Ah, the beret! This ancient form of headwear has launched battles, spearheaded trends, and ignited imaginations for centuries. There are many versions of this iconic accessory, and I for one am partial to the plain and simple one that originated around the 1920s. With its moderately volumed crown and its turned-in brim, this style of beret grew to be ubiquitous in continental Europe throughout the middle of the 20th century, oozing glamor and practicality in equal measure. 



The Stalk & Pip beret is a nod, as it were, to this golden age of beret-wearing.



Worked from the ‘stalk’ down, this beret grows quickly on the needles. The top-down construction also makes the pattern versatile and customisable. Choose between several crown and brim fishing options. Modify the sizing to suit your unique proportions. Work with the recommended yarn to the specified gauge, or with virtually any yarn and gauge of your choosing. The pattern instructions and accompanying Appendix can make this project as straightforward or as bespoke as you like, as practical or as glamorous. 

………

MATERIALS & INFORMATION

Yarn
suitable for DK to Aran weight yarns (150-200m/ 100g)
requires one 100g skein

alternatively: instructions are provided to use any yarn weight

Gauge
main fabric: 20 sts x 28 rounds = 10cm x 10cm (4”x4”), in stockinette 


brim: 23 sts x 30 rounds = 10cm x 10cm (4”x4”), in stockinette


alternatively: instructions are provided for any gauge

Needles

Needle A: circular needle suitable for Magic Loop method, 4mm (US 6) in diameter or as needed to meet gauge for main fabric

Needle B: circular needle suitable for Magic Loop method, 3.5mm (US 4) in diameter or as needed to meet gauge for Brim



Notions

stitch markers, measuring tape, spare needle B, scrap yarn, tapestry needle, round dinner plate
(optional: ribbon, safety pin)

Special Techniques
i-cord, stretchy 3-needle bind-off, optional: Magic Loop

……………………………

NOTES

Yarn Used for Samples:
The pink beret with ‘stalk’ and picot-edge brim was made with Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co BFL-Gotland Aran in the Peony colourway.

The slate blue beret with ‘pip’ and plain edge brim was made with Lana Rara Classic (sportweight, held double) in the Rauchbau colourway.

The green beret with the ‘turned out’ brim and ribbon finish was made with Townhouse Yarns Drury DK, in the Newgrange colourway.

While the main pattern provides solid round-by-round instructions for a nifty basic beret in a range of 4 sizes, with stitch counts every step of the way and all that, the added value here, as I see it, is in the Appendix recipe. Starting with a 4 stitch cast-on, you can simply begin knitting - in any yarn, and any gauge you like, without swatching or counting stitches. You can use this pattern again and again for a collection of quite different looking berets for every season and occasion.

Note that a stretchy 3-needle bind-off at the end is crucial to the beret fitting properly. If you gloss over the instructions provided and instead sew the brim down, or use a non-stretchy bind-off, the stretch will be insufficient. It is actually an easy method once you understand what is happening; for best results I strongly recommend following the specific steps provided in the pattern.