The beret, as we know it, dates to at least the French Revolution. From politics to high fashion, the beret is a classic - versatile, simplistic, and yet still open for personal adornment!

A traditional Pyrenees shepherd beret is knit first and then felted! Reach back in history, ready for tomorrow and choose your favourite woolly colour and work up your own traditional beret.

This ‘wardrobe essentials’ pattern includes instructions for both a felted beret AND an un-felted beret. In addition there are instructions to make the flower, leaf, and small circle appliques and embroidery suggestion.

The felted beret is worked in the round and at a larger than usual gauge so you may hand or machine felt. I used the technique included in the pattern to hand-felt my sample berets.

yarn:
Shetland 4ply by Gathered Sheep Yarns; Fingering; 100% Pure Shetland Wool; 233 (213) / 55g
approximate yarn amounts:
felted
40 (42) g; 169 (178) yds/ 156 (163) m
for ombre - any combination of colours, at least 10g each, adding up to 40 (42) g for suggested yarn
un-felted
55g ball (approximately 185yds/170m)
needles:
felted
3.75mm (us no 5) circular 16in/40cm
4.0mm (us no 6) circular 16in/40cm; DPNs 6in/15cm
un-felted
2.75mm (us no 2) circular 16in/40cm
3.0mm (us no 2.5) circular 16in/40cm; DPNs 6in/15cm
gauge:
felted
20 sts x 30 rows = 4in/10cm measured over stockinette on 4.0mm needles (before felting)
un-felted
28 sts x 32 rows = 4in/10cm measured over stockinette on 30mm needles
approximate finished size:
felted - sizes 1A (1B, 2A, 2B)
to fit 20 - 22 (20 - 22 w/ larger crown, 23 - 26, 23 - 26 w/larger crown) in/ 51 - 56 (51 - 56 w/ larger crown, 58.5 - 66, 58.5 - 66 w/larger crown) cm head
head
During the felting process, Shetland wool tends to shrink approximately 2in/5cm vertically with little to no shrinkage horizontally.
un-felted
one size fits most; 21-25 in/53cm-63.5 cm head
additional tools:
needle to weave in ends, st marker (6 for felted and 1 for un-felted), buttons or beads for embellishment (optional)