Beanies for Marines

Materials:

You must use tan colored yarn. Red Heart brand and Caron One Pound Skeins are sold at Wal-Mart and Michael's

About 2 oz. yarn, worsted weight or light bulky/chunky - acrylic

Size 10 or 10 1/2 straight needles or if you do not want to sew up the seam, use 18-20 inch long circular needles and 4 double pointed needles

Guage 4 sts = 1 inch

Cast on 64 stitches For Straight and Round needles: Rib in Knit 2, Purl 2 for 4 inches.

For STRAIGHT needles work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 4 inches

For ROUND needles knit round and round for 4 inches.

You now have a total of 8 inches.

Begin decreasing for the crown

For STRAIGHT needles

Row 1: knit (K) 6, K2 together (tog), repeat to end of row,

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: K5, K2 tog, repeat to end of row

Row 4: Purl

Continue in this manner Knitting 4, 3, 2, 1 and purling between each row - then knit 2 together. You should have 8 stitches left on your needles. Break yarn, leaving about a 20" tail. Thread a large-eyed needle and weave through the 8 stitches pulling up tight and fastening off. Sew seam.

For ROUND needles

Row 1: put a marker on needle - K6, K2 tog, repeat to the marker.
Row 2: knit to marker

Row 3: K5, K3 tog, repeat to marker

Row 4: knit to marker

Continue decreasing in this manner till you have 16 stitches. Knit 2 together and you now have 8 stitches. Break yarn, leaving about 5 inches. Thread a large eyed needle and weave through the 8 stitches pulling up tight and fastening off, weave the remaining yarn into the hat.

The beanies can be mailed to Jeanne Siu (see Directory). For mailing information: JLSiu@aol.com