knit flat on circular needles

Medallion pattern adapted from Mary Walker Phillips’ Knitting Counterpanes - Knitting Coverlet Patterns for Contemporary Knitters, 1990, Taunton Press (a Threads book), ‘Medallion’, pg. 40.

This beret is knit flat (not circularly) on circular needles and seamed together. There are two edge stitches included in the cast-on. Work them as follows: On every row, slip the first stitch purl-wise and knit the last stitch.  I knit this to fit me - about 21" measured around the forehead. It's easy enough to adapt the size a little tighter or looser when you get to the decreasing section.

Yarn and Needles:

2 balls - Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL (a DK weight, 'springy' yarn)
3.5 mm circular needles

Abbreviations:

Yo - yarn over
K - knit
P - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
p2tog - purl 2 together
ssp - slip 2 stitches knit-wise (one at a time), return to left needle, purl the two stitches through the back loops (produces a left-leaning purl decrease)

Medallion:

Cast on 10 sts.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: (yo, k1) x8
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: (yo, k1) x16
Row 6: (p2, ssp) x8
Row 7: (yo, k1, yo, k2tog) x8
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: (yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k2tog) x8
Row 10: (p4, ssp) x8
Row 11: (yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, k2tog) x8
Row 12: (p5, ssp) x8
Row 13: (yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog) x8
Row 14: (p6, ssp) x8
Row 15: (yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog) x8
Row 16: (p7, ssp) x8

Keep increasing to Row 50. Medallion’s width should be at least 11 inches. If it's 12 or 13 inches, that's even better. If it's smaller than 11", keep increasing the medallion.

Begin decreasing:

Row 51: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x2), k13, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 52: (p21, ssp) x8
Row 53: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x2), k10, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 54: (p18, ssp) x8
Row 55: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x2), k7, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 56: (p15, ssp) x8
Row 57: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x2), k4, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 58: (p12, ssp) x8
Row 59: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x2), k1, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 60: (p9, ssp) x8
Row 61: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x4)] x8
Row 62: (p7, ssp) x8
Row 63: [yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (k2tog x3)] x8
Row 64: (p6, ssp) x8
Rows 65 – 72: Knit

 

* If you want a tighter or looser fit, bind off a little before or after Row 72. If you want to take it off the needles to try it for size, be sure to put in a lifeline on live stitches using a thick yarn.
 

Bind off using a size 9mm needle. Sew seam. Weave in ends. Block using a large dinner plate as a form.
 

 

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