Knitted Beret Pattern

If I remember correctly, I learned to knit when I was about seven years old and the first thing I knitted was a pair of bootees for a sibling due to be born. I had many younger sisters and brothers and soon became very quick at knitting these little foot warmers. I remember knitting a pair in one evening, sitting at the kitchen table, when I was not much older than seven!

Knitting has, for me, been an enjoyable past time which is fortunate because, when my children were young, the range of garments available to buy was very limited where we lived in a coolish climate - well we weren't deep in snow but it was very cold for a big part of the year. I was always knitting, even when walking around on playground duty at school in the lunch breaks, a trail of yarn hanging from my coat pocket!

During the twenty years or so that we have lived in this sub tropical climate I have knitted jumpers [ sweaters or jerseys] for adult children and grandchildren but they don't get much wear. This year has been different as I gained a new grandchild, born in a really cold part of the world. How my knitting needles whizzed and clicked knitting as I knitted beanies, socks and jackets!

Of course a new grandchild the other side of the world, born on a deep snowy day meant that I was due for another overseas trip. But . . I didn't have any clothes that were warm enough for minus 20 Celcius and certainly not any beanies or berets to keep my head and ears warm.

Down to the Spotlight store and then to Lincraft I went, looking for a beret pattern. No luck. My friend google was then consulted, resulting in some patterns being downloaded. Knitting began but Whoa! Something was wrong with several of the patterns! After quite a bit of math and several restarts I fixed up the following pattern, original creator unknown.

The pattern begins at the crown. I used wool that I had left from a jumper I knitted eight years ago for my grand daughter. Double knitting - 8 ply. I estimate that it took a little more than 50 g. You could use different ply wools with a smaller/bigger pattern size and needle size.

Make it a slouchy as you want! I can vouch for its comfort and warmth.

Girl’s and Lady’s Beret

Double knitting wool – 8 ply

A pair each of Size 4mm needles for main part and size 3.25 for the band

Start using size 4mm needles and cast on  8 stitches

Row One:        Increase into each stitch   16 stitches

Row Two and alternate rows:    purl across all stitches

Row Three:     Increase into the first stitch, [K1, Increase 1,] repeat brackets to the end of the row    24 stitches

Row Five:       Increase into first stitch, [K 2, increase 1] repeat brackets to the last stitch, K1        32 stitches

Row Seven:  Increase into the first stitch, [ K3, increase 1] repeat brackets to the last 3 stitches, K3      40 stitches

Row Nine:    Increase into the first stitch. [ K4, increase 1] repeat brackets to the last 4 stitches, K4   48 stitches

Continue in this pattern, increasing eight [ 8 ] stitches in every odd numbered ie knit row until there are:

Size A [for a young girl]   112 stitches

Size B  [ teenager or smaller woman] 120 stitches

Size C  [ woman]  - 136 stitches   [ size pictured ]

Starting with a knit row, knit without shaping for 6 [ 10, 14 ] rows

[ I wanted a loose, slouchy beret so I did 20 rows here]

Decrease section

Next Row: ++K2 tog, K 12, [ 13, 15] ++ to the end

Next and Alternate rows:  Purl

Next Row:   ++ K2 tog, K 11, [ 12, 14]++ to the end

Next Knit Row:   ++ K2 tog, ++ K 10, [11, 13 ] ++ to the end

Continue decreasing in this way on the knit row with one fewer stitch between decreases,  [ decreasing eight [ 8] stitches each time until there are 72 [ 72, 80 ] stitches remaining.

Change to size 3.25mm needles and rib 6 rows – either K1, P1 or K2, P2 rib. I chose K1, P1

Cast [ Bind] off loosely in rib – I used  4.75 needle to get a looser edge.

Sew seam and wear warmly in your own personal style.