Hi-o!
I just finished this slouchy beret a few days ago! I've been wearing it almost everyday since then.
The pattern is my own, and it's using the Trinity stitch, which is one of my favorites even though it's a bit tricky to do. It worked great for a small project like a hat. The trick was doing the crown decreases in a manner that preserved the stitch pattern as much as possible. The pattern is a multiple of 4 sts, so I decreased 5 sts down to 1 in four spots around the top, every other row. I think it turned out really well!
There are more photos at my Flickr account if you wanna see 'em. (
http://www.flickr.com/photos/breadnbadger/) Thanks for looking!!
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Okay, here's the pattern I worked up.
I didn't take notes while knitting this one, so I apologize if anything is off about the pattern. I don't think gauge is especially crucial for a loose beret, but keep in mind that this stitch pattern pulls in width-wise a lot. My gauge measurement was taken after the hat was finished, and it's sort of an estimate. If you want to swatch the pattern (it's great to practice this pattern a bit anyway, since you really need to make sure your stitches are very loose!!) make sure to remember to *purl* on all the RS rows instead of knitting (only for the *SWATCH* since you're knitting back and forth instead of in the round. Follow the pattern exactly when making the actual hat in the round!).
Size: about 21" around the bottom of the ribbing section, it was tighter before I wore it a while and stretched it out, maybe more like 17"
Yarn: I skein Araucania Nature Wool Chunky (I used almost the entire 132 yds)
Needles: 9 US dpns, 10.5 US dpns
Gauge: 24 sts x 10 rows = 4"x4" on larger needles in Trinity Stitch
Trinity/Blackberry Stitch pattern (worked in the round on a multiple of 4 sts):
row 1 (WS) - *(k1, p1, k1) into same st; p3tog;* rep from *.
row 2 - knit.
row 3 - *p3tog; (k1, p1, k1) into same st;* rep from *.
row 4 - knit
*Note: The hat is knit inside-out, with the st patt on the inside. If you're using a circular needle, you can flip in rightside-in occasionally to try it on!
CO 69 sts with smaller needle. Join (without twisting sts) and k the first and last sts tog - this makes a nice finished join that is barely noticeable. PM at the beginning of the round. Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1.5 inches.
Next row: Using larger needles *k2, m1; * rep from *; Throw in an extra inc halfway around and again at the end. You should have 104 sts. (You must have a multiple of 4 for the st patt.)
Continue in Trinity st patt until hat measures 7 inches from co edge, finishing with row 1 of patt.
Here comes the tricky part. You will be decreasing one entire bobble at a time.
Place 4 markers evenly around (one should be the begining of the round marker), making sure they are after a p3tog.
On the next row (row 2, a knit row) decrease 4 bobbles: k to 5 sts before a marker and decrease next 5 sts into 1 as follows: sl 3 knit-wise (one at a time); *pass 2nd st on right needle over first (center); sl center st back to left needle, pass next st over it;* rep from *, k remaining st. Continue in this way for the rest of the row.
Follow rows 3, 4, and 1 of patt. On next row 2, repeat decreases. Continue decreasing on every row 2 until there are only 16 sts left. k2tog across the row - you will only have 8 sts left. (Note: I actually think I started the k2tog rows earlier than this, following in patt on the RS rows. I can't remember what I did, so you might have to experiment a little. Thread some waste yarn into all the sts on a row so you can unravel to that point if you need to. You can try out different dec techniques all you want after that).
Break yarn with 8" tail and pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends and you're done!
I didn't block this hat, but you could if you wanted to. The ribbing seemed really tight when I first tried it on, but it has loosened up to the perfect width after a short while.
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I learned the 5-to-1 dec from Jodi Green's "Mariah" sweater pattern, who I suspect learned it from Alice Starmore in her book Aran Knitting. There might be an easier way to dec in the patt, but this worked for me and it looks great!
A simpler chunky, slouchy hat pattern can be found here:
http://www.knitandtonic.typepad.com/leslouchrev.pdfIt's "Le Slouch" by Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic, whose hat originally inspired me. She uses seed stitch or stockinette for her pattern, so it's better for a beginner knitter.
I really hope this is accurate. It makes sense to me anyway, so let me know if you find any errors. I'd also love to see other people's versions, as this is my first pattern ever!
-Amanda
