A Beret for Ruby

Some new yarn had arrived at the shop, and though it is a tough job, someone had to knit with it.  How wonderful is my life?  New yarn or new fabric arrives and it falls to me to create something with it! I wanted to knit a new hat for my granddaughter, Ruby, and thought she'd look cute in a beret.

Blossom Street from Universal Yarns was my first choice (some acrylic content so it might make it through a few washings before being felted), but little Ruby was lost in it.  So I used the rest of the skein for a pair of matching mittens for a shop sample.

Back to the drawing board... Some Jojoland Rhythm was next.  It's amazing how different yarns can produce such different results and this worked well for Ruby.  Though she prefers the slouch hat look to the beret, I thought she looked just fine.  100% wool - this will never survive my son's laundry skills,  but at least I got a picture before it becomes a doll's hat.

This was fun and I had another yarn to try, so Classic Shades, also from Universal Yarns, was up next.  Since I like to see how far one skein of any yarn in the shop will go, it was back to work. One skein was sufficient for the beret with enough left over for a cap (using Austin's Cap pattern).  In the picture below, the two hats on the left are one skein, while the two on the right are another.

These yarns are available at The Quilted Purl, but if you don't live nearby check here for Jojoland retailers: http://www.jojoland.com/do/wheretobuy/Select or here for Universal Yarns: http://www.universalyarn.com/store_locator.php.

No matter where you get your yarn, here are the patterns.  There is very little difference among the three.

Blossom Street Beret

designed by Ruth Hamilton 

The Quilted Purl

Georgetown, Colorado

Size: 16-18" circumference at the cast on edge  This hat fits me and I have a 22” head circumference.

Gauge:

19 stitches, 24 rows in stockinette = 4 in on size 6 needles

Materials Needed:

~Universal Yarn: Blossom Street

  or DK weight yarn
~16 in circular needles, sizes 6 and 7
~9 in circular size 7 

or size 7 DPNs
~Stitch marker
~Tapestry needle

Notes:

On each of the rounds that include “rep from * “, continue this to end of round.

Directions:

CO 72 St on size 6 circular needle
Join, being careful not to twist work

Rounds 1-7 work in K2, P2 ribbing

Change to size 7 needle

Knit 3 rounds
* K9, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rounds
* K10, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rounds
* Knit 11, M1, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds (96 stitches)
* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds
* K10, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds
* K9, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K8, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K7, k2tog rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K6, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K5, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K4, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

Change to 9" circular or DPNs when needed

* K3, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K2, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K1, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round
* K2tog, rep from * to end

Cut yarn leaving about 8 ". Run yarn through stitches with tapestry needle and secure. Weave in ends of yarn. Block using a dinner plate.

From the one skein of yarn, I was able to knit the beret and a pair of mittens, with the yarn shown left over.

Ruby's Beret

designed by Ruth Hamilton 

The Quilted Purl

Georgetown, Colorado

Size:  Child size 3-5
14-16 inch circumference at the cast on edge

Gauge:  4. 5 - 5 stitches on size 7 or 8 needle = 1 inch

Materials Needed:  Jojoland Rhythm or Baritone or another DK weight yarn
Needles: 16 in circular, sizes 6 and 7
9 in circular size 7 or size 7 DPNs
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle

Directions:

CO 72 St on size 6 needles
Knit 3, Purl 3 ribbing for 7 rds
Change to larger needles

Knit 3 rds
* Knit 9, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rds
* Knit 10, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rds
* Knit 11, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rds (96 stitches)

Openwork
* yo, k2tog, rep from * to end
Knit 3 rds
Repeat these 4 rounds above once more.

Decrease Rounds

• K10, k2tog, rep from *
  Knit 2 rounds ( 88 stitches )

Openwork
* yo, k2tog, rep from * to end
Knit 1 round

* K9, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K8, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K7, k2tog rep from *

* K6, k2tog, rep from *

* K5, k2tog, rep from *

Change to 9" circular or DPNs when needed

* K4, k2tog, rep from *

* K3, k2tog, rep from *

* K2, k2tog, rep from *

* K1, k2tog, rep from *
(16 stitches)

Cut yarn leaving about 8 ". Run yarn through stitches with tapestry needle and secure. Weave in ends of yarn. Block using a plate.

Classic Shades Slouch Hat

designed by Ruth Hamilton 

The Quilted Purl 

Georgetown, Colorado

Size: Adult  (My head is a 22” circumference and it fit me well.)

Gauge: 18 stitches x 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette on size 8 needles

Materials Needed:

One skein of Universal Yarns Classic Shades (197 yd.)
Size 6 16" circular needles
Size 8 16" circular needles
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
Size 8 DPNs

Notes:  There was yarn left over to create a simple ribbed hat in addition to the slouch.

Directions:

CO 72 St on size 6 circular needle. Join, being careful not to twist work

Rounds 1-9 work in K3, P3 ribbing.  Change to size 8 needle

Knit 3 rounds

* K9, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rounds

* K10, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rounds

* Knit 11, M1, rep from *
Knit 2 rounds

*Knit 12, M1, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds (104 stitches)

* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds

* K11, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 3 rounds

* K10, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* yo, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K9, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K8, k2tog rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K7, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K6, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

Change to 9" circular or DPNs  when needed


* K5, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K4, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K3, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K2, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K1, k2tog, rep from *
Knit 1 round

* K2tog, rep from * to end

Cut yarn leaving about 8 ". Run yarn through stitches with tapestry needle and secure.

Enjoy!