My basic crochet beanie starts with making a flat circle until the diameter x 3 = head circumference (or slightly smaller if you want a snug fit). Reading through the instructions, you can see that the increases for the crown form a pattern of one more stitch between increases. You can continue working increase rounds until the diameter is the right size for what you want to make, then stop working increases and just work evenly around until the sides are as long as you want them to be. For single crochet, start with 6 sts in the ring, and for double crochet, start with 12 sts in the ring (you may also want to chain 6 instead of 4).
Basic Crochet Beanie (Baby)
Size: 15"/38cm circumference, about 5"/13cm deep [I have to double-check these measurements]
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, color A (Sky Blue), about 60 yards [worsted weight]
Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton, color B (Sand), about 15 yards
Hook: US G/4.0mm
If you are working in a spiral, mark the beginning of each round with a removable stitch marker. The hat shown in the photos was worked in a spiral - you can see that the stripes don't meet up at the back.
If you are working in concentric rings, at the end of each round, join the last stitch to the first stitch with a slip stitch, and begin each round with ch 2.
With color A, chain 4 and join into a ring with a slip stitch.
Round 1) 8 hdc into ring (8 sts)
Round 2) 2 hdc in ea st (16 sts)
Round 3) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in following st* (24 sts)
Round 4) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in following st (32 sts)
Round 5) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in following st (40 sts)
change to color B
Round 6) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in following st (48 sts)
change to color A
Round 7) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in following st (56 sts)
Round 8) 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 6 sts, 2 hdc in following st (64 sts)
Round 9-11) hdc in ea st (64 sts)
change to color B
Round 12) hdc in ea st (64 sts)
change to color A
Rounds 13 - 17) hdc in ea st (64 sts)
change to color B
Round 18) hdc in ea st (64 sts)
join first and last stitch of final round with a slip st. Cut yarn. Tail end of yarn from beginning can be threaded through first round of stitches and pulled tight. Weave in all ends.
