Easy Peasy Lemon Beanie

This Lemon-inspired beanie is truly "easy peasy" and comes in 3 different sizes!

It's officially summer for me, and so I had to start it off with citrus-y preemie design! The hospital I donate crochet items to, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, has been asking for more larger beanies and booties for the older/bigger babies. So this pattern comes in THREE different sizes - Preemie, Small Preemie, and Newborn!

The hat itself is pretty basic - using half-double crochets for the preemie sizes, and double crochets for the newborn size. The only "new" part of this design is the little "nub" at the top of the lemon - I looked it up, and this "nub" is actually called the "pedicel" where the lemon blossom grow from! Interesting!

The pedicle is a little difficult to crochet in the beginning, because you've got to make sure that this little "tube" stays inverted so the right side of stitching is on the outside. I like to hold my finger in the inside of the tube, and crochet around it to keep in right-side out.

And then we add a little green leaf, which I think adds the cutest touch! You can even add two leaves if you want! For a video overview of how I make my leaves, visit my instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP3eUwRAHhC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I hope this pattern inspires you to crochet some Easy Peasy Lemon Beanies for a NICU near you :)

EASY PEASY LEMON BEANIE PATTERN

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn in light yellow and green ( I used Joann's Big Twist in Pale Yellow and Red Heart Super Saver in Frosty Green)

• Size G crochet hook

• Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations:

• Ch = chain

• St = stitch

• Sl St = slip stitch

• Sc = single crochet

• Hdc = half double crochet

• Dc = double crochet

SIZE: SMALL PREEMIE - 9'' around/3.5'' tall - for a 1-2 lb baby

Round 1: Ch 3, 5 hdc in the 3rd ch from hook. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 2: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each of the 5 st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 3: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round : Ch 1, *2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in the next st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in the next 5 st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Rounds 7-10: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 11: Ch 1, 1 Sc (relatively loosely, to make sure the border has stretchability) in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Sc in round.

Tie off and weave in ends.

SIZE: PREEMIE - 11'' around/4'' tall - for a 2-3 lb baby

Round 1: Ch 3, 7 hdc in the 3rd ch from hook. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 2: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each of the 7 st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 3: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 4: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in the next st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in the next 5 st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Rounds 7-11: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 12: Ch 1, 1 Sc (relatively loosely, to make sure the border has stretchability) in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Sc in round.

Tie off and weave in ends.

NEWBORN - 12'' around/4.5'' tall

Round 1: Ch 3, 8 hdc in the 3rd ch from hook. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 2: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each of the 8 st around. Sl St to the top of the first hdc in round.

Round 3: Ch 1, 2 Dc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Dc in round.

Round 4: Ch 1, 2 Dc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Dc in round.

Round 5: Ch 1, *2 Dc in the first st, 1 Dc in the next st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first Dc in round.

Round 6: Ch 1, *2 Dc in the first st, 1 Dc in the next 7 st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to the top of the first Dc in round.

Rounds 7-11: Ch 1, 1 Dc in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Dc in round.

Round 12-13: Ch 1, 1 Sc (relatively loosely, to make sure the border has stretchability) in each st around. Sl St to the top of the first Sc in round.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Leaf:

Ch 9

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, *Sl St in the first 2 ch. Sc in the next ch. Hdc in the next 2 ch. Sc in the next ch. Sl St in the last 2 ch*

Working on the opposite side of the ch, repeat from * to *

Tie off, leaving an 8'' tail for assembly.

Assembly:

With a tapestry needle and the 8'' yarn tail, attach the leave right below the pedicel at the top of the beanie. I like to do a few whipstitches. Tie off securely and weave in ends.

And that's it! I hope you use this pattern to crochet for a NICU near you! Please do not sell items created with this crochet pattern. My hope is that through providing these free patterns, others will be inspired and enabled to philanthrophically make a difference in the lives of others through their crochet talents ♥️