Simple Beret Pattern

Here is the pattern for the simple worsted weight beret I posted earlier this week.

Early Mornings Beret – now that it’s cold here in Maine, I find myself putting a hat on first thing in the morning while I wait for the wood stove to get going!

Yarn: The Fibre Company Knightsbridge (70% alpaca, 30% merino, 100 yards, 50 gms), but any worsted weight will do!

2 skeins (I had a partial skein left over, so probably around 170 yards)

Gauge: 20 x 28

Needles: US 7 16″ circular, then set of double pointed needles for the final decrease rounds.

With circular needle, cast on 88 sts.  Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist sts, and placing a marker at the beginning of the round.

Work in k1, p1 rib for 8 rounds, or desired length.

Knit 1 round.

Increase round: * K2, m1; repeat from * to end of round. (132 sts)

(Note – m1 is make 1: make one stitch by lifting bar between stitches from back to front with the left needle and than knitting through the front of it with the right needle.

Continue in Stockinette st, knitting all rounds, until hat measures 5″ from cast on edge, or desired length.

Setup round: *K12, place marker; repeat from * to end of round.

Decrease round: *K to 2 sts before m, ssk, slip marker; repeat from * to end of round.

(Note – ssk is slip slip knit: slip the first stitch as if to knit, slip the second stitch as if to knit, then slide the left- hand needle into the front part of both stitches and knit them together. There are all kinds of on-line tutorials if you google ssk.)

Repeat this decrease round every other round until 11 sts remain.

(Note – switch to double pointed needles when sts can no longer stretch around circular)

Next round: *ssk; repeat from * to end of round, k1.

Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts and weave tail into wrong side of hat.  Weave in any other tails.  Block.