Unforgettable shells beanie BABY sizes

This beautiful beanie is made by my beautiful tester Megan Veltman. Can't wait to see pictures of her baby girl wearing this hat. 

Check out the beanies made by another testers Tawanya DeLancey and Katrina Marie.

Click here for child sizes and adult sizes.

Materials

• Red heart boutique unforgettable yarn 1 skein (or any DK/sport weight yarn with 11-12 WPI)
• 4.5 mm and 4 mm crochet hook (or hook to obtain the gauge and 1 size smaller hook). 
• Pair of scissors
• Yarn needle

Sizing

The beanie has approx 2" negative ease.

Preemie, newborn, 0-3 month, 3-6 month, 6-12 month (to fit head circumference 12", 14", 16", 17", 18")

Gauge

After completion of round 3, the diameter of the flat circle should be 7.5 cm.

Make sure you measure the diameter from front loop to front loop (not from back loop to back loop). Please check the picture provided. Also make sure that you measure exactly at the centre.

Abbreviations

US terms

Ch: chain

Dc: double crochet

Sl st: slip stitch

Sc: single crochet

Hdc: half double crochet

Sc-blo: single crochet in back loop only

Notes:

1. Ch3 and ch2 for dc rounds do NOT count as a dc.
2. Ch1 does NOT count as a sc.
3. Ch3 for shells round counts as a dc.
4. Join with sl st at the end of each round.
5. For dc rounds, instead of adding last 2 dc in one st, add 1 dc in last st and 1 dc in sl st of previous round.
6. Shell stitch = 5 dc in same st
7. After the leveling round is done, measure the beanie circumference. If it's perfect for you then use the same hook for the brim. If you want little more snug fit, then only swith to the smaller hook).

Pattern:

For all sizes

Round 1: With larger hook, ch 3, 12 dc in 3rd ch from the hook, join in 1st st with sl st, pull the yarn tail to close (alternatively you can do magic circle). (12 sts)

Round 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each st (24 sts)

Round 3: ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, *2 dc in next st 1 dc in next st*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (36 sts)

For size preemie only:

Round 4: ch 2, dc in each of next 5 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 5 sts*, repeat from * to * for 5 times, 2 dc in last st (42 sts). Proceed to shell rounds.

For size newborn only:

Round 4: ch 2, dc in each of next 2 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (48 sts). Proceed to shell rounds.

For size 0-3 month only:

Round 4: ch 2, dc in each of next 2 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (48 sts)

Round 5: ch 2, dc in each of next 7 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 7 sts*, repeat from * to * for 5 times, 2 dc in last st (54 sts). Proceed to shell rounds.

For size 3-6 month only:

Round 4: ch 2, dc in each of next 2 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (48 sts)

Round 5: ch 2, dc in each of next 3 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (60 sts). Proceed to shell rounds.

For size 6-12 month only:

Round 4: ch 2, dc in each of next 2 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (48 sts)

Round 5: ch 2, dc in each of next 3 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts*, repeat from * to * for 11 times, 2 dc in last st (60 sts)

Round 6: ch 2, dc in each of next 9 sts *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 9 sts*, repeat from * to * for 5 times, 2 dc in last st (66 sts). Proceed to shell rounds.

Shell rounds:

Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same st as ch, *skip next 2 sts, 5 dc (shell) in next st, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st*, repeat from * to * all around, join with sl st to 1st sc.

Round 2: ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in same st as ch 3, *skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, shell in next st* repeat till there are 5 sts remaining, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip 2 sts, 2 dc in next st (where there is intial ch 3), join at the top of ch 3 with sl st.

[For shells round, sc is worked in the middle st of the shell from previous round and shell is worked into sc from previous round]

Repeat last 2 rounds till the hat measures 3.75" (4.25", 4.75", 5", 5.5") from the top. For slouchy beanie, continue to repeat shell rounds till hat measures 4.75" (5.25", 5.75", 6.25", 6.75"), ending on round 2.

Leveling round:

Ch 1, sc in same st, *hdc in each of next 2 sts, dc in next st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st*, repeat from * to *, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, join to sc with sl st. Do NOT fasten off. Continue to ribbing.

[For leveling, add sc in the centre st of the shell, hdc in other 4 sts of the shell and dc in sc.]

Ribbing: 

1 ribbing row is worked across each beanie stitch. Work total 42 (48, 54, 60, 66) rows.

Switch to the smaller hook

Row 1: ch 5 (5, 7, 7, 7), sc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch, slip stitch to 1st stitch on beanie, sl st to next st on beanie. (4, 4, 6, 6, 6 sts)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc-blo in next 3 (3, 5, 5, 5) sts, sc in last st. (4, 4, 6, 6, 6 sts)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in 1st st, sc-blo in next all sts, sl st into next 2 sts on beanie. (4, 4, 6, 6, 6 sts)

Continue rows 2 and 3 all around. Join with 1st ribbing row with sl sts. Fasten off. Weave in the ends.

If you are unfamiliar with this technique of adding ribbing, do watch this great video tutorial by TL yarn crafts. Crocheters who have never used this technique tend to place 2 rows of the ribbing for each st on the beanie. Carefully watch where you should put the sts.

Here is a picture tutorial for the ribbing.

Add a pom pom if you want.