Helen's Beret

Errata: Upon wearing & stretching of the beret & realizing the effect of bamboo's lack of "springiness" I have included sizing for a smaller size hat (now called "medium") and plan to size it for small as well.






Materials:
-3 balls of Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends
-set of size 8 (5mm) double pointed needles
-16 inch circular needle, size 8 (5mm)
-set of size 7 (4.5mm) dpn's OR 16 inch circular needle

Gauge:
12 sts & 24 rows = 4 inches (10cm)

Size:
women's medium (21 inches) and large (23 inches), 8.5 inches from crown to edge. Changes for large are in parentheses.




Notes:
The hat is worked in the round from the crown down. I switched from dpn's to a 16 inch circular at about row 24. Make sure you have the same gauge or you will have to make adjustments to achieve good results. To make a more fitted, less slouchy beret, omit rows 39-46. To make a slouchier beret, repeat rows 33-38 again after row 46. If you find a mistake in this pattern, leave a comment!


Abbreviations:
m1: pick up the horizontal strand between the next two stitches and knit it from the back (so it twists and doesn't make a hole.)

m1p: pick up the horizontal strand between the next two stitches and purl it from the back (so it twists and doesn't make a hole.)

C4F: (cable 4 front) slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 2, knit 2 stitches from cable needle.

C3F: (cross 3 front) slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, p1, k2 sts from cable needle

C3B: (cross 3 back) slip 1 st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k2, p1 st from cable needle

C4R: (cross 4 right) slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k2, p2 from cable needle

C4L: (cross 4 left) slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, p2, k2 from cable needle


Instructions:
Cast 4 stitches onto a 5mm dpn. Keep the same side facing you and slide the stitches to the other end (as if you were making I-cord.)

Row 1: Use the rest of your dpn's, and knit into the front and back of each stitch.
Row 2: p 8
Row 3: *p1, m1p* 8 times
Row 4: p 16
Row 5: *p2, m1p* 8 times
Row 6: p 24
Row 7: *p3, m1p* 8 times
Row 8: *p1, m1, k1, m1, k1, p1* 8 times
Row 9: *p1, k4, p1, m1p* 8 times
Row 10: *p1, C4F, p2* 8 times
Row 11: *p1, k4, p2, m1p* 8 times
Row 12: *p1, C4F, p3* 8 times
Row 13: *p1, k4, p3, m1p* 8 times
Row 14: *C3B, C3F, p3* 8 times
Row 15: *k2, p2, k2, p3, m1p* 8 times
Row 16: *C3F, C3B, p4* 8 times
Row 17: *p1,m1p, k4, p5* 8 times
Row 18: *p2, C4F, p5* 8 times
Row 19: *p2, k4, p5, m1p* 8 times
Row 20: *C4R, C4L, p4* 8 times
Row 21: *k2, p4, k2, p4, m1p* 8 times
Row 22: *k2, p4, k2, p5* 8 times
Row 23: *k2, p4, k2, p5, m1p* 8 times
Row 24: *C4L, C4R, p6* 8 times
Row 25: *p2, k4, p8, m1p* 8 times
Row 26: *p2, C4F, p9* 8 times
Row 27: *p2, k4, p9, (m1p)* 8 times
Row 28: *p1, C3B, C3F, p8 (9)* 8 times
Row 29: *p1, k2, p2, k2, p8 (9)* 8 times
Row 30: *p1, C3F, C3B, p8 (9)* 8 times
Row 31: *p2, k4, p9 (10)* 8 times
Row 32: *p2, C4F, p9 (10)* 8 times
Row 33: as row 31
Row 34: as row 32
Row 35: as row 31
Row 36: as row 28
Row 37: as row 29
Row 38: as row 30
Row 39: as row 31
Row 40: as row 32
Row 41: as row 31
Row 42: *C4R, C4L, p7 (8)* 8 times
Row 43: *k2, p4, k2, p7 (8)* 8 times
Row 44: as row 43
Row 45: as row 43
Row 46: *C4L, C4R, p7 (8)* 8 times
Row 47: (medium size) *p2tog, k4, [p2tog] 2 times, p3tog, p2tog* 8 times
Row 47: (large size) *p2tog, k4, [p2tog, p1] 2 times, p2tog twice* 8 times

CHANGE TO 4.5mm NEEDLES
Row 48: *p1, C4F, [p1,k1] 2 (3) times* 8 times
Row 49: *p1, k4, [p1, k1] 2 (3) times* 8 times
Row 50: as row 49
Row 51: as row 48
Row 52: as row 49
Row 53: as row 49
Row 54: as row 48
Row 55: *p1, k1, p2tog, [k1, p1] 2 (3) times, k1* 8 times
Cast off stitches as they lie with a needle at least 2 sizes larger than the one you're using.

Pattern Copyright 2008, Rachel Abrams. If you like this pattern please send people to this site.

Braided Cable Hat

Who says boys can't wear braids?

I've been going through my stash, looking for nice heavy yarns to make into hats and mitts for the nieces and nephews and came across a few random balls of Lion Brand Homespun. There's enough in one ball for a child's hat and mitts, and here is the hat pattern- mitts to follow.

Notes:
-The small and large sizes are made with needles in size 5 & 7, and the medium & extra large are made with needles in sizes 6 & 8, so gauge is very important to get the right size of hat.
-The small size makes a toddler size hat, medium child size 4-6, large child size 8-10, extra large, adult size. (this is a rough guide as my head fits the large size but then I have a small head and have always worn boy's large size.)
-The hat is worked from the crown down. If you tend to bind off tightly, either use a larger needle for your bind off, or consider working the hat from edge to crown instead, reversing the shaping. I use a Kitchener rib bind off on hats to keep the lower edge stretchy. The only place I know of that has instructions for this bind off (which is really very attractive, professional, and stretchy) is in the book Big Book of Knitting by Katharina Buss. It takes some time to master but it really is worth the effort.

Materials:
1 skein Lion Brand Homespun, any color
1 set of 5 size 5 (3.75mm) and 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles if you are making the small or large size hat
1 set of 5 of size 6 (4mm) and 8 (5mm) double pointed needles if you are making the medium or extra large size hat
pompom maker

Gauge:
on size 7 needles: 14 sts / 4 inches in stocking stitch
on size 8 needles: 12 sts / 4 inches in stocking stitch

Abbreviations:
c4b: slip 2 stitches onto cable needle & hold at back of work, k2, knit stitches from cable needle
c4f: slip 2 stitches onto cable needle & hold at front of work, k2, knit stitches from cable needle
m1L: insert left-hand needle into the horizontal bar between the last stitch worked and the next stitch from front to back and knit into the back of it.

Cable braid:
over 6 sts
Row 1: k2, c4b
Row 2: purl
Row 3: c4f, k2
Row 4: purl


Instructions:
Crown:
(changes for large are in brackets)
Cast 6 sts onto 3 size 7 (or size 8 for med & xl) needles. Join and knit 6.
Round 1: *k1, m1L* 6 times
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3:(mark the beginning needle) *k2, m1L, k1, m1L, k1* 3 times
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: *k3, m1L, k1, m1L, k2* 4 times
Round 6: Knit
Carry on in this manner until you have 66 (72) stitches. Do not bind off.

Braided Cable Band (Knitted on as you go):
Using an open cast on (so the stitches can be grafted later) cast on 12 sts onto same size of needles. (If you don't want to graft, you can always cast on and off in the usual way and sew the ends together but that does leave a bulky seam and tightens the hat a little.)

Foundation Row: (back of work) k1, p1, k1, p6, k1, p1, purl last stitch of band together with the next open stitch of the crown.
Row 1: (front) p1, k1, p1, make cable, p1,k1, p1
Row 2: k1, p1, k1, make cable, k1, p1, purl the last stitch of band together with with next open stitch of the crown.
Row 3: k2, p1, make cable, p1, k1, p1
Row 4: k1, p1, k1, make cable, k1, p1, purl the last stitch of band together with with next open stitch of the crown.
Row 5: slip next stitch of crown onto left-hand needle and knit it together with the first stitch of the band, k1, p1, make cable, p1, k1, p1
Row 6: k1, p1, k1, make cable, k1, p1, k1
Row 7: slip next stitch of crown onto left-hand needle and knit it together with the first stitch of the band, k1, p1, make cable, p1, k1, p1
Row 8: k1, p1, k1, make cable, k1, p1, purl the last stitch of band together with with next open stitch of the crown.
Repeat rows 3-8 around the crown of the hat.
Last Row: Insert needle into first stitch worked from crown & pull up a stitch, knit together with first stitch of band, k1, p1, make cable, p1, k1, p1. Do not bind off. Graft the cast on row with the final row.

You will make 3 rows of band for every 2 stitches of the crown. Small: 100 rows. Large: 108 rows.

Ribbed edge:
With smaller needles, pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows on the lower edge of the band. sm: 75, lg: 81 Pick up on more to make an even number of total stitches. K1, P1 in rounds until you have 1.25 (med. 1.5, lg 1.75, xl 2) inches and cast off.

make a pompom if you like and attach it to the crown.

Shale Stitch Blanket

The stitch for the blanket in the background of the Berry Sweater is Shale stitch. You can see it peeking out a bit on this pic. The best pic is here.


18 stitch repeat
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Row 3: (k2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times
Row 4: knit

Don't forget to add your selvage stitches.

My blanket was done with Lion Brand Microspun, size 8 (5mm) needles in fuchsia, purple and turquoise, changing colors at row 1. I edged it with a crocheted crab stitch, I don't remember what size hook but probably I. I repeated the stitch 9 times, and carried on until it was big enough to cover the crib. I believe I used 2 balls of each color. I was a bit disappointed at first because it was so stretchy and floppy but when the baby was born it was perfect to wrap him up in and very very cozy; it became our favorite snuggle blanket.