 4, sc 3
14. turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 2, sc 3, sc 13, sc 8, slst 5
15. turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 9, sc 2, sc 8, sc 3
16. turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 6, sc 4, sc 8, sc 8, slst 5
17. turn, slst 5, sc 9, sc 7, sc 4, sc 3, sc 7
18. turn, ch 1, sc 8, sc 2, sc 4, sc 7, sc 9, slst 5
19. turn, slst 5, sc 10, sc 7, sc 2, sc 3, sc 8
20. turn, ch 1, sc 9, sc 10, sc 11, slst 5
21. turn, slst 5, sc 13, sc 5, sc 12
22. turn, ch 1, sc in first 30 st, slst in last 5 st (ch 1, 30 sc, 5 slst)
23. turn, slst in first 5 st, sc in next st and each st across (5 slst, 30 sc)
24. Repeat step 22 and 23 for next 29 rows–you should have 71 rows total, having ended with 5 slst
25. Slst your starting chain and last row together. You can tie off here or move on to next step for ribbed brim.
26. ch 2, turn hat so you’re working into the sides of the sc rows, fpdc, bpdc, evenly around hat. Looking at the ribbing created by working in the back loops only, I fpdc around the peaks, and bpdc around the valleys. Doing this I had 70 stitches, plus the ch 2. Slst into top of first fpdc.
27. ch 2, fpdc, bpdc, around each post stitch from previous round, slst into top of first fpdc
28. Repeat previous round as many times as desired. I did 3 rounds total of post stitches. Invisible join into top of first fpdc.

Chart

Closing

Two common closing options for this type of hat: cinch and X/4 point closure

• For cinch closure: turn hat inside out, with tapestry needle, weave in and out through inside/outside edge of top of beanie (side with the slsts) in approximately 1 inch increments. Pull both tails tight, cinching beanie closed, tie off, eave in ends.
• For X/4 point closure: turn hat inside out, lie flat, find center and stitch center point together. Push the end points to the center so you now have an X, with 4 points touching in the center. Stitch each side together, working through 4 layers of hat at a time.