On the 7th day of Christmas…

On the seventh day of Christmas there were swans-a-swimming changing hands, according to the song. Here in the studio no one is lucky enough to be swimming, although all of us are thinking about it because it’s absolutely scorching hot outside, it being very close to mid-summer and all. But since many of our readers are in colder climes we are focussed on winter wear. And today we have a beautiful crochet beanie for you.

Due to the heat (and my larger-than-the-beanie sized head) there is no model for this one, but it is a lovely pattern that is definitely worth a try.

Materials:
100g cowgirlblues Merino DK (we used one of our self-striping balls)
4.5mm crochet hook
Finished product: ~21cm at the base and ~17cm top-to-bottom

Getting started:
Chain 4 then ss into first ch to form a circle
Row 1: ch3*, then make 12 dc into circle**
Row 2: ch3, fpdc** into each dc of previous row (12 stitches)
Row 3: ch3, fpdc and dc into next space (24 stitches)
Row 4: ch3 fpdc pr, bpdc*** around dc of previous row; dc in space, repeat until you have made 38 stitches, link with a sl st
Row 5: ch3 (fpdc, 2 bpdc) pr (38 stitches)
Row 6: ch3 fpdc, 2 bpdc, dc in space (48 stitches)
Row 7: ch3, fpdc, 3 bpdc (48)
Row 8: ch3, fpdc, 3 bpdc, dc in space (61)
Row 9: ch3, fpdc, 4 bpdc (61)
Row 10: ch3, fpdc, 4bpdc, dc in space (72)
Row 11: ch3, fpdc, 5bpdc (72)
Row 12: ch3, treble fpdc, 5 treble bpdc
Row 11-20: repeat row 12
Row 21: ch1, (skip 1 stitch, sc) twice, 8 sc’s; repeat to last 3 stitches, then skip 2 stitches, sc and join with a sl st

Notes:
* The ch3 never counts as a stitch and is pushed to the back.
** Link the beginning and end of every row with a sl st

Abbreviations:
Ch: chain
Sc: single crochet
DC: double crochet, yarn once around hook
Treble: Yarn twice around hook
Sl st: slip stitch
Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc) : Yo and insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the dc on the previous row. Complete as for regular dc.
Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc) : Yo and insert hook from the back to the front around the post of the dc on the previous row. Complete as for regular dc.

My first version of the photograph didn’t have a feather, but while taking it a little tune popped into my head – maybe you remember “Yankee Doodle”, it goes like this …

Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on his pony
He stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni

So I found a feather, it didn’t photograph well stuck into the cap, but sometimes it’s the thought that counts.

Happy crochet!