Another Way Beret

So many fun possibilities with this unusual beret design! Make it in a classic single color, or show off the shaping with a contrasting ridge around the octagonal crown. My favorite version shown here – break self-striping yarn into individual colors to take control of your stripes and highlight the different directions. A perfect first hat for a beginning knitter because it requires no double pointed needles or magic loop technique for the crown. Truly another way to knit a beret!

Note that the pattern samples were knit with non-superwash yarns. Soft, superwash yarns will give less structure and more drape to your beret. Choose your yarn for your desired look!

This pattern is appropriate for knitters who can cast on, work knit and purl stitches, work simple increases and decreases and pick up stitches. The stretchy bind off specified in the pattern is explained fully and a video link is included as well. The pattern is 3 pages and has been test knit and professionally tech edited.

Pattern Notes:
The construction begins with garter stitch worked back and forth in rows to form the octagonal crown. Stitches are picked up around the crown and worked circularly in rounds for the rest of the beret.

Sizes: Sizes: S (L) Designed with approximately 3 in/ 7.5 cm neg ease at brim.

Finished Measurements:
Brim circumference: 18 (19 1/4) in/ 45.5 (49) cm with significant stretch.
Depth (length from center of crown to BO of brim): 8 1/4 (9 1/2) in/ 21 (24) cm, easily adjusted by knitting more or fewer rounds in main body of beret.
Diameter of beret after blocking: 10 (11) in/ 25.5 (28) cm. If length is increased then this diameter will also increase.

Gauge:
20 sts and 44 rows per 4 in/ 10 cm in garter stitch worked flat. (See note under needle size).

What You Need:
✦ Approximately 2 1/2 (3) oz/ 71 (85) g of worsted weight yarn total. A contrast stripe around crown and brim uses approximately .2 (.3) oz/ 5.5 (8.5) g. Approximate yardage 146 (175) yds/ 134 (160) m.
*Multi-color version shown in Noro Kureyon (100% wool, 109 yds/ 1.76 oz) in color 344 – I needed 2 skeins. I split the colors into separate balls and chose my color changes, spit splicing the ends together as I went.
*Solid color version with green contrast stripe around crown and at brim shown in Studio Donegal Soft Donegal (100% Merino, 210 yds/ 3.6 oz) in colors Oatmeal (5508) and Grass (5536).

✦ One 16 in/40 cm circular knitting needle in size required to obtain gauge. I used US #5/ 3.75 mm. You may need a size or two above or below that. Choose a needle size based on your gauge knitting garter stitch flat (in rows). You may need to change needle sizes when you begin to knit circularly in the round to keep the same gauge. I used a US #4/ 3.5 mm when working garter stitch in the round.

✦ Stitch markers: 1 identifiable marker for beginning of rounds, 1 clip-on style marker or safety pin to mark RS, 7 other markers any style.

✦ Tapestry needle

Tech editing by: [Kerry Bullock-Ozkan][1] Photography by John Newell

This pattern will be available in early October.