Slouchy beanie looks like a bucket

[YarnBall]

I'm using the pattern on http://www.yarnoverpullthrough.com/designing-your-own-custom-crochet-hat/. I've finished all the DC rows and about to do the SC rows. The beanie is looking too much like a bucket for my liking. I'm guessing it's because the pattern starts off with a flat circle then the increases stop abruptly after that. It could also be the yarn I'm using or maybe I'm using too small a hook??

 

I'm using a chunky acrylic yarn. I don't know the exact weight of it - it was a discounted bag of "mill ends" with no markings on it. My hook size says "USK10.5/6.50 MM".

[USpolishgirl]

If you could take a picture of your beanie, that would be a big help. And post that in a "Crochet Help": http://www.crochetville.com/community/forum/24-general-crochet-help/ . I am sure someone will be there to help you.

 

Krys

[redrosesdz]

Rounds 1 -4 create a flat circle.  Round 5 has 1/2 of the increases, so it creates the curl.  The remaining rounds have no increases, so they add length to the curl.  So, rounds 5 & 6 are what changes the flat circle from bucket to rounded.  Does this help?

[Granny Square]

I'm not finding a slouchy pattern on your link...she has good info on her tutorial, but the only thing I disagree with is her starting number of stitches. This varies a tad due to individuals' stitch height tensions, but for any 1 person, a SC is shorter than HDC, and HDC is sorter than DC, and so on.  Another tutorial (that works for me) suggests starting with 6 stitches for SC, 9 for HDC, and 12 for DC; the concept is that you start with x, and increase with x on every row.  The assumption is that SC is about half as tall as DC (and HDC somewhere in the middle), so after 2 rounds of SC you'd have 12 stitches--and you would also have 12 stitches with 1 round of DC, and the circle would be the same diameter (and circumference)--so the flat circle ratio is preserved.

 

Back on topic--2 things--

1) to me, slouch hats should be quite limp, so you may have hit the nail on the head about your stitches being too tight.  You may have to try a bigger hook.  

2)  The rule about making the flat circle so the circumference fits your head plus or minus the ease you want does not apply to (all) slouchy hats, only to the types that hug your head (cloche, beanie, watch cap, etc).  These head huggers are, indeed, shaped like a bucket.  Slouch hats are similar to berets, and are made making a bigger flat circle then gradually coming back to the head circumference measurement at the brim.

 

Here's some slouch hats made for bulky yarn...some look a little like buckets, some don't

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slouchy-beret-8   a slouchy beret

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slouchy-unisex-striped-hat

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gumdrop-slouchy-hat

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waffle-cone-slouchy-hat  this and the next would work up quickly with the lacy pattern

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-and-easy-slouchy

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fascination-street-slouchy

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/berry-patch-slouchie  nice textured pattern

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kiss-me-good-bye-newsboy-slouchy   this has a brim

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-slouchy-beanie-8

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lovely-lady-slouch-hat

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beret-with-a-simple-cable-stitch  really slouchy

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/web-of-winter  nice texture

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alpaca-slouch-hat-2  more texture

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swell-beanie  wavy

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/french-pompom-beret  pompom

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bulky-accidental-spiral-slouch interesting stitch pattern, sort of a braid

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rustic-slouch-hat-2 brim detail

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/go-with-the-flow-hat-3 I did a double-take, this looks like a knit pattern

[YarnBall]

Thank you so much for the help USPolishGirl, redrosesdz and GrannySquare! I thought I attached a photo but I see now that I forgot to hit "Attach this file". I hope it shows up now.

 

Redroses: yes, that does help me understand what's happening a tad better. I think what I want is more of a "curl".

 

GrannySquare: you're right, there is no pattern for a slouchy beanie on there! I was trying to mash together what I learned on another site which said the way to make a slouchy beanie was the same as a regular beanie except to just do more rounds after the flat circle. What I have right now does fit very nicely as a tight fitting beanie but I can see it's not the right way to make a slouchy beanie.

 

You found some really great chunky slouchy patterns for me!! How did you find those?? I searched and searched and just couldn't seem to find any that were both slouchy AND chunky. Thank you!! I'm going to look at those patterns in more detail to better understand how to get the perfect slouchy beanie!

[USpolishgirl]

WOW! GrannySquare came up with a lot of great patterns for you:). I didn't even look at all of them but I already found at least three that I really like.

You just need to pick what you like and start over again. All of us sometimes need to rip something.. LOL.

Good luck with your  slouchy beanie .

 

Happy Holidays!   

Krys

[Jayashiangel]

This is the slouch pattern I use...:O) This is one I just finished a few weeks back

 

[Granny Square]

Glad you liked them, I found them on Ravelry; some may be only posted there.  Yeah, I don't usually go for slouchy hats (I think they look better with long hair, which I don't have), but I did add a couple of these to my favorites

[YarnBall]

Hi everyone! Since I last posted here I've stitched three beanies using three different patterns. It has been a lot of fun learning all kinds of new stitches and techniques!

 

I started with this chunky one:

http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/rustic-slouch-crochet-pattern/

It looked just like the pictures and was beautiful with it's stitch detailing but it was too chunky on my head so I'll be taking it apart.

 

Next I made this one: http://www.mooglyblog.com/ups-and-downs-crochet-slouchy-beanie/. What a cute beanie! It fits my small head nicely.

 

Then I made this one:

http://www.allaboutami.com/cabledbeaniev2/. Very pretty and hip. I also had lots of fun working the cables.

 

Thanks again everyone for your help!

[Kw82]

How did you get your beanie to turn out right? I have had a lot of trouble trying to make a regular beanie for my 3 year old.