Slouchy berets are great for dressing up a pair of jeans or dressing down your little black dress this holiday season. Better yet, they keep your ears warm and make nice gifts to boot, especially when knit in a pretty luxury yarn. This one is knit in an alpaca silk blend and takes just two 50g. skeins of yarn. The leaf lace pattern is fairly simple, which makes it a good project for a first lace knit, but fun enough to keep more experienced knitters interested as well. The beret is knit in the round on a circular needle, with decreases in the lace pattern and, towards the top of the beret, in stockinette stitch. In a worsted weight yarn, it’s a pretty quick knit, so if you’re in need of a last-minute gift knitting project, this may just be the one.

SIZE: One size (will fit a 20-24 inch head).

MEASUREMENTS: Hat brim circumference approximately 20 inches unstretched.

GAUGE: 18 st/24 rows = 4 x 4 inches in stockinette stitch

MATERIALS: 2 50g. skeins of a worsted weight yarn (approx. 96 yds/88 m. per 50g.), 1 16-inch length US #6/4mm circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge), 1 set of US #6/4mm double pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge), 1 stitch marker and a darning needle.

Now also available from KnitPicks.com, at this URL: Kensington Hat Pattern