http://www.erssieknits.com erssiemajor@yahoo.co.uk
Baggy Beanie By Erssie Major
The Baggy Beanie is loose in style and knitted on 5mm dpns with 2 row unjogged stripes. The pattern is suitable for a beginner starting on dpns, or starting to use simple colour changes on dpns. Ocean version above uses one solid shade and one variegated shade (see also Sand on top right) Fionavesion (delowslet and enrels sold shadarinide out ith reverse stocking stitch and more interesting stripes). Rasta version (below right) is knitted in classic red, gold and green colours with an afterthought black brim.
Size Small (Medium, Large)
Materials
Ocean: Jaeger Shetland Aran $80\%$ Wool, $20\%$ Alpaca 166m (182yds)/100g 1 x 100g ball in Navy (MC) Woolly Wormhead Hand Dyed Worsted (Aran) $100\%$ Wensleydale Wool 1 x 100g skein in Variegated Aqua/blues (A) Same amounts for Sand Fiona: (Blues) Jaeger Shetland Aran $80\%$ Wool, $20\%$ Alpaca 166m (182yds)/100g 1 x 100g ball in Navy (MC) 1x 100g Purple (A) 1 x 100g mid Blue (B) Same amounts for pinks Fiona Reversed: as Fiona above in chosen shades Rasta: Jaeger Shetland Aran $80\%$ Wool, $20\%$ Alpaca 166m (182yds)/100g 1 ball Green (A) 1 ball Yellow (B) 1 ball Red (C) 1 ball black (MC) Small length of waste yarn for provisional cast on All Beanies: $\mathtt{1}\times5$ set of 5mm (Us8) dpns, Optional: a set of $5.5\mathsf{m m}$ or 6mm needles if desired (see Pattern Notes) 1 wool/darning needle Substitute yarns with any Worsted/Aran natural fibre that knit tothe same gauge Gauge 17sts x 23 rows on 5mm needles over 10cm/4inches Abbreviations See end of pattern
Pattern notes
For all beanies, if you want a particularly loose style, or if you think you knit very tightly then knit the brim on 5mm needles and the rest of the hat on 5.5 or 6mm needles and make sure you do enough rows or match row gauge to get the right length. The Rasta beanie has an especially loose brim and is knitted from the main body up with a provisional cast on starting at the striped section. The black brim is knitted down from the provisional stitches after the main body and crown is completed. This is especially effective for those who cast on tightly as the cast off gives a much more stretchy edge. The idea of a provisional cast on to control the brim, appeals to knitters who don't know how far to go to fit their dreads in, it gives more control to add the brim afterwards and lengthen shorten as required at the end of the pattern Substitute/donated yarns can be any worsted weight yarn, of any drape really so could be made in other wool or silk blends.
Brim
Ocean and Fiona
Using MC and 5mm (Us8) needles cast on 80 (88, 96) sts and join into a round being careful not to twist stitches. K 8 rnds Fiona reversed only, turn inside out and knit every following round on WS of work so that the purl side shows upwards. All other versions, continue in pattern Rasta Using a provisional cast on (see end of pattern) CO 80 (88, 96) sts in yarn A, join into a rnd and knit in striped pattern but extending as far as necessary to cover dreadlocks if desired.
Main Body of Hat Ocean Striped Pattern
K 2rndsyarn A, K 2rndsyarnMC Rpt pattern 9 times in all For an extra baggy beanie rep colour sequence and knit at least 18cm (7 inches) from CO edge ending on yarn ending on MC. K 2 more rnds in yarn MC, go to crown Fiona Striped Pattern (For Fiona reversed, keep colour changes on to st st side of work) K 2 rnds yarn A K 2 rnds yarn B K 2 rnds yarn MC Rpt pattern 5 times in all For an extra baggy beanie rep colour sequence and knit at least 18cm (7 inches) from CO edge ending on yarn ending on yarn B K 2 more rnds in yarn MC, go to crown
Rasta Striped Pattern
K 2 rnds yarn A K 2 rnds yarn B K 2 rnds yarn C Rpt until hat is desired length, and then go to crown
Crown
All versions
Using MC, make sure that stitches are evenly divided between 4 dpns, there should be 20 (22, 24) sts on each one. K 3 rnds and on the last rnd place a marker half way along each dpn I.e. every 10 (11, 12) sts Now decreaseas follows: K8 (9, 10) K2tog rpt from \* around K7 (8, 9) K2 tog rpt from \* around Continue to decrease in this way, i.e. 2sts before each marker, K2tog or 2 sts before the end of a dpn K2tog until only 8 sts remain.
Fiona and Rasta
Cut yarn and draw up through 8 sts and secure on wrong side of the work
Ocean
Dec for 1 more round until only 4 sts remains, then knit an I-cord stalk as follows
\*Put remaining 4 stitches on to one dpn Slide stitches to other end of this dpn so yarn tailis at 'wrong' end. Pulling tail across back of yarn knit these stitches then slide the stitches to the end of the dpn again, pull yarn across back of work as before and knit these stitches. When stalk is desired length, cut yarn and thread through last 4 stitches. Knot I-cord
Rasta
Now pick up sts from provisional cast on (see below) and join MC and knit 8 or more rnds to desired length. Cast off (Bind off) loosely
Provisional Cast On
This can be done using a crochet chain. With crochet hook and a contrasting non splitting yarn of your choice, crochet a chain slightly longer than required (for example 84 chains for the smallest size). Cut yarn and loosely draw through leaving a tail, then put another knot in this tail (to mark which end of your chain needs to be undone at a later date).With your dpns, pick up sts by placing the needle into the bottom loop of each chain and then join into a rnd. When it is time to pick up these sts to knit downwards for your brim, just undo the knots at the correct end (previously marked) and pulling out each chain should reveal a stitch which you can place on your needle to be knitted. It is also possible to do a provisional cast on by casting on in a contrast yarn, knitting a few rows and then changing to the main yarn (most easily down with a flexible circular) and then cutting the waste yarn away to reveal stitches at the bottom when needed.
Abbreviations
K: Knit, K2tog: Knit 2 together (decrease), Dpn: double pointed needle, Rpt: repeat, Rnd: round, MC: Main Colour, CC: Contrast Colour, Sts: stitches
The Designer
Erssie Major has enjoyed knitting and crochet on and off since she was 4yrs old and she loves to write simple knitting and crochet patterns for on line magazines, print magazines and books. Her blog Skeinspotting: A World of Erssie Knits on her website http://www.erssieknits.com documents her knitting adventures as well as provides knitting patterns, book and yarn reviews, links to other free patterns and craft community websites and the Erssie Knits gallery. Erssie has a long term chronicilness with disabilities and so is committed to the idea of knitting as therapy. For more ideas, free patterns, tutorials and ready made knitwear visit the Blog and Erssie Knits photo gallery at http://www.erssieknits.com Or email Erssie: areciamaior@vahoo co uk Find me on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com as Erssie
