Boho Beret Pattern

How to make the boho beret

Los Angeles Times; January 6, 2008

Adapted from Shannita Williams-Alleyne, A Mano Yarn Center, Los Angeles:Time:

About 5 hours

Size: Medium (Large)

Materials: 2 skeins of any worsted-weight or heavy-worsted-weight yarn, about 150 yards total

Needles: U.S. size 7 and U.S. size 9 16-inch circular needles; U.S. size 9 double-pointed needles

Here's a list of terms used in the pattern:

K: knit

P: purl

Tbl: through the back loop

M1: make one

YO: yarn over

K2TOG: knit 2 together

SKP: slip, knit, pass the slipped stitch over

DPN: double-pointed needles

I-cord (sometimes called the idiot-cord): It's done by knitting the remaining stitches on a DPN and at the end of the row, instead of turning your work, slide the stitches to the opposite end of the DPN and knit again in the same order.

"When necessary": When knitting on circular needles becomes difficult, switch to DPNs, which allow you to knit in the round over smaller spaces.

1. Using the size 7 needle, cast on 88 (96) stitches. Join for knitting in the round and knit in 1x1 twisted rib for 1 1/2 inches (Note: Twisted rib is K1, tbl, P1, repeat from * to end of round). Place a marker.

2. Change to size 9 needles and increase as follows:*K2, M1, repeat from * around to end of round.

3. Knit even until hat measures 2 1/2 inches from beginning then begin eyelet pattern:

Row 1: *YO, K2tog, repeat from * around

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: *YO, SKP, repeat from * around

Row 4: Knit

Repeat eyelet pattern once more (or until eyelet insert is as wide as you want it to be). Then knit even until hat measures 5 1/2 inches from the beginning.

Begin decreases as follows (remember to change to double point needles when necessary):

Decrease rounds 1: Decrease 2 stitches -- once at the beginning of the round and once about halfway through the round. Work even for 1 inch.

Decrease round 2: *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. Work even for 1 inch.

Decrease round 3: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * around. Work even for 1 inch.

Decrease round 4: *K2tog, repeat from * around. Work even for 1 inch.

Decrease round 5: *K2tog, repeat from * around. Work even for 3/4 inch.

Decrease round 6: Repeat round 5. Knit 1 round even.

5. Repeat round 6 until you have 4 to 6 stitches remaining. Place all remaining stitches on 1 double-point needle and knit in 1-cord for 3 inches. Bind off. Weave in ends. Tie 1-cord into a knot.

Alternative ending (without top knot): End round with 5 or 6 stitches. Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitches. Pull tight. Weave in ends.