I can’t believe as I’m posting this, I’ve reached over 500 followers. Wow! I must say I’m incredibly humbled and flattered that there are that many of you who actually want to read about my mundane little life. 🙂 I’ve been wanting to do a giveaway for this milestone, but being in the throws of moving, it’s going to have to wait a little longer. Stay tuned!
Today I’m sharing my latest knitting project, a beret from A Stitch in Time Volume 2, Sunday Pictorial Beret (Ravelry pattern link). On a Sunday, no less. I can’t believe I actually started and finished a project with everything that’s been going on with the moving preparations lately!
But I’m not the only one with berets—in particular, this beret—on the mind lately. I know Stephanie of The Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart is working on the same beret, and Andrea of New Vintage Wardrobe just finished it, too.
I’ve had almost no time or energy to knit, and I’ve also been limiting my knitting as I’m having on and off shoulder and arm issues which knitting exacerbates (the issue is not gone but it’s much better). But a couple of weeks ago I just got the urge to knit… something.
And I was inspired by a particularly wonderful photo from this woman in the 1950s in a striped red and white beret. (Love her polka dot gloves, too.)
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| {Source: Adore Vintage Tumblr | Daily Vintage Inspiration} |
So I knit one for myself. Because you know I love my berets. This makes the third I’ve knit in 6 months (there’s a vintage fair isle beret and a Halloween novelty beret, too).
Hats are often knit in the round, but this pattern is in garter stitch and knit flat and seamed, so it was easy to incorporate stripes. I just knit 2 rows in each color, carrying the unused color up the edge. (Seaming garter stitch stripes is a bit of a pain in the rump, but it’s mostly covered by the bow anyway.)
I like it with this vintage Pendleton 49er (from Randolph Street Market last Fall).
I was on a bit of a red bender, if you can tell. I added a thrifted scarf, my favorite fakelite ring and handmade earrings I bought in Taos, New Mexico on vacation last year. The day was completely dreary so I just threw on as much of one color as I could, though I usually mix it up a little more.
(Incidentally this photo that reminded me I forgot to put on mascara. Whoops. I swear I always forget something.)
I don’t really think of myself as much of a bows and frills kind of gal, but there was something about the bow on this beret I thought was really cute, and I just love it in stripes.
So I may not be knitting as much, or sewing at all right now (everything is packed up), but at least I now have a snappy little striped beret to carry me into Spring.
How would you accessorize a striped beret? I’m looking forward to playing around with it!
I love that beret, it’s fabulous! Nice to see you blogging too although I know what it’s like when you are really busy.
This beret is so lovely! i’m ever so jealous!
OH Tasha, this hat is gorgeous, I’d love one.
Oh, this is so very cute, and sophisticated at the same time. The color combo is perfect for the vintage look, you did a wonderful job on this, I bet you could sell them like hotcakes!
This beret is beautiful. I love it and it looks really nice on you and the way you styled your hair with it too. You should make more of these and sell them. I would buy one in a heart beat. Wonderful job! I hope your arm issues get better soon.
What a lovely beret!!! I love this hat style… I’m french after all!
What a sweet beret – I like it a lot!
I love the red and white stripes! And the bow, the whole outfit is great. I have a jacket like that in blue. Must dig it out as I am now inspired.
I didn’t think I was a beret person, but this one is so adorable! The bow is perfect and I love those stripes. Great work! Maybe, once I finally learn to knit, I’ll take a crack at it. 🙂
Another cute hat! Love the colours, v pretty and fresh 🙂
Oh my goodness, I adore that beret and it just looks so gorgeous on you!
bisous,
http://www.bighipsredlips.com/
Oh my!! That *IS* sooooooooo nice!!!!
What a fabulous beret – you did a beautiful job making it! Looks terrific with the Pendleton and I’m also digging the vintage lady’s combination with polka dot gloves an a dark solid-colored sweater. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Ok, this is ridiculously cute! As always I am completely blown away by your knitting talents, I can’t stop thinking about a similar striped beret for myself now! Will you forgive me if I copy your idea? Beautiful work as always 🙂 x
Please do make a striped one!! 🙂
Beautiful work there x P.S. Good luck with the move 🙂
What a coincidence! I just started knitting this one in pink. To match my sweater i finished a few days ago!!!
That pattern didn’t originally catch my eye, but I love it with stripes! It’s beautiful.
It’s just beautiful, really eye catching. I’m so impressed I love it.x
Woowee! Amazing! Can you please stop being so talented and stylish, so I can stop flaffing on to anyone who’ll listen about how talented and stylish you are?? (actually, please don’t! You are wonderful just how you are!~) x
Ooh, it looks like a peppermint! So cute. And knit flat in garter stitch? Something I can actually do! Hurrah. (Have just realised that I’ve got a very similar pattern sans bow…)
-Andi x
Ooh, you should definitely knit one then! 😀
That beret is just darling! I must learn how to knit so I can make myself one. I love the bow detail on it too! Just lovely.
x Molly
I love the stripes! Mine is coming along slowly. 🙂
That beret is gorgeous! I love the details, especially that bow! I wish I could knit! Your posts are always so inspiring!
I just found your blog last week and I LOVE IT!!!!!
Oh and I LOVE your beret too, it matches a dress I made.
Wow its just beautiful I love your choice of colours, it looks good enough to eat!
Beautiful! You are so talented!
Oh, I must make one of those! Like the polka-dot glove lady, I would accessorize it with other patterns in the same colours.
You and your beret look lovely, I’m loving wearing red at the moment! 🙂 I think you styled it wonderful with your gorgeous Pendleton! I hope you have more time and energy soon! 🙂 x
I love berets basically and so I love your striped beret. It’s really nice. I have to make one for me too.
Super cute beret! I love the stripes and the bow.
My friend and I think we saw you at the vintage clothing expo in Elgin on Saturday, but we weren’t sure.
Thanks Molly! And you sure are right, I was at the expo in Elgin on Saturday! You should have stopped me and said hi (although I totally get when you’re not sure it’s actually a particular person, I’m always nervous about that, lol). 🙂
No worries! Next time I’ll be more confident (rather than my usual shy self) and say hi. There is always next year. 🙂
Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments on my beret! ♥
I love it! So cute!
I am madly in love with this beret!!
Darling! It’s really very sweet. Berets never look as cute on me as I’d like them to. I wonder if it’s because my hair is so short?
Congratulations! Your beret looks amazing, so well made and looks great on you! I’ve recently made a 1940’s turban but a really struggling to sew it up, so seeing your hat makes me want to try again now! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/
What issues are you having with the seaming? Seaming can be a struggle, honestly this was one of the only times I’ve seamed garter stitch and it could be a bit cleaner. But think of it this way: any seam you make is going to be 10 times better than on a RTW knitted item! 🙂
That is the cutest beret! I really like the red and white pattern. I’ve noticed that if I knit for too long my left elbow is killing me for a couple of hours while I rest it. My mother-in-law suggested I don’t have enough support under my arms when I’m knitting.
I love, love, love that beret!!!
Love it!
I love this beret! I have the same Pendleton jacket so I think I might have to make this beret too! Thanks for the beautiful inspiration!!!
Oh, there’s a sweater in the most recent Knitscene that has a red-and-white striped portrait neckline that would totally match. Must find link…The Seberg Sweater: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seberg-sweater
Oh yes, that is super cute! I hadn’t seen it before.
I already liked this pattern but I *love* your version with the stripes!
Hi there, I think I have the same jacket in my collection too. When I heard you had bought a house, I thought you may have bought my husband’s grandmother’s house in Oak Park, they just sold it and it has two original pink bathrooms and 50’s kitchen with original red counter tops. Then when I read further you said your new home is a ranch, oh well. I had contacted you a while ago via email, I live in Valparaiso, IN. You asked if I had a blog, at the time I didn’t but I started one shortly after that, take a look, http://retrofashionismypassion.blogspot.com/
Thanks.
Yay, so nice to ‘see’ you! I’ll pop over to your blog now. 🙂
Beautiful beret!!
I love it! The stripes are gorgeous, and red+white is smashing! I already know that this’ll be the pattern for the autumn, hopefully in many colours! I’m thinking red+pink, blak+white, grey+white, baby blue+white…
I just can’t resist showing you my copy… Inspired by you: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/frkbustad/classic-french-beret-2
Your version is so cute, I love it!
I LOVE your blog! You are SO talented, I only wish I had the patience and most importantly talent that you have. You are so cute and look straight out of the past, adorable!
Congrats on your wedding – I just got married too – just went to the J.P.
Thank you so much! ♥ And congrats on your wedding, too!