Projects
Ironworks Beret: A Revelation in Hat Form
Dear Ann,
Even after all these years, sometimes I just have to turn to you and say, “Ann. I love knitting so much!” This is one of those moments.
I started my first project from Field Guide No. 9: Revolution over the weekend. It’s the Ironworks Beret, and it’s my first foray into cable knitting in a while, a fun-size warmup for Bang Out a Sweater/Bang Out a Revolution this coming February. (My current frontrunner for February 1 is the Calligraphy Cardigan, but with sleeves, and perhaps maybe as a pullover—I have a lot to think about. But that cable has grabbed me and will not let go. It’s the tapering tendrils, Ann! It’s just too beautiful!)
The yarn: Jill Draper’s Windham, in the Chamois shade. This is a delightfully well-behaved yarn, smooth, round and sturdy. Perfect for hats.
I have knit a fair number of cables in my day. For me, cable knitting hits the spot where logic and intuition intersect, with just the right amount of gentle mental challenge. And there is no knitting more beautiful than a well-designed cable project.
I have never knit a Norah Gaughan cable, though. And even after working on this Field Guide with her, and knowing full well what she had in store for us, I am totally blown away by her brilliance now that I am knitting this little beret.
It’s like music. I can sometimes recognize when a piece of music is extraordinary, but not be able to articulate what makes it so.
I’ll hum a few bars.
This is no out-of-the-box cable. This is an out-of-Norah’s-head cable.
I mean, look at it: it’s both linear and curvaceous, industrial and graceful.
See this spot, where one of the “girders” of the Eiffel Tower starts? See how the shape of the purl background section tapers down to almost a knife edge?
That’s done in a very clever way. On row 16, you cable the first purl of that section into place on the outside of the 3-stitch cable. Then you purl that stitch again when you come to it on row 17.
On row 18, you work a slip-slip-knit decrease that nearly buries that purl stitch under the slipped knit stitch. Then, immediately, you cable a purl stitch back into the next spot. It gives the point of that shape extra sharpness. I love it and wouldn’t have thought of it in a million years. Norah is the queen of the taper.
Can I just say that I can’t wait to block this? I can’t wait to block this.
In short, I’m having a grand time. I can see a lot of Ironworks Berets in my future. This hat looks great on everybody, and by everybody I mean even me, and I generally look terrible in hats. I never thought of myself as a beret person, but after trying on Cristina’s test-knit a few weeks ago, I feel like I am one.
Me, in a couple of days. Note to self: get new sunglasses.
Love,
Kay
Love the cabled beret!
Please tell me I’m not the only person who starts singing Raspberry Beret whenever I see a beret. Kay, cannot wait to see you model it. I am nervous about wearing a beret but the cables beckon me.
Wow, now I have Raspberry Beret in my head!
And think of Prince
As someone who recently finished knitting Norah Gaughan’s amazing Geiger cardigan, I can only nod my head in agreement at her genius with cables!
I feel like you need to add “bow down, bishes, bow down” whenever you mention that you knit Geiger.
Just a beautiful beret, love it….need to make it mine. Thank you.PS, I too do not look good in hats, but maybe this one I will
I want to be Norah Gaughan when I grow up.
I feel you on that. She was my first inspiration in my return foray into knitting years ago.
Yep. She’s a genius. P
I’m with you on the Calligraphy Cardigan — LOVE it! But hoping to make it with long sleeves, too. I’ll be watching to see how you do it.
I don’t knit but want to buy.
I knit a cowl from one of the cables in her source book and I love it!
I am not a beret person. I also never shop at work. Nevertheless, I somehow just ordered a skein of Windham in Merlot. (I already have the pattern in the Field Guide.) I also somehow ordered one of those adorable tape measures for a friend. And maybe one for me…..Kay, you are yet again an enabler!
[cheesy smile emoji] Hope you love your Merlot Beret!
A sizeable beret IS flattering on everyone, especially those of us (ahem) who have jawlines that are beginning to soften, or who, like me, never had a very firm jawline to begin with! They bring attention up toward the eyes, where it belongs. Added plus: considerably less hair-squishing, and thus reduced hat head.
I always attribute it to my roundish face and roundish glasses. Meanwhile my dad had one of the great hat heads of all times. From flat caps to Stetsons, he always looked amazing in a hat. This little round apple fell very far from the high-cheekboned tree. But I think the altitude of the beret shape is what makes it work better for me.
You speak of hat heads; my sister Stacey can wear nearly every hat around. Me, not so much, but berets I can wear. So this beret is definitely on my list to make, along with the Appleseed Mitts.
Norah is the undisputed Queen of Cables. I love the Engineering of that hat. So organic is construction
Making one for our London trip. Probably make some giftie ones as well. Don’t you know I knit many rows of wrong chart before I realized and had to begin again. But not to worry, I like knitting.