Columbia beret

Published on Monday December 22nd, 2008

New version of the pattern added 19 February 2010.

By popular request (and my own long-delayed intention), the Columbia pattern has been modified to include a medium size that will fit smaller heads or those who like a real beret rather than a beret/snood. I’ve also corrected the instructions for setting up the stitches to knit the ties on top. Get the new version here:

Columbia Beret 1.2

The wool I used is a soft 2-ply Columbia wool from Oregon’s Imperial Stock Ranch; you could substitute any worsted weight wool, but a fuzzy woolen-spun will give you a cohesive, warm fabric. The slouchy beret is worked on needles slightly smaller than recommended for extra structure and a felt-like hand. Lines of yarnover eyelets swirl decoratively up to a knit-on garter-stitch topper. The Columbia wool will full quite readily if you wish to tailor the fit after knitting.

42 Comments to “Columbia beret”

  1. mamie Comment Says:

    don’t know which is cuter, you or the beret. happy holidays.

  2. Katherine Comment Says:

    Wow, that is a really nice pattern! I typically don’t like knitted berets, but this one is very appealing.

  3. merete Comment Says:

    i am a sucker for berets and this one has it all. and i would knit it any day although i would never get to look like a modern audrey hepburn in it. thanks for the instructions. and i wish you and mr. g a lovely christmas and a happy and prosperous new year and i hope for a lot of lovely knitting from your hand in the coming year.

  4. knithoundbrooklyn Comment Says:

    That beret is adorable. I love berets and can’t wait to try this one out. Thanks for the pattern!

  5. Veronique Comment Says:

    Ooh, swirls! Kudos on a great pattern 🙂

  6. Anne Comment Says:

    What a great beret pattern! Thanks!!

    I have 1 lone skein of that yarn marinating in stash, which would be the perfect use for it! 🙂

  7. Jodi Comment Says:

    Too cute! It looks so perky on you. I’ve only tried a thinner yarn (fingering/sport?) from Imperial Stock, and I loved it! So natural and earthy, plus they have wonderful, rich colors.

  8. gleek Comment Says:

    super cute!

  9. LisaW Comment Says:

    Very cute pattern! I love the swirls. Thanks for sharing your hard work!

  10. Wendolene Comment Says:

    Adorable! Thank you so much for sharing the pattern with us!

  11. Debby Comment Says:

    Oh that is so sweet and vintage-y! My previous beret didn’t come out with the stiffness I think it should have, so I may try this one soon.

    I hope you and your family have a peaceful Christmas and good new year, despite your recent loss. Will you be home, or flying eastward? We have lots of snow here!!

  12. Nonnahs Comment Says:

    I love this! Thanks for sharing the pattern! 🙂

  13. Seanna Lea Comment Says:

    This hat is so cute, and it really sets of your elfin features wonderfully! So adorable. I like the beret I have, but I’m not convinced that mine is as cute on me as it is on everyone else. Maybe this one will be better (or maybe I shouldn’t be wearing berets).

  14. kim Comment Says:

    What a beautiful beret. Thank you for sharing the pattern. Happy Holidays!

  15. Rebecca Comment Says:

    So beautiful! I love the way the yarn overs work into the decrease lines – lovely!

  16. Casey Comment Says:

    That hat is super cute! I have so many hats I want to knit now. Thanks for making the pattern available to us!

  17. whitney Comment Says:

    It looks so great on you! I am not really a beret-person, but I think something like this would look great on my mom. Thanks for sharing the pattern!

  18. Peacock Chic Comment Says:

    OMG that hat is sooo cute! i love the little tie at the top. Super cute!

  19. kathryn Comment Says:

    Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. My daughter loves berets – perfect. I agree with the first person to comment – you are cuter than the hat : )

  20. tiennie Comment Says:

    That is really cute on you! Happy holidays to you!

  21. balzac Comment Says:

    Such a beautiful and imaginative design! Thank you! Hmmm, I have a ball of Mountain Colors in Green tweed and 2 balls of Debbie Bliss tweed in pale blue…decisions…

  22. carrie Comment Says:

    Super cute! I really like it. 🙂

  23. cheryl Comment Says:

    Oh!! What a great little beret! I am going to knit this up for my mother-in-law for Christmas! Less than 24 hours to go!! 😉 Thank you so very much for sharing and as one of my favorite blog writers, I hope you have a merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

  24. jillian Comment Says:

    It’s beautiful! Thank you for writing it up 🙂

  25. Liane Comment Says:

    So cute! I’ll have to go stash-shopping to make this one!

  26. Jessica Comment Says:

    Sarah, this is beautiful! I think this will be my next step on the never-ending search for a hat that looks normal on my head…. 😉 Thank you for the lovely pattern and your lovely and inspiring photos!

  27. Lucy Comment Says:

    Thank you thank you thank you! I’ve been looking for a pattern just like this for ages, it’s perfect! I cast on at lunchtime and have it half-knitted already. I’m hoping to finish it and wear it tomorrow!

  28. Lucy Comment Says:

    I finished it! I love the pattern, and it’s a fabulous beret – thanks so much for inventing it and giving it to us for free. Check mine out at http://www.knittingsheep.blogspot.com

  29. Malena Comment Says:

    Lovely. Just lovely. The color is perfect. I look hideous in hats, berets being no exception. But if I were to pop one on my big ol’ curly topped head, this would be the one.

  30. Carmen Comment Says:

    I just posted pictures of my Columbia beret on ravelry and will soon do a post of the finished project on my blog.
    I loved making it and other than the silly mistake I made in one round it was fast and easy. I will have another on the needles soon and will share the pattern with my knitting group. Thank you so much for this and all your great patterns!
    May you and your family have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

  31. pamelamama Comment Says:

    That’s quite lovely!

  32. tiny boak Comment Says:

    I am working on the Columbia Beret pattern. I have come to the crown decreases and have hit a snag…….in round 2 it says K13, k2tog, k1* around omit last k1. How are you suppose to do that???? The last k1 is a yo stitch.

  33. fred Comment Says:

    I begin the decreases and I’ve got the same question ? what do you mean with “omit last k1”? I’m sorry, I’m french and my english is not very good !!!
    I love that pattern, thanks !

  34. Sarah Comment Says:

    I’ve responded individually to those with questions, but since the crown decreases are flummoxing many, here’s the reason it’s written “omit last k1”:

    That k1 is actually the first stitch of the round, because of the way the decreases shift the beginning of the round. I could have written “k12, k2tog, k1, *k13, k2tog, k1*” instead, but I thought that might be more confusing. The line of decreases is going to slant continually right in just the way you’d expect, with the yarnovers following on appropriate rounds. You’re going to knit that yarnover from the round below, but it’s going to be the first stitch of the next round’s directions. Email me if you’re still confused!

  35. Diana Comment Says:

    LOVE the band!!! I’m just discovering how great berets are for not giving a hat-hair-day! Thanks for making the battern available.

  36. Ulrike Comment Says:

    What a lovely beret! Thanks a lot for the pattern!

  37. Bethany Comment Says:

    Hi Sarah-
    I love this pattern but I have a big head that measures around 23 inches circumference. Would this hat be too small?

    Thanks,
    Bethany

  38. Blue Garter » Blog Archive » Pattern updates Pingback Says:

    […] long and indefensible procrastination, I have posted new versions of the Columbia beret and the Twisted Tree pullover on the Patterns page. There is now a smaller size of the beret […]

  39. Columbia beret by Blue Garter | Knit Spirit Pingback Says:

    […] m’a écrit la semaine dernière car elle avait quelques problèmes avec un patron : le Columbia Beret créé par Sarah Pope aka Blue Garter. Quelqu’un lui avait fourni la traduction (le patron […]

  40. Columbia beret by Blue Garter « Knit Spirit Pingback Says:

    […] m’a écrit la semaine dernière car elle avait quelques problèmes avec un patron : le Columbia Beret créé par Sarah Pope aka Blue Garter. Quelqu’un lui avait fourni la traduction (le patron […]

  41. Knitting I wish I documented « Docu Knit Pingback Says:

    […] mittens: Colombia beret (the colour is a bit off, it is more […]

  42. Linda Comment Says:

    Another great pattern! your blessed!! 🙂 Linda