4 Video Tutorials are embeded to help guide you through intermediate-level techniques.

This past holiday season, I decided I wanted to wear a winter-white beret. I gathered my needles and some leftover yarn and brought them with me to Christmas dinner. As I sat at the table working on this project, I was surrounded by love, joy, laughter, games, delicious food, and tons of fun! This design is imbued with all those good-feeling emotions, and I am so excited to share it with you!

Naming this pattern was also really fun! I asked for suggestions on social media, and a fellow knitter proposed the name Beret of Light, a play on the words “Ray of Light”. As a forever-optimist and intentionally happy human, I am always looking for a ray of light (silver lining) in every situation. I hope that the process of working on this pattern makes you happy and that wearing the beret brings joy to you too!

Construction:
This beret is worked from the top down. We will start by making a little nub at the crown using an i-cord. Then we will work a series of increases to create an octagon, followed by a series of decreases to shape our project into a bowl. After working a few straight rows to add depth to the beret, we will work an i-cord bind off for a decorative finish that frames the face.

Sizes:
Small (Medium) to fit head circumferences of 19 (22) inches / 48 (56) cm. Shown in size Medium with an intended 3” / 7.5 cm of negative ease. The Medium will fit the average adult head. If you have a very small head, size down.

Check the first Tip Box for help with modifying the pattern if you want to achieve an in-between size.

Needles:
Recommended: US 7 / 4.5 mm on 32” / 81 cm cable for Magic Loop or needle size needed to achieve gauge.
What I used: My needles were a less common length, 27” / 68.5cm from tip-to-tip. This length should be comfortable for those with experience using the Magic Loop technique.

Choose Needles that are Best For You: You may prefer to use DPNs (double-pointed needles), 16” circulars, two circulars, Flexi Flips, etc. for working a small number of stitches in the round. You are empowered to choose your favorite method. Just have fun!

Yarn:
A Verb for Keeping Warm, Dawn. 75% US Organic Merino, 25% Organic Cotton. 140 yards / 50 grams. One skein was sufficient to complete this project including a 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm swatch. Colorway shown is Lighthouse.

I personally enjoy the cotton blend in this yarn, as it provides structure so that the geometric shape of the beret is clearly defined.

Alternative Yarns:
You may find that when swatched, heavy DK yarns and light worsted yarns will yield a similar gauge. Make a swatch with your favorite yarn to see if you can reach the desired gauge of 5 sts per inch.

Gauge:
20 sts x 32 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette st after blocking.

Notions:
4 st markers, yarn snips, darning needle, and pen. Use a pen to mark your progress using the checklist boxes to the left of each instructional row.