Hi Hook Nookers!
I’m Niree Noel of @niree_knits, here with a fuzzy beret pattern just in time for winter. I started knitting a few years ago to combat anxiety after some tough life things (read more about that in my essay on allure. At the same time, I found this massive community of makers on Instagram, which really inspired me to stick with the hobby. After a year or so of challenging myself to make different things and learning new techniques from patterns by designers and brands I love, I sort of stumbled into designing my own patterns. Design is such an outlet for creativity, and a way to share your unique sartorial vision with the world. I still love making garments and accessories that other inspiring designers have created, but it’s really empowering (and fun!) to know that you can articulate your own aesthetic via knitting patterns, too.
This particular beret idea came to me as I was hanging out with some super fluffy @bergere_de_france angora yarn. Living in new york, the winters can be brutal but there’s a certain romance during the holiday season, with the cobblestone alleyways awash with twinkle lights, the streets filled with glamorous coats and chic accessories, and the snow falling on everything from concrete sidewalks to the trees in central park. I wanted to create a warm accent piece that would look great with a fancy dress and red lipstick, but be just as functional for everyday wear. Enter: The Bramble Beret!
Materials:
Size us6/4mm circular needles, 32-inch
Size 6/G crochet hook
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Approximately 280 yards of dk/light worsted yarn
* I used 4 balls of bergere de france angora/merino wool blend, holding the yarn double-stranded. this pattern works held single strand as well, or if you'd like to incorporate an angora or mohair with a woolier wool, that could be fun too!
Key:
k = knit
p = purl
yo = yarnover
kfb = knit into front and back
k2tog = knit two stitches together
ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip both stitches knitwise to right needle; slide left needle into loops and knit those two together)
ktbl = knit through back loop
bobble = slip a crochet hook through the front of the first stitch on the left needle; leave the loop on the left needle and chain 5. slip stitch the top of the open loop shut and slip the now closed loop to the right needle.
twisted right decrease = slip two stitches purlwise, slip both stitches back to left needle, k2tog
Gauge:
25 stitches and 24 rows = 4x4 inches in stockinette
Pattern:
Using the long tail method and magic loop: cast on 100 stitches. Join for working in the round, placing a marker to mark beginning of round.
For Band:
Round 1: knit
Round 2: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1* 10 times
Round 3: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, twisted right decrease, yo, p1* 10 times
Round 4: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl twice, p2* 10 times
Round 5: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, twisted right decrease, yo, p1, bobble* 10 times
Round 6: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, p3* 10 times
Round 7: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl, twisted right decrease, yo, p1, bobble, p1* 10 times
Round 8: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, ktbl twice, k1, p1, k1, p1* 10 times
Round 9: *ktbl, p1, ktbl, p1, twisted right decrease, yo, ktbl, bobble, ktbl, p1* 10 times
Round 10: *ktbl, p1* all around
Round 11: knit all around
Body:
Increase round: *kfb, k1* all around (150 stitches)
Next round: work in stockinette until body depth measures 6 inches from top of band
Crown (switch to dpns when you’d like):
Next round: k2tog, knit until two stitches remain, ssk (148 stitches)
Next round: *knit 18 stitches, place marker, knit 19 stitches, place marker* 4 times
Decrease round 1: *[k2tog] twice, knit until 4 stitches before the next marker, [ssk] twice* 8 times total
Next round: knit (116 stitches)
Decrease round 2: *[k2tog] twice, knit until 4 stitches before the next marker, [ssk] twice* 8 times total
Next round: knit (84 stitches)
Decrease round 3: *k2tog, knit until 2 stitches before the next marker, ssk, k2tog, k3, bobble, k3, ssk* repeat 4 times
Next round: knit (68 stitches)
Decrease round 4: *k2tog, knit until 2 stitches before the next marker, ssk, k2tog, k1, bobble, k1, bobble, k1, ssk* repeat 4 times
Next round: knit (52 stitches)
Decrease round 5: *k2tog, knit until 2 stitches before the next marker, ssk, k2tog, k1, bobble, k1, ssk* repeat 4 times
Next round: knit (36 stitches)
Decrease round 6: *k2tog, knit until 2 stitches before the next marker, ssk* 8 times
Next round: *k2, remove marker, k3, keep marker, repeat* (20 stitches)
Decrease round 7: *k2tog, k1, ssk* 8 times
Next round: knit (12 stitches)
Decrease round 8: *k2tog, k1, remove marker, k1, ssk*
Next round: thread a tapestry needle with length of yarn; weave needle through open loops, gently pulling closed and weaving in the tails
Wishing you all a warm winter! And if you make your own Bramble Beret, please tag #brambleberet so I can see!
*Works-in-progress images by me. Final product shots by @samortizphotos. Special thanks to the lovely testers who helped sort out all the math and bobble confusion: Melissa @buttercream_knits; Jennifer @rockvilleknits; Andrea @brightwool; Emily @hiya_m8; and Christine @chunnnner!
