How to Crochet a Beret Hat With a Brim

The classic beret changes character with the addition of a brim.

A beret is one of the most recognizable, but also most adaptable hat styles. It can be made of felt or thick flannel and can also be knitted or crocheted. A small beret has all the charm of a Juliet cap, and a large one becomes a snood. Add a ruffly brim all around, and it's a mob cap. Make a stiffer brim just in front, and your beret becomes a newsboy cap.

Things You'll Need

• 4 oz. four-ply worsted-weight yarn
• Size J (6mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

Basic Beret

1. 

   Start with chain stitches formed into a ring.

   Work four chain stitches and join with a slip stitch to form a tight loop. Make eight single crochets in the loop. Work in continuous rounds from here on. Make two single crochets in each single crochet around for a total of 16 stitches in the second round.

2. Add eight stitches in each of the next eight rounds: Increase by working two single crochets in every other stitch of the third round, every third stitch of the fourth round and so on. Work two rounds of even single crochet.

3. Reverse the increases over five rounds. On the 13th round, work eight stitches, then draw up loops in two stitches and work them off by drawing the yarn through three loops at once. On the 14th, work seven stitches and decrease. Try the hat on, and work additional rounds of decreases to tighten it or undo a round if it's too tight.

Ruffle Brim

1. Work two rounds of even single crochet on the basic beret. Chain two, and work a double crochet in the same stitch as the chain. Make two double crochets in each stitch around, and join the last double crochet to the chain where you started. Chain one.

2. Make one half-double crochet in each double crochet around. Chain two.

3. Repeat these two rows at least once, depending on how floppy and ruffly you want the brim to be.

Newsboy Brim

1. 

   A newsboy cap is basically a beret with a brim.

   Fasten off the basic beret. Chain 60 loosely. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and the next 17 chains. Work a decrease in the next two chains, then work 20 single crochets. Decrease again, and work to the next to the last chain. Slip stitch to the last chain. Chain one and turn.

2. Single crochet in the second stitch in from this end and even to the stitch before the decrease in the first row. Decrease, work the middle 20 stitches even, decrease again, and work to the next to last stitch. Slip stitch, chain one and turn.

3. Work decrease rows back and forth as in Step 2 until you have just the 20 stitches in the middle. Fasten off.

4. Attach the yarn to the foundation chain, but at the other end from where you started. Working in the unused side of each chain stitch, make a second layer of the brim to match, decreasing as before. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

5. Open the brim and stitch the chain-stitch row to the last row of the beret. Pull the beret edge out straight for easy stitching; when you allow the beret to curve around your head, the brim will bend and stiffen. Stitch on around the outside edge of the brim, sewing the two sides together.

Tips & Warnings

• For a stiffer newsboy brim, cut plastic canvas to fit between the two sides before you sew it in place.

References

• Craft Yarn Council: Crocheted Ripple Beret and Scarf
• MJCrochet.com; Puff Stitch Newsboy Cap; Mary Jane Hall

Resources

• Craft Yarn Council: Learning Center