Felted Fashion Beret

FELTED FASHION BERET (crochet)

printer-friendly version

Skill level: Easy

Size: To fit Teen/Adult

Materials:

175 yds. worsted wt. wool that felts easily (sample shown in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted)

NOTE: Do not use white, off-white or superwash-treated wool as it will not felt.

Size J/10 (6 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to achieve gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 3 hdc = 1" with worsted wt. yarn on size J/10 (6 mm) hook

Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), chain (ch), decrease (dec), half double crochet (hdc), increase (inc), repeat (rep), single crochet (sc), single crochet two together (sc2tog), slip stitch (sl st), stitch (st)

Beret

NOTE: Work LOOSELY to allow for maximum felting action.

Rnd 1: Ch 4, join into ring, ch 2, work 11 hdc in ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-2 (12 hdc)

Rnd 2 (increase round): Ch 2, hdc in same st, work 2 hdc in ea hdc around, join with sl st (24 hdc)

Rnd 3 (increase round): Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next hdc, *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc, rep from * around, join with sl st (36 hdc)

Rnd 4 (increase round): Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in ea of next 2 hdc, *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in ea of next 2 hdc, rep from * around, join with sl st (48 hdc)

Rnd 5 (increase round): Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in ea of next 3 hdc, *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in ea of next 3 hdc, rep from * around, join with sl st (60 hdc)

Rnd 6 (increase round): Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in ea of next 4 hdc, *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in ea of next 4 hdc, rep from * around, join with sl st (72 hdc)

Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in ea hdc around, join with sl st (72 hdc)

Rnds 8-14: Ch 2, hdc in ea hdc around, join with sl st (72 hdc)

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in ea st around, join with sl st (72 sc)

Rnd 16 (decrease round): Ch 1, sc in same sc and in next3 sc, sc next 2 sc together, *sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog, rep from * around, join with sl st (60 sc)

Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in ea sc around (60 sc)

Rnds 18-20: Ch 1, sc in ea sc around (60 sc). Fasten off and weave in all ends securely.

Felting instructions: Set washing machine to low water level, hot water, heavy duty agitation and add a drop or two of mild liquid soap (such as Ivory Liquid). Place crocheted hat in mesh laundry bag in washer along with old denim jeans. Let the machine agitate the hat for about 5 minutes, then check to see how it is felting. Do NOT let the water drain out or go to rinse cycle, but continue to check every 5 minutes until hat has reached desired amount of felting (sample hat took about 10 minutes to felt). Keep resetting machine to agitation cycle if necessary until hat is desired size. Remove from washer and rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water in sink. Press between dry towels to remove as much water as possible, then place hat over an upside-down plastic colander or bowl. While wool is still damp, you can shape the beret, trying it on to make sure the brim fits around the forehead comfortably (the brim can be stretched gently only while it is still damp). Once the beret is the shape you want, leave it to dry completely.

For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes.