DIY Network

Block-Letter Beanie The handwriting's not on the wall, it's on your head with this project! From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-112

Gwendolyn Faye demonstrates the art of writing words with a crochet hook as she crochets her group's name into the bottom of a beanie. She starts by mapping out the letters and doing a little math, so when she starts crocheting it's just a matter of counting. This technique can be incorporated into any crochet design.

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Materials:

	Block-Letter Beanie
	Figure A

Lion Brand Cotton, 2 contrasting colors
U.S. size H crochet hook

Gauge: 4 sc = 1"

Abbreviations:
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch

Ch 5, slip st to join, ch 2.
Row 1: Dc 16 inside loop, sl st to close, ch 1.
Row 2: Sc twice in each st around (increasing 16 st total), sl st to close, ch 2.
Row 3: Dc around, increase once every 3rd st, sl st to close, ch 1.
Row 4: Sc around, increase once every 6th st, sl st to close (figure A), ch 2.
Row 5: Dc around, increase once every 5th st, sl st to close, ch 1.
Row 6: Sc around, increase once every 10th st, sl st to close, ch 2.
Row 7: Dc around, increase once every 6th st, sl st to close, ch 1.
Row 8: Sc around, sl st to close, ch 2 (circle will start to curl).
Row 9: Dc around, sl st to close, ch 1.
Row 10: Sc around, sl st to close, ch 2.
Row 11: Dc around, sl st to close, ch 1.

Note: If you are creating the small block letters, you will need to work 3 rows of sc before beginning them.

Making block letters:

	Figure B
	See examples, at left, of lettering charts.
	PDF Click here to download a pattern worksheet.

Small: 3 stitches wide (4 for N, 5 for M and W) and 5 rows tall, 1 stitch for space between letters
Large: 6 stitches wide (8 for M and W) and 6 rows tall, 2 stitches for space between letters

Using the Crochet Nation™ pattern worksheet or plain graph paper, count the total number of stitches needed to make your word, being sure to add in the appropriate number of stitches for the space between the letters (figure B). Subtract the total number of stitches from the total number of stitches on the last beanie row.

Examples:

(Small letters)
Row 1: X_ _X _XXX _X_ _ _X_XXX
Row 2: XX _X _X_ X_XX_ XX_X
Row 3: XXXX _ XXX_XXXXX _XXX
Row 4: X_XX _ X_ X_X_X_ X_ X
Row 5: X_ _X_ X _X_X_ _ _X_XXX

18 total stitches (including spaces between letters)

(Large letters)
Row 1: XX_ _XX_ _XXXXXX_ _XX_ _ _ _XX_ _XXXXXX
Row 2: XXX _XX_ _XX_ _XX_ _XXX_ _XXX_ _XX
Row 3: XXXXXX _ _XXXXXX_ _XXXXXXXX_ _XXXXXX
Row 4: XXXXXX _ _XXXXXX_ _XXXXXXXX_ _XXXXXX
Row 5: XX_ XXX_ _XX_ _XX_ _XX_ XX_XX_ _XX
Row 6: XX_ _XX_ _XX_ _XX_ _XX_ _ _ _XX_ _XXXXXX

32 total stitches (including spaces between letters)

Subtract the total number of stitches in the letters from the total number of stitches in the base of the beanie. Then divide that number by 2 (e.g., 88 – 18 = 60/2 = 30; 88 – 32 = 56/2 = 28). That's the number of stitches you crochet before changing colors to start making the letters (i.e., 30 for the small letters and 28 for the large letters).

To change colors:
Working from the top of the letters, for small letters sc 29 in the base color, insert hook in next sc, yo, draw through, pick up loop of 2nd color, draw through both loops on the hook. Continue working the letter pattern, alternating the base color and the 2nd color and hiding the inactive color strand through the piece. Sl st to close, ch 1.

When letters are complete, work 3 sc rows with the base color, ch 1. End off, hiding yarn end.

RESOURCES :

Lion Brand yarns
Website: www.lionbrand.com

GUESTS :

Gwendolyn Faye
Website: www.crochetnation.org
Blog: www.gwendolynfaye.com