goldilocks
a slouchy beret by Teri Bell Not too big and loose that it doesn't fall off the back of your head. Not too small and tight that it won't slouch properly. Not too frilly, not too plain, not too difficult, not too boring... Juuuust right. Fast and fun to work up! Knit it in alpaca for a
soft, classic hat. Dress it up in a hand-painted, wool-silk blend and block into a beret. Or make a casual, cotton, everyday slouch. Gold version in size M-L working 5" before decreasing. Rust version in S-M working 7" before decreasing.
MISTAKE RIB
ABBREVIATIONS
Rnd 1: P2, K2 around, ending with K2 Rnd 2: P1 (K2 P2)\* around, ending with K2P1 Repeat rounds one and two
What Will it Be?
First stitch will be a Knit, second will be a Purl on Rnd $^{1\,\&}$ Knit on Rnd 2, third a Purl and fourth Purl Rnd 1 & Knit Rnd 2. Learning to "read" your knitting will help tremendously when starting decreases and to avoid mistakes in the Mistake Rib. K - Knit P-Purl CO - Cast On PM - Place Marker SM - Slip Marker SSK - Slip the first stitch as if to knit, slip the second stitch as if to knit, knit the two stitches together K2tog - Knit two stitches together 3StDecr - Insert right needle knitwise through TWO loops at tip of left needle and slip these two stitches onto the right needle. Knit the next stitch. Pass both slipped stitches over.
PATTERN
With smaller needles C0 88 (100) stitches, join in round (no twisting!), PM at beginning of round and work in K1, P1 rib for 1 inch. On last round, increase 20 stitches evenly spaced, maintaining the rib, working stitches as they present themselves (work 4 stitches, M1, work 5 stitches M1, etc.) 108 (120) stitches on needle. Start Body of Hat: switch to larger circular needles and work in Mistake Rib (see page 1) until hat measures 5 to 6 inches from CO edge or until about $3.5^{\prime\prime}$ from desired total length. If a slouchier hat is desired, work an extra inch or two. End with round 2 of Mistake Rib pattern. Start decrease rounds: as you are decreasing, maintain Mistake Rib as established by working either a K or P on both sides of decreases depending on what is called for in the pattern stitch. You will be decreasing using the K peak on both sides of the P dip three times - 6 stitches per decrease row. Switch to double points when there are too few stitches for the circular. Set-up Rnd: \*P2, SSK, P2K2 over 28 (32) stitches, K2tog, K1, $\mathsf{P M^{*}}$ repeat around twice more. 6 stitches decreased, 3 stitch markers placed evenly around and 102(114) stitches on needle. Rnd 1 (no decr): \*(P1 K2) twice, P2K2 to 4 stitches before Marker, P2, K1, P1, SM\* repeat \*around Rnd 2(decr): \*P2, SK, P1, K2, P2K2to 3 stitches before M, K2tog, K1, SM\* around Rnd 3 (no decr): \*P1, K4, P2K2 to 3 stitches before M, P1, K1, P1, SM\* Rnd 4 (decr): \*P2, SSK, K2, P2K2 to 6 stitches before M, P2, K1, K2tog, K1, SM\* around Rnd 5 (no decr): \*P1, K3, P2K2 to 2 stitches before M, K1, P1, SM" around Rnd 6: \*P2, SSK, K1, P2K2 to 5 stitches before M, P2, K2tog, K1, SM\* around Now start decreasing every round: Rnd 7: \*P1, K1, SK, P1, K2, P2K2 to 5 stitches before M, P2, K2tog, P1, SM\* around Rnd 8: work as Rnd 2 Rnd 9: \*P1, K1, SSK, K1, P2K2 to 3 stitches before M, K2tog, P1, SM\* around Rnd: 10: \*P2, SSK, K1, P2K2 to 5 stitches before M, P2, K2tog, K1, SM\* around Work Rnds 7-10 untilthere are 36( ) stitches remaining.
Last Rounds size S-M:
\*P2tog, SSK, P1, K2, P2, K2tog, P1, SM\* twice. Third time around, P2tog, SSK, P1, K2, P2K2tog, \*\*slip next sitch, remove marker, slipstitch back on L needle, PK2tog, K1, P1, 3StDecr\*\* repeat \*\* around
Last Round size M-L:
\*P2, SSK, P1, K2, P1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, $\mathsf{K}1^{\ast}\,3$ times. \*P1, K1, SSK twice, P1, K1, K2tog, $\mathsf{P1}^{\ast}\,\mathsf{3}$ times. P2tog, SSK, P1, K2tog, $\mathsf{K}1^{\ast}\,3$ times
P1, \*3StDecr, P2tog\* 3 times (note: last P2tog will Purl last stitch with first stitch)
Finishing
Cut end tail $\sim10^{\prime\prime}$ long. With darning needle loop through remaining 12 (9) stitches twice, pull through to inside, secure and weave in all ends. ENJoy! And remember not to sneak into a bear's house, eat their porridge and sleep in little bear's bed.
