Day At The Races

• Description
• Pattern Information
• Techniques

• Day at the Races is a super-stylish 1940s style beret with bands of Fair Isle circling the beret against a stocking stitch background. The simple recurring motif is designed to ensure no weaving is required at the back of the work and colours can simply be carried across as required. The same recurring motif is used throughout and decreases are placed on the stocking stitch rounds, making this a great introductory pattern for a new arrival to colourwork and is indeed a great project for the beginner colourwork knitter to learn these techniques on a small canvas. For the more experienced knitter it is a quick and satisfying knit that is also perfect for gift knitting.

  Day At The Races is knitted from the bottom up in the round with a choice of three adult sizes. All increases are worked directly after the ribbed brim giving the beret its quintessential shape. Neatly sized it is the perfect beret both for a vintage wardrobe or for a more contemporary look.

  Day at the Races is knitted using Susan Crawford Fenella, a 2 ply (vintage 3 ply weight) yarn, worsted spun for a soft handle. Exquisite for Fair Isle projects as well as textured and lace stitches. It is hand-dyed in-house by Susan and her team.

  For this 'Day at the Races' we have used a combination of Roman Plaster for the background, with Atomic Red, Jonquil, Myristica and Myrtle used for the striking colourwork motifs but it would look equally stunning in many colourways and is a great stashbusting project. If you would like to knit Day At The Races in other shades, why not take a look at all the beautiful hand-dyed shades of Susan Crawford Fenella.

  Our model Susan is shown wearing the third size to fit a head circumference of approximately 58.5cm (23in).

  The pattern includes instructions for three sizes to fit head circumference measurements between 51cm (20in) and 58.5cm (23in) and contains both clear written pattern directions, together with charted instructions for the Fair Isle motifs; plus a comprehensive schematic diagram and sizing chart.

• Yarn
  Susan Crawford Fenella, 2 Ply, 100% British wool (125m / 136yds per 25g skein)

  1 skein, shade Roman Plaster - Yarn A
  1 skein, shade Atomic Red - Yarn B
  1 skein, shade Jonquil - Yarn C
  1 skein, shade Myristica - Yarn D
  1 skein, shade Myrtle - Yarn E
  

  Suggested needles
  2.5mm (US 2) circular needle (40cm in length) or double pointed needles
  3mm (US 2.5) circular needle (40cm in length) and/or double pointed needles

  Gauge
  32 sts and 34 rows = 10cm (4in) measured over stranded colourwork pattern knitted in the round, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3mm needles.

  Notions
  Waste yarn or stitch holders
  Stitch markers

• Knitting stranded colourwork
  Working in the round
  Working alternate cable cast-on
  Following a chart
  Blocking a beret
  

Yarn kits are also available
Purchase your yarn kit here