Beard Beanie:

Materials: Crochet hook, yarn, (both depend on the look youre going for), buttons (2 or 4), needle and thread. Measurements: 1. Length of Face: Chain from top of ear to top of ear running down under your nose. Pull it to a comfortable tension. Thats your starting number. (Mine is 40) 2. Length of Lip: Do the same thing, except this time, just measure corner to corner, across your smile. Pull it to a comfortable tightness, and think about how much space you want free around the sides of your lips. (Mine is 12) 3. Length of Cheek: Dont measure! Instead, subtract Lip Length, from Face Length and divide by 2. (40 12=28, 28/2= 14) (So mine is 14) 4. Turning Chain (t-ch): When you decide on the stitch you want to use, note the length of turning chain you need. (Im going to write the pattern using the crazy stitch so my t-ch will be 3) *Note: Regardless of stitch you choose, row 2 will be worked in HDC, so t-ch for row 2 will be 2.

For the sake of clarity, Ill use the terms above, and Ill also use my numbers in parenthesis, but please use your own numbers to insure that your beard fits your face, not mine. And replace crazy stitch with your own stitch of choice. Download my Excel spreadsheet for easy (almost magical) math. Youll be impressed. I promise. Row 1: Chain length of face + t-ch (42). Turn. Row 2: HDC in the 2nd chain from the hook, and continue across, totaling the cheek length (14). Now Sl st the lip length (12) and HDC across the cheek length (14). (t-ch). Turn. ********* Confused? Hope not!**********

Can you see the slip stitched upper lip? Row 3: CrzyStch in each chain of the cheek length (14). Chain lip length (12). Skip Sl sts in row two (12). HDC cheek length (14) to the end of row. (t-ch) Turn. ******Phew! Its a lot easier from here out!*******

Theres the little mouth!

Row 4: CrzyStch in each stitch all the way across (40). (t-ch) Turn Row 5: CrzyStch 2-tog, CrzyStch across until the last 2 stitches (36). CrzyStch 2-tog. (t-ch) Turn. Row 6: CrzyStch across (38). (t-ch) Turn. Row 7: CrzyStch to center (18). CrzyStch 2-tog. CrzyStch to end (18). Finishing: Sl st around entire beard, to make the edges look even. Fasten off, and weave ends.

See those nice even ends?

Buttons. Sew one or two in top corners of the beard. Here comes the fun part: put on a knit or crochet beanie, stretch the beard into position, and them pop the buttons through the beanie in the place they feel most comfortable. Check a mirror to see that the button placement is even. Now laugh at how awesome you look!