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Hat Description
Meret is a lace beret with a rolled stocking stitch brim. The allover lace pattern creates columns of nested arches that reach all the way to the centre of the crown. The shaping is incorporated into the stitch pattern and creates a classic beret finish.
Pattern Availability
My Patreon supporters and members of The Woolly Hat Society get exclusive early access to new free patterns and tutorials. Once the exclusive period is over, they’re published here on the blog for everyone to use.
Pattern Support
If you have a question about this pattern, pop it in a comment below. Sorry, but I’m unable to help with my free patterns or tutorials via email or private messages.
Social Media
Share your hand-knit Hats online with these hashtags!
#WoollyWormhead
#WWMeretHat
Yarn
223yd/204m/100g
Aran weight, multi-plied yarn.
Needles & Notions
Set 4.5mm/UK7/US7 DPNs/Circular or size needed to obtain gauge
10 [11, 12] Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Sample Details
Shown in Patons Classic Wool [223yd/204m per 100g; 100% Wool]
Shown in size 20in/51cm on model with 21.5in/54.5cm circumference head
Gauge
18 sts x 24 rows to 4in/10cm on 4.5mm needles over St.St.
Sizes
To fit sizes: 18 [20, 22] in/46 [51, 56] cm
Finished size: 16 [17.75, 19.5] in/40.75 [45, 49.5] cm
Not sure which size to make? Check my handy size and measuring guide!
Skills Required
Alternate Cable Cast-on
Cable Cast-on
Knitting in the round
Increases and Decreases
Basic Lace (eyelets)
Yarnovers
Draw-through Bind-off
Blocking a Hand Knit Hat
Abbreviations
K: knit
K1tbl: knit stitch through the back of loop
P: purl
rpt: repeat
R/rnd(s): rounds
st(s): stitch(es)
M1: pick up the horizontal loop before the next stitch, place it onto the left needle & knit into the front of it
yo: wrap yarn round needle to create a yarnover
k2tog: knit next 2 sts together
SSK: slip next 2 sts knitwise, then knit these 2 sts together through the backs of the loops
sk2po: slip next stitch, then knit following two stitches together, then pass slipped stitch over
Alteration Notes
This pattern can be made more slouchy by knitting one or two extra lace repeats – one extra repeat will make a regular slouch beret, two extra repeats will make it really slouchy! You can also mix and match the different sizing options, by starting the lace chart in different places than those given.
Over time, this pattern has been through many incarnations & been worked with so many variations! The current sample in the photos – the orange Meret – was added recently (autumn 2011) and was knitted with a combined rolled+ribbed brim, and has 2 full repeats of the stitch pattern in the body. It is the 20in/51cm size.
How To – Rolled Brim
Using Cable Cast-on method, cast on 72 [80, 88] sts. Join in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches. Place stitch marker to indicate start of round.
Brim Rnd: Knit all sts
How To – Ribbed Brim
Using Alternate Cable Cast-on method-cast-on, cast on 72 [80, 88] sts. Join in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches. Place stitch marker to indicate start of round.
Brim Rnd: *K1tbl, P1; rpt from * to end
Brim
Repeat the Brim round until work measures 2in/5cm then work increase round once as follows:
Inc. Rnd: *[K1, M1] twice, [K2, M1] 3 times; rpt from * to end [117, 130, 143 sts] (there will be 13 sts between each stitch marker)
It’s a good idea to change to a circular needle for the main body, then change back to DPN’s during the crown shaping when stitches are fewer.
Body
18in size: work rounds 5-10 once, then rounds 1-10 once [16 rnds]
20in size: work rounds 2-10 once, then rounds 1-10 once [19 rnds]
22in size: work rounds 9-10 once, then rounds 1-10 twice [22 rnds]
Rnd 1: *K2, yo, K3, sk2po, K3, yo, K2; rpt from * to end
Rnd 2 & all even rounds: knit all sts
Rnd 3: *K3, yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K3; rpt from * to end
Rnd 5: *K4, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K4; rpt from * to end
Rnd 7: *K5, yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rpt from * to end
Rnd 9: *K1, yo, K4, sk2po, K4, yo, K1; rpt from * to end
Rnd 10: knit all sts
Note about Slouchiness
For extra slouch, work one extra repeat of rounds 1-10. For even more slouch, work two extra repeats of rounds 1-10. The one shown is extra slouchy.
It’s very important to end the body section after a Round 10 – this leaves the pattern in the correct place for the crown shaping. If you choose to work additional repeats for slouchiness, work them in the middle part of the instructions given for each size, or start at a different point in the repeat.
Crown
Rnd 11: *ssk, yo, K3, sk2po, K3, yo, K2tog; rpt from * to end [99, 110, 121 sts]
Rnd 12: *ktbl, K10; rpt from * to end
Rnd 13: *ssk, yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K2tog; rpt from * to end [81, 90, 99 sts]
Rnd 14: *ktbl, K8; rpt from * to end
Rnd 15: *ssk, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K2tog; rpt from * to end [63, 70, 77 sts]
Rnd 16: *ktbl, K6; rpt from * to end
Rnd 17: *ssk, yo, sk2po, yo, K2tog; rpt from * to end [45, 50, 55 sts]
Rnd 18: *ktbl, K4; rpt from * to end
Rnd 19: *ssk, yo, K1, yo, K2tog; rpt from * to end
Rnd 20: *ssk, K1, K2tog; rpt from * to end [27, 30, 33 sts]
Rnd 21: *ktbl, K2; rpt from * to end
Rnd 22: *sk2po; rpt from * to end [9, 10, 11 sts]
Break yarn and thread through remaining 9 [10, 11 ] sts and tighten to close.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. This Hat will require blocking to appreciate the fullness of the shape. It is best to block this Hat flat, as a circle with the crown at the centre. Encourage the eyelets to open out during the process but avoid stretching the brim of the Hat.
Need Help With This Pattern?
If you’ve a question about this pattern, please pop it in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message, but you’re welcome to post in our forum.
Print This!
If you’d like to print this free pattern, either use the ‘Print’ button below or right-click in your browser, adjust the settings to suit your needs, and select ‘Save as PDF’ for a digital copy, or your printer for a paper copy. You can use the scale option to reduce or enlarge the font.
A gauge of 17sts to 10cm/4in, instead of 18st, would give you a finished size of 20.75in if you work the largest size, which would comfortably fit a 24in head 🙂
Hi there. I hunted high and low and found this gorgeous pattern on ravelry. It says free to download but I’m not sure how to do this as it keeps directing me elswhere. do I need to join something to be able to print it? Thanks so much. Am going to get my mum to knit it for me!!! 🙂
hello there!
There isn’t a PDF that you can click on to download, but if you use your browser settings you can ‘print to PDF’.
Right click within the blog post usually works for most browsers, and from there you can adjust your settings and only add the pages you need to your PDF.
Enjoy the beret 🙂
I really would like to make an extra slouchy hat, size large. How many stitches are cast on?
Thanks Vickie
Hi there,
A size large is a bit vague when it comes to Hat sizes I’m afraid, it’s much better to have an idea of the head size, which is measured around the circumference. This size guide explains all:
https://www.woollywormhead.com/blog/2009/9/26/hat-sizing-guide
Once you know the head size then you can pick the best corresponding size in the pattern to knit 🙂
on the crown, decrease, section every other row begins with a ssk and or ktbl, until row 20. then the ssk is repeated after row 19 and row 21 is a ktbl, an odd row. is this correct?
in the crown shaping, the decrease repeat starts with an ssk and ends with a k2tog, and is worked every other round until Round 20, where the decreases are worked again. On alternate rounds the repeat starts with a K1tbl.
If you look at the chart you can see why the shaping repeat changes at Round 20, and it’s to work around the lace pattern and keep it continuous into the crown.
So as it’s written, and as it’s shown in the chart, it is correct, yes.
Why when I want to print this pattern no photos will print? Is this not a free pattern?
It is a free pattern 🙂 Even without the photos you still have the pattern.
If the photos aren’t printing, you’ll need to check your printer settings. I’d suggest right-clicking and choosing ‘Prinr to PDF’ first, so that you’ve a digital copy, and also to see whether the images print to file ok.
Issues like this are always local – i.e. the printer or printer settings – there’s nothing preventing the images printing in the website settings 🙂
Where can I find Italian translation?
Thank you!
hi there!
The pages for the free patterns in Italian are still being rebuilt – if you send me an email through the contact form I’ll find a copy of the PDF and email it to you 🙂
Hello!
Thank you for your kind answer.
Can I have Italian Translation of Meret?
Thank you so much.
A big hug!
Erika