Knit berets are the perfect way to add a cozy, handmade accessory to your wardrobe. Whether you’re knitting for your partner, your kids, or yourself, this collection of free knit beret patterns is sure to inspire.
Knit Beret Patterns
Tired of knitting the same old beanies? Change up your usual knitting routine and try your hand at a chic, sophisticated beret.
This collection of free patterns includes everything from the simplest knit beret patterns for beginners, all the way to intermediate and advanced patterns that feature cables, colorwork, and other intricate designs.
What is a beret?
First things first – what exactly is a beret? A beret is a soft, round hat with a little brim. You’ll often see them worn flat on the top of the head – but you can also wear them set back, diagonally on one side, or pulled over the ears.
- Customizable. One of the best things about knitting your beret is customizing it exactly how you want! Choose your favorite design, and make it your own.
- Versatile. Berets aren’t just for women – these free knit beret patterns include numerous options for men and children, too!
- Timeless. They’re an excellent addition to nearly any wardrobe, and they make great gifts, too!
Can beginners knit berets?
Knitting a beret is approachable even for beginners. And they’re a fun and relatively quick project – perfect for expanding your skill set.
Though they may look intimidating, a knit beret uses many of the same techniques and stitches as a standard beanie. So, as long as you know basic stitches, increases and decreases, and how to knit in the round, you’re ready to go.
Some of the easiest beret patterns for beginners I’d recommend are the Novita Icelandic Wool Renga Beret (#15) and Le Béret (#25).
27+ Free Knit Beret Patterns
Take a look at these stylish free knit beret patterns for your next project. Happy knitting!
Salut Chéri! Beret Pattern
This classy French beret pattern is knit mainly in the stockinette stitch with an i-cord stem. It looks great in a solid color or variegated yarn. Don’t forget to use stitch markers to keep track of your rounds!
Designer: Luna Knit
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220
Colette
This drapey, flexible beret is stylish and beautiful. It’s a quick and easy project that would be perfect for making for a friend or for yourself. It’s made with a tubular cast on - check out the video tutorial if you’ve never tried it before!
Designer: Julie Hayes
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Meret the Mystery Beret
This lacy beret features beautiful arches and shaping throughout. It’s available in three different sizes. This pattern is best for intermediate knitters.
Designer: Woolly Wormhead
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Patons Classic Wool
April Hat
This fun and lively hat is perfect for spring! It’s full of cute puff stitches and is topped off with a fun pom pom. This beret is worked in the round from the bottom up with a faux cable ribbing.
Designer: Courtney Kelley
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown
Classic French Beret
This beret is simple and quick to make. It’d be a great pattern to choose for gift-making! Make it one-tone or choose stripes - this beret goes with almost anything!
Designer: Erika Larner
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Handmaiden Fine Yarn Cashmere 4 Ply
Slice of Pie Beret
This beret gets its name from the gentle swirls knitted into the top, which makes it look nearly like slices of pie! This is an easy, quick pattern to knit up. This drapey hat doesn’t require blocking, but you can always block if you prefer!
Designer: Margit A
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Patons Australia Totem Merino 8 ply
Brambles
This interesting and beautiful hat features cables and vines that make the top of it look like a flower! The pattern features three versions: a short hat, a medium-length hat, and a long hat. This lovely beret is a good choice for intermediates.c
Designer: Amanda Muscha
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220
Marcy's Beret
This beret is made with a herringbone pattern and stranded colorwork. This warm hat is a stylish way to keep your head cozy during the windy, winter days. It’s available in adult sizes S, M, and L.
Designer: Kerry Bullock-Ozkan
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift
Purl Beret pattern by Purl Soho
This simple beret looks beautiful using your favorite variegated yarn. You can make this hat floppy and casual or tight - it’s easy to customize! The top is worked in concentric decreases.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM)
Sedgwick Hat
This bulky hat is worked from the top down and is such a cute accessory to wear with your winter coat. This pattern includes written instructions as well as a crochet chart. It’s ideal for intermediate knitters.
Designer: Courtney Kelley
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky
Weekender
This slouchy beret features an eyelet lace pattern that’s gentle and comfortable to wear. Pair it with your favorite long-sleeved tee or sweater and head out for your weekend adventures! The pattern is available in three different sizes.
Designer: Woolly Wormhead
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky
Moss Stitch Beret
This beret is created using the textured moss stitch and features a stockinette brim that keeps it snugly on your head. It has a classic, i-cord crest and fits on a medium-sized head.
Designer: Kent Turman
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220
Vintage Vibes Beret
Enjoy the vintage vibes of this beautiful beret! It’s worked from the bottom up in the round. Made with fingering-weight yarn, this pattern creates a drapey beret that’s comfortable and cool - perfect for the spring, summer and fall months.
Designer: Katherine Grushevskaya
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Coffil Cashfive
Cobbs Beret
This beret features tons of visual interest, with the top showing off a beautiful and intricate floral design. The instructions are offered both in written form and in a chart. This beret is available in three sizes and is best for intermediate knitters.
Designer: Jessie Correa
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Dream in Color Everlasting DK
Novita Icelandic Wool Renga Beret
This quick and easy project would be an excellent choice for knitting beginners making your first beret. There are also video tutorials to lead you through the steps of this pattern. Make one for yourself or a friend!
Designer: Novita Knits
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Novita Icelandic Wool
La Parisenne
This pattern features rippling bursts of color in a chevron design. You’ll knit two rows at a time in each color, carrying your yarn to avoid jagged ends. Choose contrasting colors for a flashier kaleidoscope effect.
Designer: Caroline Hegwer
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Pixie Yarn Sock
Donguri Beret
Made with bulky yarn, this pattern creates a thick and cozy hat that’s ideal for chilly, winter days. It creates a drapey and comfortable pattern that works up quickly. This textured beret is made body first, with the brim last.
Designer: Hiroko Fukatsu
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Quarry
Max's Staircase Tam
Worked in the stockinette stitch, this whimsical beret features a textured swirl on top. A variegated yarn gives it extra interest, but it would look lovely in a solid color, too!
Designer: Robin DeWeese
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted
At Last
Here’s another bulky pattern that’s classic, simple, and easy to work up. It’s written in one size but includes tips for sizing up or down.
Designer: Cashmere & Cigarettes
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Hue + Me
Saxifrage Tam
In a beautiful flow of color, this beret mimics the Icelandic sweater yokes. This intermediate pattern would be an excellent stash buster. The pattern is given as a chart only.
Designer: Veronik Avery
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Patons Classic Wool
Margaux Striped Beret
This casual beret is an easy way to quickly create a more put-together look. It’s made with the stockinette stitch in a two-tone stripe design. This pattern is a good fit for comfortable beginners.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Color Theory
Sunflower Beret
Calling all flower lovers! Whether you wear it in winter, summer, spring, or fall, this sunflower beret is a surefire way to brighten up everyone’s day. This gorgeous design is a fun choice for comfortable beginners.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
Bailey
This fun design features lovely colorwork that’s suitable for intermediate knitters. It also shows off a Latvian braid near the ribbed edge. This thoughtful pattern would make a wonderful winter gift!
Designer: Berroco
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Berroco Ultra Wool DK
Posh Petals
This pattern creates a sophisticated look that’s perfect for dressing up a bit. It’s designed with a gorgeous, intricate leaf pattern throughout. This pattern is worked in the round from the top down and is shown as a diagram.
Designer: Garnstudio
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: DROPS Nepal
Le Béret
This super simple beret is quick to make and great for beginners. It’s knitted with super bulky yarn, so you can fly through the pattern in just a few hours! This ultra-cozy pattern is available in a variety of sizes, from toddler through adult.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn weight: Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Purl Soho Fiddlehead
Poetisa
Poetisa means “poet” in Spanish, and this artistic hat is the perfect accessory for curling up with a good book or poem, or trekking to the coffee shop to sit for a while. It’s knit from the top down with a stretchy bind off, and the size is easy to adjust.
Designer: Gavriella Treminio
Yarn weight: Worsted + Lace
Suggested yarn: Hello Gavriella Worsted + Hello Gavriella Suri-Alpaca
The Weekend Hat
This pattern is worked in English rib and features a pretty leaf design. It’s made with two colors, with the neutral tone setting the background for a pop of brighter color. This pattern is best for advanced beginners to intermediates.
Designer: Garnstudio
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: DROPS Merino Extra Fine
Necessary Supplies:
Okay, before you cast on, here’s what you’ll need:
- Yarn. I’ll give specific suggestions below!
- Knitting needles. Most patterns use double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needles. Check your pattern for the correct size.
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Measuring tape for checking gauge
What yarn is best for knit berets?
For yarn, I like to use wool because it keeps you ultra warm and cozy. Wool yarn is also durable and can stand up to years of wear.
But if you want something lighter for warmer weather, try wool blends or even plant-based yarns. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s nice and soft (so it won’t irritate your skin!)
Some of the most popular choices for knit berets include Cascade Yarns Cascade 220, Malabrigo Worsted, and Lion Brand Hue + Me.
Tip: In this list, we’ve included suggested yarns for each pattern so you can get right to knitting!
Techniques to Know:
Here are some techniques you may need to know to make your beret.
- Making a gauge swatch
- Casting on and binding off
- Basic Stitches: Knit (k) and Purl (p)
- Decreases: Knit two together (k2tog) and Slip, slip, knit (ssk)
- Increases: Make one (m1) Knit front and back (kfb)
- Stockinette stitch (knit a row, purl a row)
- Ribbing (for example, k2, p2 rib)
- Cable knitting
- Knitting in the round (using circular needles or DPNs)
- Knitting with two strands held together
- Color changes
- Seaming
- Blocking (for a professional finish)
Read through your pattern before starting to ensure you’re comfortable with all the techniques and stitches.
Tips and Tricks for Knit Beret Patterns
Make a gauge swatch.
Remember to make a gauge swatch before getting started! This is an essential step to ensure that your beret is the correct size. If your gauge is too large or too small, you can adjust your needle size as needed.
Block your beret
Blocking your finished beret helps to give it its signature look and creates a professional-looking finish. Here’s a weird tip that works: You can even use a dinner plate to help give your beret the right shape! Dampen your fabric and stretch your hat over a plate, then let it dry.
Check the care instructions.
The last thing to remember is how to care for your beret. Check the yarn label, because not every wool can be tossed in the washing machine. Some yarns need to be hand-washed instead. When in doubt, hand washing is a safe bet for wool.
Not sure what to do? Check out this guide for washing wool yarn.
More Knitting Patterns
If you love to knit as much as I do, you may be interested in the following knitting articles.
- 25 Free and Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners
- 27 Free & Easy Knit Hat Patterns
- Complete Guide to Knitting Gauge, and How to Measure It
- 25 Free & Easy Sweater Knitting Patterns (Great for Beginners!)
- 25 Free & Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns (Beginner-Friendly!)
- 27 Free Loom Knitting Patterns for All Skill Levels
- 25 Free & Easy Knit Dishcloth Patterns
What’s Next?
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