My Favorite Beanie Pattern

     One of my favorite things to crochet are beanies. They are quick to work up and you can make them into just about anything you can imagine.They are a great little project to work on while watching tv in the evenings and only takes a couple hours to complete.

     Since I went back to work last year, I am outside a lot more often. With these colder temperatures blowing in, I decided it was time to dust off the crochet hooks and make some beanies. I went to the store and decided to get some soft, chunky yarn. I made 6 nice, warm beanies fairly quickly.

     This pattern makes it easy to add stripes to your hat. I've also used this pattern to add mohawks, hair, ear flaps with braids... I've even used it to make baby cocoons. The possibilities are endless!

     One of my favorite things about this beanie pattern is it's easy to adjust to the right size. You can always stop when it's the right circumference or when it's long enough. I use the pattern more as a generic guideline and make each one specific for the person I've made it for.

     Now, onto the pattern. I usually use a double crochet, but I have made them with half doubles and I've even made some with single crochets. It all just depends on your personal preference and what your needs are.

Round 1:  Magic Ring. CH 1, 10 DC inside ring. Join into first DC. (10 DC)

Round 2: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch and into each stitch around, join to first DC (20 DC)

Round 3: CH 1, 2 DC into  same stitch, 1 DC into next DC.**2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into                      next DC. Repeat from **around. Join to first DC (30 DC)

Round 4: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 2 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into                  next 2 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (40 DC)

Round 5: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 3 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into next 3 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (50 DC)

Round 6: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 4 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into next 4 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (60 DC)

Round 7-20: CH 1, DC into same stitch and each stitch around. Join to first DC (60 DC)

Finish off and weave in ends.

     And that's all there is to it! What kind of beanie should I try next?

Perler Bead Projects

   If you've been following my blog for a while, you know we enjoy doing Perler Bead projects as a family. We've made both Settlers of Catan and Hive out of them.

   Recently I decided I wanted to try using a cross stitch pattern as a Perler Bead pattern. I got on my trusty Pinterest and did a little search. I settled on a cross stitch pattern of the main Supernatural characters.

   If you've never used Perler Beads, they are these little beads you put on a peg board. They come in all sorts of colors. The peg boards come in many different shapes.

   Lay out your design on the board. You can use a pattern or your own imagination. I followed the cross stitch pattern but also mixed it up a bit. I guess it was mostly a guideline. Just make sure you leave a row of beads all the way around your project or else it will melt together. This includes diagonally.

   If you buy a kit, it comes with some type of paper you lay over it and then use an iron and melt them together. Be careful during this part. After you are done ironing, the beads will still be hot.

   You can carefully peel the beads off and lay it on a table or counter and do the same thing to the other side. Make sure you melt them as evenly as you can. If you miss a spot, they will fall apart. If you want to keep them flat, put them under a book or something while it cools. Otherwise it will curve a little.

   Once it's cooled, you can do whatever you'd like with them. You can string them up and put them on your Christmas tree. Give them to an older child to play with or put them on display. I have a nerd shelf that I have mine displayed on.

   If you want to try something a bit harder, I also found this pattern to make a TARDIS out of these beads. It was quite a project, but I couldn't help myself. It's a lot taller than I thought it would be. I changed a couple of things. I used yarn for the black part instead of embroidery thread. I also glued it together on the inside, she sewed it together. The top does come off, so you can keep stuff inside. I'm rather pleased with it!