Sunday 17 December 2017

A 1960's knitted beret


What an outfit! What a colour!

However, for the purpose of this post all we are interested in is the beret. I have been after a knitted beret for a good while, and am going through a phase of finding all the beret patterns that I have and knitting them up one by one to find my favourite. Berets are so versatile in their look and in their period correctness and I have a gap in my hat wardrobe.


I have knitted the Sunday Pictorial Beret from A Stitch in Time by Susan Crawford but I can't get it to look right on me, though I have seen it look fabulous on others. It has a separately knitted and stitched on bow and I think it might be the placement of that which is causing me problems. I need to remove the bow so the weight doesn't pull the beret down and then I can position it on my head more to my liking. So whilst that is on the 'to fix' pile I am trying other patterns out.


I bought this fabulously soft, beautifully coloured yarn from Temporary Measure when I saw them at Yarndale in September. It is 100% baby alpaca DK and it knits up beautifully with a lovely drape and good stitch definition. It is most lovely and warm too.


The colour is a bit lighter than this really but I can't get a good photo of it in this winter gloom! I love the radiating decreases.

This is quite a big beret; I would say it is larger than the pattern suggests. I rarely check my tension if I'm knitting an accessory for myself and the yarn is pretty drapey. I rather like the extra slouch; I can wear this like a tam which is a style I am comfy wearing. I'm going to go down a needle size for the next one for myself for comparison. The headband is just garter stitch so I probably would like that on a smaller needle for a closer fit.


This is it hot off the needles and straight on to my head, hence the bad lighting and the sofa selfie. I liked wearing it straight away.


It has continued to get lots of wear. This is me early in the morning on a freezing station platform waiting for yet another late train to work! It keeps my ears nice and cosy. This is a better idea of the colour too.

I have knitted another one as a commission knit. Here it is:


This one is knitted in black Drops Merino DK and it feels lovely.


Finishing touches - woven labels and vintage thread.

I have a beret from another pattern knitted up which just needs seaming so that should be getting tested out in a few days.

Do you have a favourite beret pattern?

12 comments:

  1. Your beret is beautiful! I love wearing berets too, although sadly I don't have any knitted ones.

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    1. Thanks Nicole. Let me know if you want me to knit you one!

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  2. This is a beautiful beret, I love the star effect of the stitches. You look very cosy and warm in it too.

    I love a good beret and have loads of them. My favourite though is the first one I crocheted from Theodora's pattern. I'm currently making another one from it in chocolate brown after the original 1930s pattern I was using turned out to be a big pile of poo. Seriously, it was a terrible pattern and after wasting way too many hours on it, I ripped it all back and decided to make one I enjoyed doing!

    Btw, you may want to delete the previous comment to mine. It's got a lot of spammy links in it! xx

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    1. How annoying that your recent beret pattern wasn't a good one. Hope the new one is going well. I must give Theodora's pattern a try.

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  3. So pretty, I can see how cozy it is from here. Great job Kate-em!

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    1. Thanks Liz. Just finished another yesterday!

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  4. That is a great beret style on you! And such a lovely colour.

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    1. Thanks Tanith. The colour really spoke to me and it matches my other coat perfectly!

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  5. I think the thing with the Sunday Pictorial beret is that it's a 'military' shape, with a flat back and all the volume at the front. But the blue beret really suits you!

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    1. I will try the beret again with the volume at the front. Thanks for the tip Mim.

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  6. That looks like an incredible beret and such a lovely color!!

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