Chunky-Like Preemie Granny Square Beanies – 4 Sizes – Free Crochet Pattern

Yay! This is the second post of the year for the 2017 GrannySpiration Challenge! I am so excited to see what everyone has been working on, especially you! At the end of this post, you will find the information for this month’s giveaway, and link up.

I have been receiving newsletters from The Preemie Project for quite some time now, and have noted down ideas, and started and stopped my fair share of patterns, but I decided it was finally time to start poppin’ them out.

I am calling this one Chunky-Like even though it uses worsted weight yarn, because on a preemie baby, worsted weight is going to appear large and chunky. I do not suggest using #5 chunky/bulky yarn for preemie hats.

Please make sure to stop by our other co-host and see what they’ve been working on too. In the image above, you’ll find their projects (and mine) from last month’s challenge.

Materials:
     – Small Amount of Worsted Weight Yarn – I used Red Heart’s Soft Yarn in Really Red, White and Rosy Blush
     – I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook
     – #18 Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends

Material Notes:
     If you use a different yarn, make sure you find a soft acrylic or cotton blend – do not use wool. Choose something that you know can withstand being machine washed and dried multiple times, because it most likely will be. Aside from the Red Heart Soft, you may also like to try Deborah Norville’s Everyday Soft.

     I am estimating you can make 8-10 hats or so per skein of Red Heart’s Soft – maybe even a couple more depending on the size you are working.

Time Spent:
     I had the 1-1 1/2 lb and 2-3 lb sizes done in just under 15 minutes each, the 3-5 lb done in just under 20 minutes and the 6-8 lb hat done in just under 30 minutes. That less than an hour and a half for all four!

Measurements:
The 1 – 1 1/2 lb size has a crown of 2 1/2″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 7 7/8″ to fit a head size of 8″ – 9 1/4″, and is 3 1/8″ in length.

The 2 – 3 lb size has a crown of 3 1/4″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 10 1/4″ to fit a head size of 9 3/4″ – 11″, and is also 3 1/2″ in length.

The 3 – 5 lb size has a crown of 3 1/2″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 11″ to fit a head size of 11 1/4″ – 12 3/4″, and is 4 1/2″ in length.

The 6 – 8 lb size has a crown of 4 1/8″ in diameter, a circumference of nearly 13″ to fit a head size of 13″ – 14″, and is 5 1/8″ in length.

*Stretch depends on your yarn brand selected. The Red Heart Soft (and Everyday Soft) yarn has about an inch to an inch and a half, while a yarn such as Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn has about two inches worth. Typically, I work my hats two inches smaller than needed to account for the stretch, but following the Preemie Project guidelines, they would like each hat to be just one inch smaller than the given sizes and so I have worked this pattern accordingly.

Gauge:
With Soft Yarn and an I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook = 4″ x 4″:
     Chain 19, DC in the 4th chain, and in each stitch across. (16 DC)
     R2 – R8: Chain 2, turn. DC in the 2nd DC and in each DC across.
     Fasten Off.

Abbreviations:
     SC – Single Crochet
     DC – Double Crochet

Pattern Notes:
     Beginning chain 2 does not count as a stitch in the crown, but does in the body of the hat. Beginning chain 1 in the last round does not count as a stitch.

Join to the first stitch of each round, unless otherwise stated.

Crown is worked (and written) in a non-traditional manner to help keep seam straight. You will work the last stitch of the round into the same place as the first stitch, however, it will be on the right side of the beginning chain.

The last round of each hat is a round of single crochet’s. I personally like how the round of single crochet creates a nice, crisp finish, and I feel provides a better fit for the hats. The Preemie Project is concerned that a round of single crochet’s will make the hat opening to tight to fit over the baby’s head, so make sure you work this round loosely. If you tend to crochet tighter, you may want to omit this round or perhaps work it with a hook size bigger.

02.26.17 Update: A couple days after I posted this, Linda of The Preemie Project contacted me to say my sizes were a little off. I misinterpreted the information on the site, using the given sizes as the head sizes instead of the hat sizes, and took off an extra inch and then designed my hats. If you worked up some hats using my previous pattern, don’t fret. Acrylic yarn has about two inches worth of stretch so I am confident they still would stretch to fit, but from now on, I have readjusted my pattern and the sizes above to reflect the guidelines of The Preemie Project.

Patterns:

1 – 1 1/2 lbs:
     Chain 5. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 11 DC into the ring. Join. (11 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 10 DCs around. Join. (21 DC)

R3: Chain 2. 2 DC into the first DC, skip the next two DCs, (3 DC into the next DC, skip the next two DCs) 6x. Join. (7 clusters)

R4 – 5: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 6x. Join. (7 clusters)

R6: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 6x. Join to the beginning chain 2. (7 clusters)

R7: Chain 1. SC into the 1st DC, and the next 20 DCs around. Join. (21 SC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

2 – 3 lbs:
     Chain 4. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 9 DC into the ring. Join. (9 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 8 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (18 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first 2 DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (27 DC)

R4: Chain 2. 2 DC into the first DC, skip the next two DCs, (3 DC into the next DC, skip the next two DCs) 8x. Join. (9 clusters)

R5 – 6: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 8x. Join. (9 clusters)

R7: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 8x. Join to the beginning chain 2. (9 clusters)


R8: Chain 1. SC into the 1st DC, and the next 26 DCs around. Join. (27 SC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

3 – 5 lbs:
     Chain 5. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 11 DC into the ring. Join. (11 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 10 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (22 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first 2 DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 10x, DC into the first DC. Join. (33 DC)

R4: Chain 2. 2 DC into the first DC, skip the next two DCs, (3 DC into the next DC, skip the next two DCs) 10x. Join. (11 clusters)

R5 – 8: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 10x. Join. (11 clusters)

R9: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 10x. Join to the beginning chain 2. (11 clusters)


R10: Chain 1. SC into the 1st DC, and the next 32 DCs around. Join. (33 SC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

6 – 8 lbs:
     Chain 4. Join to form a ring. Chain 2. Work 9 DC into the ring. Join. (9 DC)

R2: Chain 2. DC into the first DC, 2 DC into each of the next 8 DCs around, DC into the first DC. Join. (18 DC)

R3: Chain 2. DC into the first two DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next DC) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (27 DC)

R4: Chain 2. DC into the first three DCs, (2 DC into the next DC, DC into the next two DCs) 8x, DC into the first DC. Join. (36 DC)

R5: Chain 2. 2 DC into the first DC, skip the next two DCs, (3 DC into the next DC, skip the next two DCs) 11x. Join. (12 clusters)

R6 – 10: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 11x. Join. (12 clusters)

R11: Slip stitch over into the next DC, and then into the next space. Chain 2. 2 DC into the same space, (3 DC into the next space) 11x. Join to the beginning chain 2. (12 clusters)

R12: Chain 1. SC into the 1st DC, and the next 35 DCs around. Join. (36 SC)

Fasten Off and Weave in Ends.

A set of these hats work up in less than an hour and a half, and don’t take much yarn. Please take time to work up at least a set, and send in to either The Preemie Project or your local baby hospital.

Please feel free to make and sell your own Chunky-Like Preemie Granny Square Beanies using this pattern, but please DO NOT claim this pattern as your own nor should you sell my pattern, and DO NOT re-publish my photos as your own. DO NOT copy and paste my pattern anywhere, link to it instead.

This Month’s Giveaway is sponsored by EyeLoveKnots (that’s me!). One winner will receive two skeins of Yarn Bee’s Andres Alpaca Yarn in the Foxglove colorway! In last month’s link up, someone said they’d love to see some Alpaca (or Yak) yarn, so here I am to deliver! This yarn is so soft! And the colorway is close to Lavender, which I thought would be perfect for the upcoming Spring season. This is a worsted weight #4 yarn, of 120 yards/100 grams per skein, and is comprised of 70% Acrylic and 30% Alpaca.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 or older to enter. Open to all countries. Void where prohibited. Winner has 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen. EyeLoveKnots is responsible for prize fulfillment.

The three most viewed projects from last month’s challenge can be found in the image above. From left to right, top to bottom: Poncho for Joanie from Linda’s Crafty Corner, Purple Granny Square Afghan from In and Around My House, and Scarf Month/sjaal van de maand from Kruissteekmieke

New Granny-Spiration Projects will be shared from your hosts the first Saturday of each month. Post times will vary. You will be able to link up from 9am EST on the first Saturday of the month, through 11:59pm EST on the second Thursday from the start date – specific dates are on top of the Rafflecopter form – giving you almost two weeks to link up and enter the giveaway!

Please share projects that are family friendly, and GRANNY INSPIRED through use of regular granny square or solid granny square, granny stitch pattern or other afghan square in the form of a free pattern, pattern review, or inspiration piece. Not limited to crochet or knit.

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