Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A pattern for a beard hat!

It only took me 3 years.



MASTER OF DISGUISE BEARD HAT

I became semi famous (or infamous, really) after I wore my beardhat during UF's Humans v Zombies campus-wide game of apocalyptic tag. Here's the pattern so you can make one of your own:

I hook
any worsted weight yarn
Stitches used: ch (chain), dc (double crochet), hdc (half double crochet), hdc2tog (half double crochet two together decrease)


HAT
Hold yarn double stranded to create the hat. I used two different colors, but you can use one color for a hat with a solid appearance.
Ch 5. Join with sl st to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, work 11 dc in ring, join with sl st (12 dc).
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in base of same ch 3, work 2 dc in each dc around, join with sl st (24 dc).
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in base of same ch 3, work dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (36 dc).
Round 4: Ch 3, dc in base of same ch 3, work 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (48 dc).
Rounds 5 - 12: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each dc around, join with sl st.
Round 13: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), sc in each dc around, join with sl st and weave in ends.
Note that you can add or subtract rounds between rounds 5-12 to change the size of the hat. The hat should not be too long, but should be long enough to cover most of your ears. This ensures that the beard will sit properly across the jaw and cheek when attached.

BEARD
Note: The beard is highly customizable, but I advise you have a beard model (or yourself) available to check the measurements. The values below fit me, but it is useful to hold the beard-in-progress up to a face to make sure it will fit you (or the recipient) before sewing it on.

Hold yarn double stranded to create the beard.
Ch 25. Hold chain against your face, running from cheekbone to cheekbone under your nose. It should not be so loose as to droop over your mouth and should not stretch too tightly as to be uncomfortable. If you add or subtract stitches, make sure the chain is ultimately an odd number of stitches.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each ch, turn (25 hdc).
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 1 hdc in next 8 hdc,  ch 7 and skip next 7 hdc, 1 hdc in next 9 hdc, turn (18 hdc, 7 ch).**
Round 3:  Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 1 hdc in next 8 hdc, 7 hdc in ch-7 space, 1 hdc in next 9 hdc, turn (25 hdc).
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc2tog, 1 hdc in next 20 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (23 hdc).
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc2tog, 1 hdc in next 18 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (21 hdc).
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc2tog, 1 hdc in next 16 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (19 hdc).
Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc2tog, 1 hdc in next 14 hdc, hdc2tog (17 hdc).
Hold beard up to face. The beard should completely cover your jaw and begin to curve under your chin. If you want the beard to be longer, you can continue to add rows with a decrease on either side. Or, you can skip the decreases and continue to add rows after Round 3 until you have a true Viking-length beard. Feel free to modify this part however you like!

Sew the beard firmly to the hat when finished. It may help to put the hat on, hold the beard up to your face, and pin it in place before sewing it on. Weave in ends.


** note: these values will change if you have a different length foundation chain. If so, use this formula:
[# of stitches in chain] - 7 = [X]
[X] / 2 = [Y # of hdc stitches]
So, if your foundation chain is any number other than 25, your round 2 would be: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 1 hdc in next [Y-1] hdc, ch 7 and skip next 7 hdc, 1 hdc in each of last [Y] hdc.
Then change the total number of stitches in subsequent rows as necessary.

MUSTACHE
 Of course, the most eye-catching part of my beard hat is the bombastic mustache. Here's how to make your own:
1. Cut 16 strands of yarn into 14 inch pieces. Add more strands for a fuller mustache.
2. Find the center of the strands and cut another piece of yarn to make a knot at the center.

3. Wrap the tails from the knot around the knot several times. Use a yarn needle to bring the tails through the center of the knot and to the back. 

4. Firmly attach to the middle hdc of Round 1 of the beard (stitch 13).
5. Now you can style the mustache however you'd like! Mine was achieved by twist, twist, twisting each side this way and that until they fell into a natural curve. I sewed the mustache to the beard on either side of the mouth gap, being careful to keep the strands tightly twisted. I then cut off the excess yarn. I like to give the mustache a couple good twists each time I put it on to make sure my mustache stays as flamboyant as possible.

Enjoy the pattern and make as many beard hats as you'd like to give as gifts (Christmas presents, anyone?!) but please notify me before you sell any projects made from this pattern.

Thanks!
- Katherine Artman
Ravelry user: kateartman

1 comment:

  1. So glad you have written the pattern! Thanks :D

    MomToTheGreat@ravelry

    ReplyDelete