RUMI Hat: BASE BEANIE
I resisted it as long as I could, but my household has finally succumbed to the pop culture sensation that is K-Pop Demon Hunters. We have a healthy affection for all things South Korea in this house, so I’m not sure why I waited so long to watch it. It is, of course, one absolute bop after another and the ladies of Huntr/x are so fun to root for.
Rumi is the favorite in our house and I have made yarn hair hats before (Rainbow Brite, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Cadabby, Elsa, & Rapunzel), so I thought, “How hard could it be?”
My first attempt!
Well, now I know it could be pretty hard. Or at least pretty complicated. But, I forged ahead with the optimistic “Let’s learn by doing!” attitude I bring to all my overly ambitious crochet projects.
IMPORTANT NOTE #1: I am writing this blog about my first attempt at making this hat. I will be updating it as I try different things, I anticipate making a couple more versions before I decide which one will make the cut for Halloween!
I noticed that there’s a video tutorial out there from someone named jonathongarrity that is very cute and fun, but not quite what I wanted. It looks like he used a base beanie similar to the kind I use for graph beanies - the stitches go up and down and it’s gathered at the top, rather than just building a bowl/hat shape with stitches that go around starting at the top.
I started with a basic double crochet beanie like the one I use for my Heeler Hat.
I thought it would be cool it give it a bit more texture than just a plain hat, so I switched directions after each row - I basically joined each round, chained 2, and turned my work after every row. To be honest, I ultimately don’t think this was necessary, except it did make the bottom part of the beanie (which I also think is ultimately unnecessary) easier to make work.
HOOK
I used my favorite Tulip Etimo size 5.0mm crochet hook for the hat. Your hook of choice in 5.0 mm is probably fine too. I don’t really do swatching, but my stitches are typically pretty “mid” when it comes to tension. Not very tight but also not very loose!
YARN
In my opinion, Big Twist Yarn in Lilac is the absolute best color, the closest to what Rumi’s hair looks like. I used 2 skeins of Lilac from the stash of Big Twist I built before the death of Joann Fabrics (May She Rest in Peace, F*** Private Equity).
Red Heart Super Saver in Lavender or Orchid could also work well.
Don’t waste your time with any of that Loops & Threads crap yarn from Michaels. It pills up so fast - it’s not worth the heartache.
If you’re not a Big Twist or Red Heart yarn lover, any worsted weight yarn in a color that looks right to your or your Demon Hunter should be fine.
OTHER TOOLS
You’ll also need scissors or snips and yarn needle to weave in ends.
STITCHES & SKILLS REQUIRED (US terms)
Magic ring
Ch: Chain stitch
DC: Double crochet
INC: Increase (two stitches in one space)
Recommended but not required: Invisible join, half double crochet (HDC)
PATTERN for the base beanie
Round 1: With Color A chain 2, 10 DC in a magic ring and join with a slip stitch (10 stitches)
Round 2: Chain 2, DC inc in every stitch around. Join with a slip stitch. (20 stitches)
Round 3: Chain 2, Increase every second stitch - * DC, DC inc * around. Join with a slip stitch. (30 stitches)
Round 4: Chain 2, Increase every 3rd stitch - * DC, DC, DC inc * around. Join with a slip stitch. (40 stitches)
Round 5: Chain 2, Increase every 4th stitch - * DC, DC, DC, DC inc * around. Join with a slip stitch. (50 stitches)
Round 6: Chain 2, Increase every 5th stitch - * DC, DC, DC, DC, DC inc * around. Join with a slip stitch. (60 stitches)
IMPORTANT NOTE: For my next try at making this hat, I am going to stop increasing here at 60 stitches around, which will make it tighter and hopefully help it stay on better! I will still probably make it about 16 or so rows long.
Round 7: Chain 2, Increase every 10th stitch - * DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC inc * around. Join with a slip stitch. (66 stitches)
No more increases! Hooray! This is probably a good time to mention that if you paid for this as a pattern, you got scammed. I offer it for free on my blog at Two Thousand Stitches dot com.
Round 8-13: Chain 2, DC around. (66 stitches)
Now, if you or the person you’re making this hat for are not a stickler for accuracy, just keep doing rounds until it’s long enough to be comfortable, probably about 16 rounds total. Fasten off at the bottom however you like! I like to do an invisible join.
My little Huntr/x fan wanted it to actually look like hair, so I slowly tapered rows off the back starting at row 14. This may also contribute to the hat not being very stable on her head with the heavy braid on top, so… take that however you wish!
I put it on her head and attached stitch markers right behind each ear (with the seam/join centered in the back). I joined at a stitch marker with a chain and SC, HDC, then DC across until you have 2 stitches to the next stitch marker, then HDC, SC. * Chain 1 and turn. Then SC, HDC, DC across until you have 2 stitches to the last DC from the row before, then HDC, SC. * Repeat from * to * until you reach the length you want around the back. In effect, each row should taper a bit toward the back. I’m not sure I have explained this well here, but I will come back to it if I can think of a better way to explain it.
Up next: THE BRAID!