Sorry about the image quality, the dslr is holidaying in Rome, and I'm not.
My ex-housemate Martina is staying over with me for a few days while my parents are off gallivanting across Italy, and I finally got to present her a hat I made for her... two years ago? It's the pink one on the left (she's the adorable one). I followed a pattern I found somewhere online and didn't save (oops), and added the flowers and pearls after to cute it up a a little.
The mint hat on the right is the Choo Choo Hat! I finished it on Saturday night, and spent most of the evening making the pom. I made it super huge after the first, much smaller pom just looked ridiculous on the hat. It was supposed to be a one skein hat, but I think that pom makes it about 1 and a quarter skein. Maybe I should call it the Mega Pom Beret. The Mega Pom Beret That Slouches.
On to the Pattern!
Pattern may be printed, copied, and linked to various websites on the condition that credit is given and (if on a website), a link to this blog is listed on the same page. Products made from this pattern may be sold, on the condition that they are hand made, and credit in the form of a link to this blog is listed on the sales page.
Please let me know if there any errors in the pattern, particularly in stitch count.
Yarn used: Sirdar Snuggly 4 ply yarn in 'choo choo train'. (link)
Needles: 4mm circular needles, 4mm double pointed (dp) needles
Gauge: 14 stitches = 10cm, 10 rows = 4cm
Abbreviations:
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
kfb: knit front and back (Instructional video here, just in case)
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
Instructions:
Using double pointed needles, knit a 9 stitch i cord with 105 rows, join. This will be the foundation hat band.
Row 1: Using circular needles, pick up stitches from i cord in following pattern: *kfb, p4, repeat from * till end (126 stitches). To ensure regularity I picked up one stitch per row of i cord. From here, the hat will be knitted in the round.
Row 2 - 30: k knit stitches, p purl stitches. Increase or decrease number of rows depending on how slouchy you want your beret to be.
Row 31: *k2 p1 p2tog p1, k2 p4, k2 p4, repeat from till end (119 stitches)
Row 32 - 34: k knit stitches, p purl stitches.
Row 36: *k2 p3, k2 p1 p2tog p1, k2 p4 repeat from * till end (112 stitches)
Row 37 - 39: k knit stitches, p purl stitches.
Row 40: *k2 p3, k2 p3, k2 p1 p2tog p1, repeat from * till end (105 stitches)
Row 41 - 44: k knit stitches, p purl stitches.
Row 45: *k2 p1 p2tog, k2 p3, k2 p3, repeat from * till end (98 stitches)
Row 46: *k2 p2, k2 p1 p2tog, k2 p3, repeat from * till end (91 stitches)
Row 47: *k2 p2, k2 p2, k2 p1 p2tog, repeat from * till end (84 stitches)
Row 48: *k2 p2tog, k2 p2, k2 p2, repeat from * till end (77 stitches)
Row 49: *k2 p1, k2 p2tog, k2 p2, repeat from * till end (70 stitches)
Row 50: *k2 p1, k2 p1, k2 p2tog, repeat from * till end (63 stitches)
Row 51: *k1 k2tog, k2 p1, k2 p1, repeat from * till end (56 stitches)
Row 52: *k2, k1 k2tog, k2 p1, repeat from * till end (49 stitches)
Row 53: Switching to dp needles, *k5, k2tog, repeat from * till end (42 stitches). For even distribution, I had 14 stitches on 3 needles each, and then used the fourth to knit.
Row 54: *k2tog, repeat from * until 1 stitch is left on last needle (20 stitches + 1 on last needle). Move it to next dp needle and treat it as first stitch of next row.
Row 55: *k2tog, repeat from * until 1 stitch is left on last needle (10 stitches + 1 on last needle). Move it to next dp needle and treat it as first stitch of next row.
Row 56: *k2tog, repeat from * until 1 stitch is left on left needle (5 stitches + 1 on last needle).
Gather all remaining stitches and weave in ends. I usually do this by threading the tail of my yarn through the remaining stitches, pulling it taut to close the gap, knot it through a stitch on the wrong side of the work, and then weave in the ends.
Instructions for making a pom can be found on Kid Craft Central (direct link). I suggest one 3-4 inches in diametre, as a smaller one seemed a little ridiculous on the hat. Attach the pom to the centre of the hat, and viola!
It's a great hat for being eye-catching, when you want your friends to be able to find you in a crowd of other oriental Asians and tourists (as I'm taking this hat with me to Seoul). Having just dyed your hair a bright gingery red also helps.
Two unsuccessful attempts at selca. You can't even see the hats!
Again, please do post links in the comments to your finished work, so I can feel all shiny inside :)
