Butterfly Beret Pattern - FREE!

Butterfly Beret
By Rachel Iufer

Special thanks to Katie Blackman for modeling!

Gauge:
22 sts to 4 inches, 30 rows to 4 inches in stockinette

Materials:
Rowan Felted Tweed (191 yds) 1 ball. Shown in green (avocado 161) and purple (sigh 148)

US 4 (3.5mm) 16” circular needle
US5 (3.75mm) 16” circular needle and double pointed needles

Stitch markers

Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Techniques:
Knit, purl, increase, decrease, knitting in the round, I-cord, bind off

Terms:
k2tog: knit two stitches together as one
ssk: slip two stitches knitwise. Insert the left needle into the front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together as one.
M1: Insert the tip of the left needle from front to back into the bar between the stitch that was just knit and the next stitch on the left needle. Knit into the back of the bar to twist and close the hole. 1 stitch increased.
Butterfly stitch: Take the RH needle and scoop up the 5 strands from bottom to top, knit one stitch and with the stitch on the RH needle pull the stitch loop down underneath the 5 strands and over the top creating an elongated stitch that gathers the 5 strands slightly.
Butterfly pattern:
Rows 1,3,5,7,9: *knit 5, bring the yarn to the front and slip 5 stitches purlwise, bring the yarn to the back* rep form
Rows 2,4,6,8: knit all stitches
Row 10: *knit 7, butterfly stitch* rep form
Rows 11,13,15,17,19: *bring the yarn to the front and slip 5 stitches purlwise, bring the yarn to the back, knit 5* rep form
Rows 12,14,16,18: knit all stitches
Row 20: *knit 2, butterfly stitch, knit 7* rep form
wyif: with yarn in front
bytb: bring yarn to back
PM: place marker
sl: slip the stitches purlwise
SM: slip marker



Pattern:

With smaller needles, cast on 92 stitches. Place marker and join in the round.
Work in k1,p1 rib for 1 inch, or approximately 7 rows.

Switch to larger circular needles.
Increase row: *k1, M1* 2 times, [k2, M1] 44 times, *k1, M1* two times. 140 stitches.
Rw 1-60: work butterfly stitch repeat 3 times over the next 60 rows.

Begin decreases (move to double points when needed):
Next Round: *wyif sl5, bytb, k2tog, PM, k1, ssk, wyif sl5, bytb, k5* rep form 7 times (126 sts)
Rnd 2: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 3: *wyif sl 4, bytb, k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, wyif, sl 4, bytb, k5* rep form 7 times (112 sts)
Rnd 4: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 5: *wyif sl 3, bytb, k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, wyif, sl 3, bytb, k5* rep form 7 times (98 sts)
Rnd 6: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 7: *wyif sl 2, bytb, k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, wyif, sl 2, bytb, k5* rep form 7 times (84 sts)
Rnd 8: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 9: *wyif sl 1, bytb, k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, wyif, sl 1, bytb, k5* rep form 7 times (70 sts)
Rnd 10: *butterfly stitch, k1, SM, k2, butterfly stitch, k5* 7 times
Rnd 11:* k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, wyif sl5, bytb* around
Rnd 12: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 13: k1 *SM, K1, SSK, wyif sl 3, bytb, k2tog * at the last stitch k2tog with the first stitch of the next round
Rnd 14: k all stitches slipping all markers
Rnd 15: k *SM, k1, SSK, wyif sl 1, bytb, k2tog around until last k2tog use the first stitch of the next round
Rnd 16: *SM, k2, butterfly stitch the the strands, k1* repeat until the end of the round ending on the butterfly stitch
Rnd 17: K1, *sm, SSK, k2tog* until the end, use the first stitch of the next round for the last k2tog
Rnd 18: knit all stitches and remove all markers
Rnd 19: k2tog around (7sts remain)
Rnd 20-21: k2tog 3 times, k1 (4 sts)
Rnd 21-23: k around (i-cord)
Rnd 24: k2tog, k3tog.
Pull yarn through loops and weave the end in securely.

Weave in all ends.

Blocking makes a difference! I use a plate and the steam of my iron to block my hats. They stretch and get fuzzy with wear (especially if you wear them in the rain. The green hat is a year old and the purple is fresh off the needles)

Enjoy!

added note on size:
The original pattern leaves a wide hat brim. If you find it to be too loose, you can cast on only 80 stitches and increase to 140 stitches by increasing as *K1, M1, K2, M1, K1, M1* around.