Basic Hat Planning

You will make use of a Magic Circle while making your standard beanie.

R1: Ch 5. Join with SC in slip knot. Ch 1 for Half-Double Crochet, Ch 2 for Double Crochet, and Ch 3 for Treble (Triple) Crochet.

R2: HDC: work 8-10 HDC through the center of ring, Join with SC and chain 1. DC: Work 10-15 DC's through the center of the ring. Join at start with SC. Ch 2. TC: Work 15-18 TC's through the center. Join with SC and chain 3.

So here's the deal. Each round you want to add the same number of stitches as in the first round to what you already have. So say I'm working with a DC hat with a starting round of 12 DC's. What I'm going to do next is work 2 DC's in each one of the one's I did to get a total of 24. Next round I have to double every other stitch, so my pattern will be 1 DC, 2 DC's, 1 DC, 2 DC's, etc. till end so I get a total of 36. Next round I need to double every 3rd stitch, so I'll do 1 DC, 1 DC, 2 DC's etc. till end, and on the next one It'll be 1-1-1-2. You want a total somewhere between 45 and 55 depending on what yarn you're using and how tight your stitches are. You can use the Diamond Pattern or the Basic Shell pattern once you expand to 45-55 stitches. Once you get that far, just do one stitch in each previous one. When you start this it'll look about 3 rounds too small, but it'll expand on it's own for a few rounds. Last round go around using SC's to finish off