Star Stitch Beanie.

This is the first ever pattern that I've written. If you notice any mistakes, feel free to tell me, and I'll correct it as soon as possible.

Yarn: 1 skein of Odin by Viking of Norway. This is a single-ply aran weight yarn. Check yarnsub for suitable substitutions.
Hook: 5 mm  hook for the brim and 7 mm hook for the cap.

Star Stitch Instructions:
The first star stitch of the round is made like this: Chain 3, insert hook into the 2nd ch from the hook, yo and pull up a loop. Do the same in the next chain, in the same sc as the chains and the next 2 sc. You should now have 6 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 6 hooks. Complete the stitch with a ch1.
The rest of the star stitches are made like this: insert hook in the center of the previous star (hole created by the final ch1 of previous star) yo, pull up a loop, insert hook in the back of the 6th loop of the previous star, yo, pull up a loop, insert into the same st as the 6th loop of last star. yo and pull up loop, and repeat with the next 2 sts. You should now have 6 loops on the hook. yo and pull through all 6, complete the stitch with a ch1.
I recommend this video by wool wonders crochet (you can skip to 3 minutes in) for a demonstration

Once you've got the star stitch under control, this beanie is quite fast to work up :)

Hdc2tog = hdc decrease: *yarn over, insert hook in next st* twice. (5 loops on hook) yo, pull through all 5 loops.

Brim:

Use a 5mm hook

Row 1: chain 11 (you can chain more if you want a wider brim), sc in the second chain from the hook, sc in all remaining chains until the end. Chain 1, turn. (10 sc)

Row2: sc in back loops only across, ch1 and turn (10 sc)

Repeat row 2 until the piece measures about 17 inches (43 cm)

Connect the ends by slip stitching through the front loops of the last row and the foundation chain.

Fasten off.

Turn brim inside out, so the seam is on the inside. 

Cap: 

Round 1: attach yarn to the top of the brim, ch 1 and make 69 more sc around the brim. Sl st into the 1st chain. (70 sts)

Round 2: Change to a 7 mm hook. Make 34 star stitches (see above for instructions), make 1 hdc in the last sc, slip stitch to 1st star. (34 stars, 1 hdc)

Round 3:  ch 2, make 2 hdc in each star and a final hdc in hdc from last round ( 70 stitches)

Round 4: repeat round 2 ( 34 stars and 1 hdc)

Round 5: ch 2, 2 hdc in next 15 stars, 1 hdc in next 2 stars, 2 hdc in next 15 stars, 1 hdc in next 2 stars, 1 hdc in hdc from last round (66 sts)

Round 6: 32 stars, 1 hdc in last st. (32 stars and 1 hdc)

Round 7: ch2, *2 hdc in next 2 stars, 1 hdc in next 2 stars* Repeat from * 7 more times, hdc in last st. ( 50 sts)

Round 8: 24 stars, 1 hdc.

Round 9: ch 2, *2 hdc in next 4 stars, 1hdc in next 2* repeat from * 3 more times, hdc in last st. (42sts)

Round 10: 20 stars, 1 hdc

Round 11: ch 2, *2 hdc in next 3 stars, 1 hdc in next 2* repeat from * 3 more times, hdc in last st. (34 sts)

Round 12: 16 stars and 1 hdc

Round 13: ch2,  1 hdc in each star, 1 hdc in hdc from last round (18 sts)

Round 14:  ch 2, hdc2tog 9 times (10 sts)

Round 15: hdc2tog 5 times (5 sts)

Fasten off and weave yarn end through remaining stitches to close the hole.

So far I've only made this beanie in variegated yarn, which turns out pretty nice, but the stars would be more visible if the cap was made in a single solid colour, or maybe two alternating solid colours. I will try this once I get a skein of this yarn in a solid colour. I'd love to see how your star stitch beanie turns out if you decide to make one, and if you encounter any problems with the pattern, I'd be happy to help!