Larch Beret in Traditional Fair-Isle

Larch vintage beret in traditional fair-isle knitting. Free pattern.

Materials

Patons Beehive Fingering 4 ply wool (fingering weight) in the following colours: 1 ball Light Natural, Small Quantities of Blue, Yellow, Pale Yellow, Dark Green, Scarlet and White. 1 set of old UK size 10 / US 3 / Metric 3.25mm double pointed needles (and a 16″ circular needle to begin with if desired).

Gauge

7½ stitches to the inch in width, measured over stocking stitch knit on 3.25mm needleS

Size

Diameter – 8¾ ins Head Band slightly stretched – 17″

Abbreviations

LN = Light Natural B = Blue Y = Yellow PY = Pale Yellow G = Dark Green S = Scarlet W =White.

Pattern

Using LN, cast on 112 stitches. If using DPNs place 40 sts on 1st Needle and 36 on each of 2nd and 3rd Needles Work 8 rounds in K1, P1 rib Next round: * K1, inc. in next st. knitwise, rep. from * to end of round. (168 sts) Knit 2 roundS Proceed in Fair Isle patt. (every round knit), joining in and breaking off colours as required. Rounds 1-20 in words: 1st round: 2 LN, * 1 B, 3 LN, rep . from * to last 2 sts, 1 B, 1 LN 2nd round: * 1 LN, 3 B, rep. from * to end of round. 3rd round: * 2 B, 2 Y, 1 B, 2 Y, 3 B, 1 Y, 1 B, rep. from * to end of round. 4th round: * 2 B, 5 Y, 2 B, 3 Y, rep. from * to end of round. 5th round: * 2 PY, 1 G, 3 PY, 1 G, 2 PY, 1 G, 1 PY, 1 G, rep. from * to end of round. 6th round: * 3 PY, 1 G, 1 PY, 1 G, 3 PY, 3 G, rep. from * to end of round. 7th round: * (1 S, 3 W) twice, 2 S, 1 W, 1 S, rep. from * to end of round. 8th-13th rounds: As rounds 6-1 in backward order, i.e., 6, 5, 4, 3, etc. 14th and 15th rounds: Using LN, knit. 16th round: * 1 G, 3 LN, rep. from * to end of round. 17th round: * 1 LN, 1 G, rep. from * to end of round. 18th round: 2 LN, * 1 G , 3 LN, rep. from * to last 2 sts, 1 G, 1 LN 19th and 20th rounds: Using LN, knit. Rounds 1-20 charted:

Fairisle chart nuber one for the Larch Beret in fair-isle knitting

21st-33rd rounds: As rounds 1- 13. 34th round: Using LN, knit. 35th round: Using LN, * K2tog, K2, rep. from * to end of round. (126 sts) 36th round: As 34th round. Work Crown as follows: In Words: 1st round: * (1 Y, 1 B) four times, 1 Y, K2tog Y, (1 Y, 1 B) five times, rep. from * to end of round. (120 sts) 2nd round: * (1 B , 1 Y) four times, 3 Y, (1 Y, 1 B) three times, 1 Y, 2 B, rep. from * to end of round. 3rd round: * 2 B, (1 Y, 1 B) twice, 2 Y, slip 1, K2tog B, psso, 2 Y, (1 B, 1 Y) twice, 3 B, rep. from * to end of round. 4th round: * (1 B, 1 Y) three times, 1 Y, 3 B, 2Y, (1 B, 1 Y) twice, 2B, rep. from * to end of round. 5th round: * (1 PY, 1 G) twice, 2 PY, 1 G, slip 1, K2tog G, psso, 1 G, 2 PY, (1 G, 1 PY) twice, 1 G, rep. from* to end of round. 6th round: * 1 G, 1 PY, 1 G, 2 PY, 5 G, 2 PY, 1 G, 1 PY, 2 G, rep. from* to end of round. 7th round: * 1 PY, 1 G, 2 PY, 2 G, slip 1, K2tog G, psso, 2 G, 2 PY, 1 G, 1 PY, 1 G, rep. from * to end of round. 8th round: * 1 G, 2 PY, 7 G, 2 PY, 2 G, rep. from * to end of round. 9th round: * 2 W, 3 S, slip 1, K2tog S, psso, 3 S, 2 W, 1 S, rep. from * to end of round. 10th round: * 1 S, 1 W, 7 S, 1 W, 2 S, rep. from * to end of round. 11th round: * 2 W, 2 S, slip 1, K2tog S, psso, 2 S, 2 W, 1 S, rep. from *to end of round. 12th round: * 1 S, 1 W, 5 S, 1 W, 2 S, rep. from * to end of round. 13th round: * 2 PY , 1 G, slip 1, K2tog G, psso, 1 G, 2 PY, 1 G, rep. from * to end of round. 14th round: * 1 G , 1 PY, 3 G, 1 PY, 2 G, rep. from * to end of round. 15th round: * 2 PY, slip 1, K2tog G, psso, 2 PY, 1 G, rep. from * to end of round. 16th round: * (1G, 1 PY) twice, 2 G, rep. from * to end of round. 17th round: * 1Y, slip 1 , K2tog Y, psso, 1 Y, 1 B, rep. from * to end of round. 18th round: Using B, knit. 19th round: Using B, * K2tog, rep. from * to end of round Thread wool through remaining sts, draw up and fasten off securely Crown Charted

Fairisle chart for the crown of Larch, beret in traditional fair-isle knitting

Finishing

Cut a circle of cardboard 8i ins in diameter. Insert this into beret and using a hot iron and a wet cloth press work on wrong side. Remove cardboard.