This is a beard beanie I came up with using the “Astrakhan stitch”. It is very simple. I used a braided yarn that was really soft and thick (Plymouth Yarn De Aire). It works up really well. I used just under half a hank/skein (maybe in the neighborhood of 40-50 yards).

It is used in conjunction with the “handlebar mustache” that I found here on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/handlebar-moustache