Lexi's Beret

* 1 skein sport-weight cotton yarn

    * size US3 circular needle or dpns

    * size US6 circular needle and/or dpns

    * darning needle for finishing

    * stitch markers

Gauge – 21sts/10cm in stockinette stitch (makes large women’s size)

Cast on 84 stitches on the smaller needle, and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in k2p2 rib for about 2cm

Switch to the larger needle, and k2 kfb across the next round (kfb=knit front-and-back increase), kfb the first 2 stitches of the next round so you have a total of 108 stitches.

From the next round, knit the lace pattern 6 times each round:

   1. k6, yo, sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k6 (sl1 k1 psso=left-leaning decrease, sl1 k2tog psso=centred double decrease)

   2. knit

Or see the chart. A note on lace charts – lace charts generally only show the pattern rows, in this case, odd-numbered rows. Knit one row plain between each row of the chart.

Work this pattern until the hat is 4-6 ins long, depending on how slouchy you want it to be, and then work the decrease rounds, switching to dpns or magic-loop as the hat gets too small for the needle:

   1. sl1 k1 psso, k4, yo, sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog

   2. knit

   3. sl1 k1 psso, k3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, k2tog

   4. knit

   5. sl1 k1 psso, k2, yo, sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog

   6. knit

   7. sl1 k1 psso, k1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog, yo,, k1, k2tog

   8. knit

   9. sl1 k1 psso, k2, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2, k2tog

  10. knit

  11. sl1 k1 psso, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, k2tog

  12. knit

  13. sl1 k1 psso, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2tog

  14. knit

  15. sl1 k1 psso, k1, k2tog

  16. knit

  17. sl1 k2tog psso

Thread the yarn through the remaining stitches and draw closed on the wrong side, fasten off and weave in ends.

Block the hat over a dinner plate for best results.