Chunky Open Braid Beanie

This is a quick, fun beanie using #5 bulky yarn in 2 contrasting colors.  The vertical design stripes are created by the chunky braid weave.

Loom:  ‘Rotating’ Double Knit Loom  (52 pegs)

Yarn:  Fair Isle Nantucket Yarn 75% Acrylic/ 25% super wash wool, 131 yds per skein.  Hand wash/air dry

Color 1=Apricot (1 skein), and Color 2=Light Gray (1 skein)

Stitches:  Open Braid, Stockinette, Rib stitch

Notions Needed:  Knit hook, crochet hook, darning needle

Size:  Adult, One size (21”-22” head circumference)

ABBREVIATIONS:

rnd(rnds)=round(s)

st(sts)=stitch(s),

A=Apricot yarn

G=Gray yarn

INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on with Stockinette stitch in A yarn.  Lay anchor yarn of any chunky accent yarn (will be removed).

Rnds 1-2: Work rib stitch in the round. This is worked by weaving from peg 1 (beginning peg) to peg 3 on opposite loom.

Rnds 3-4:  Change to G yarn and work in rib st.

Rnds 5-6:  Change to A yarn and work in rib st.

Rnd 7:  Change to G yarn and work in rib st. (one rnd only)

Cut G yarn and add A yarn with simple loop knot and place on beginning peg.  Weave in open braid stitch.  Gray yarn tail can be tied to A yarn.

Shift to chunky braid pattern. 

Work one rnd in A yarn.  Shift every other loop (outer loom only) onto peg to right.  Start this shift with peg to left of beginning peg.  Once you have moved ‘every other’ peg around loom, you will have 2 loops on ‘every other’ peg, and an empty peg in between (outer loom only).

Weave again  and wrap only the pegs with loops and leave the empty pegs empty.  Maintain the braid (1 to 4) weave. The inner loom will have 2 loops on each peg.  The outer loom will have 4 loops on every other peg.

Hook over one over one on inner loom.  Hook 2 loops over 2 loops on outer loom.  Now, you are ready to weave next round.

Rnds 8-32:  Work with A yarn in chunky braid.  

When you are at end of the skein of A yarn, tie on G yarn and complete hat with G yarn.  Cut remainder of A yarn.  It will not be used.

Rnds 33-38: Work in G yarn in chunky open braid or until the full hat measures approximately 8.5”-9”.

If you want a deeper hat for larger head size, work more rnds to desired depth.

Bind off: Cut yarn with 16” of yarn remaining.

Move the loops on inner loom to create loops on every other peg to match the pegs on outer loom.

Then move the 2 loops on each inner loom peg to outer loom.

You will have no yarn on inner loom and 4 loops on every other peg on outer loom.

Place the working yarn on darning needle.  Pick up the 4 loops on the pegs from beginning peg,

and continue from R to L around the loom until all loops are secure on the working yarn.

Be sure to get all the strands of yarn from the pegs.

Remove the hat from the loom.

Carefully gather the loops together to close in the top of hat.  The top of hat will result in a circle of Gray for a cute top accent.

Sew a few securing stitches on inside of hat and knot the working yarn.  Weave into the knit and trim yarn tails.

Complete the hat with a basic bind off at anchor yarn.  This will be working

with crochet hook and pulling one loop thru the next one loop.

Once complete, connect the first and last loop for a nice invisible finish.

Weave in any extra yarn tails from the change of colors.