Bobbles and Leaves Beret

Here's a beret that I've knitted for a friend for Christmas. It looks complicated but it's not really difficult and it's definately worth it as it looks so effective. I hope you like it. If the hat is not big enough you may have to add an extra pattern repeat to make it wider. Also, a lot of people knit hats with double pointed needles or circular needles but I just can't manage that so I knit everything on straight needles. Anyway, see what you think...

You will need:

• 1 x 100g ball of DK knitting yarn
• Pair of 3.75 mm knitting needles
• Pair of 4 or 4.5 mm knitting needles (depending on your preference)
• Pair of 3.25 mm knitting needles
• Pair of 3 mm knitting needles
• Sewing up needle

NOTE: This seems like a lot of knitting needles but you need to change to smaller and smaller needles as you decrease your stitches at the end.

Abbreviations:

• K = Knit
• P = Purl
• K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
• Sl1 = Slip next stitch from left hand needle on to right hand needle without knitting it
• PSSO = Pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you have just knitted
• BOBBLE = Make a bobble. Here's how to make the bobble: (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1) into the next stitch, turn, p5, turn, slip the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stitches in sequence over the 1st stitch. Then knit into the back of this remaining stitch.
• Yf = bring yarn forward.
• Sl2tog = Slip the next 2 stitches off the left hand needle and onto the right hand needle together purlwise without knitting them.
• P2sso = Pass the two slipped stitches together over the stitch you have just knitted.
• Tbl = Through back of loop(s).
• Yfrn = Bring the yarn to the front of your work, then wrap it over the top of your RH needle and bring it back to the front of your work.

Method:

Cast on 90 stitches with 3.75 mm needles.
Row 1: *K1, p1. Repeat from * to end.
Row 2: *K1, p1. Repeat from * to end.
Repeat last two rows 3 times more (or until work measures 1 inch) and then repeat row 1.
Next row: Make 65 stitches evenly across the row bringing the total number of stitches to 155.

Change to 4mm or 4.5mm needles.

You can now begin knitting the main patterned part of the beret.

Row1: (P1, k3, k2tog, k3, yfrn, p5, yfrn, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k3) 7 times, p1.
Row 2 (and every following alternate row): (K1, p8, k5, p8) 7 times, k1.
Row 3: (P1, k2, k2tog, k3, yf, k1, p2, BOBBLE, p2, k1, yf, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k2) 7 times, p1.
Row 5: (P1, k1, k2tog, k3, yf, k2, p1, BOBBLE, p1, BOBBLE, p1, k2, yf, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k1) 7 times, p1.
Row 7: (P1, k2tog, k3, yf, k3, p2, , BOBBLE, p2, k3, yf, k3, sl1, k1, psso) 7 times, p1.
Row 8: As 2nd row.

These 8 rows form the pattern. I knitted these 8 rows 4 times more (i.e, 5 pattern repeats) but you can knit more or less depending on the size you need. The hat I knitted is fairly small but it is best to use your own judgment according to who you're knitting for and what size head they have.

When you have reached the length you require, making sure you have completed a full pattern repeat (finishing with row 8 of the pattern) you can begin decreasing. Here's how to decrease:

Row 1: (P1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3, yfrn, p5, yfrn, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k1, sl1, k1, psso) 7 times, p1. (You should have 141 stitches remaining).
Row 2: (K1, p7, k5, p7) 7 times, k1.
Row 3: (P1, [k2tog] twice, k2, yf, k1, p2, BOBBLE, p2, k1, yf, k2, [sl1, k1, psso] twice) 7 times, p1. (You should now have 127 stitches remaining).
Row 4: K1, p6, k5, p6) 7 times, k1.

Change to 3.75mm needles.
Row 5: (P1, k3tog, k1, yf, k2, p1, BOBBLE, p1, BOBBLE, p1, k2, yf, k1, sl2tog, k1, p2sso) 7 times, p1. (You should now have 113 stitches remaining).
Row 6: (K1, p5, k5, p5) 7 times, k1.
Row 7: (P1, k2tog, yf, k2tog, k1, p2, BOBBLE, p2, k1, sl1, k1, psso, yf, sl1, k1, psso) 7 times, p1. (You should have 99 stitches remaining).
Row 8: (K1, p4, k5, p4) 7 times, k1.

Change to 3.25mm needles.
Row 9: (P1, k3tog, k1, yfrn, p5, yfn, k1, sl2tog, k1, p2sso) 7 times, p1. (85 stitches).
Row 10: (K1, p3, k5, p3) 7 times, k1.
Row 11: (P1, yf, k3tog, p2, BOBBLE, p2, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, yf) 7 times, p1. (57 stitches).
Row 12: (K1 p1, k5, p1) 7 times, k1.
Row 13: (P1, k1, p1, p3tog, p1, k1) 7 times, p1. (43 stitches).
Row 14: (K1, p1, k2tog tbl, k1, p1) 7 times k1. (29 stitches).

Break the yarn leaving approx. 40cm of yarn to work with.

Thread your sewing up needle with the yarn and pass it though the stitches that you have remaining on your knitting needle. Draw the stitches together tightly and sew a few stitches to secure them in place. Turn the hat inside out and sew the seam together from top to bottom (finishing at the base of the brim). Take a round dinner plate and place your hat over the plate. Now steam the hat with a steam iron to block it and give it it's beret shape.

Lastly, enjoy your hat! :-)