Breiwick

Breiwick Beret by Ella Gordon

What Is Being Made

The Breiwick is a vintage-inspired beret designed by Ella Gordon. This intermediate-level knitting project draws inspiration from classic Shetland knitwear aesthetics found in vintage knitting books and charity shop collections. The design combines traditional beret construction with a modern sensibility, creating a hat that bridges historical knitting techniques with contemporary style.

Craft and Technique

This project is worked using the knitting craft. The beret is constructed using circular needles, which allows for seamless, in-the-round knitting. The pattern employs a stranded colorwork technique, as indicated by the inclusion of a yarn chart. This method involves carrying multiple yarn colors across rows to create patterned designs, a hallmark of traditional Shetland knitwear. The colorwork adds visual interest while maintaining the tweedy, vintage aesthetic that inspired the design.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided content, the construction utilizes standard beret shaping techniques. The pattern requires gauge-size circular needles and below gauge-size circular needles, indicating that the beret is likely worked from the brim upward or in sections, with decreases to create the characteristic rounded crown shape typical of beret construction. The stranded colorwork is integrated throughout the pattern as shown in the yarn chart.

Materials and Yarn

The Breiwick is designed to be worked in Kate Davies Designs Milarrochy Tweed, a 4-ply weight yarn composed of 70% wool and 30% mohair. Each color requires one ball, with yardage of 100 meters (109 yards) per 25-gram ball. The pattern includes seven color options: Hirst, Smirr, Ardlui, Lochan, Campion, Buckthorn, and Stockiemuir. The wool and mohair blend creates the tweedy flecks characteristic of traditional Shetland knitwear while providing warmth and durability suitable for hat wear.

Needles and Notions

• 40cm (16 inch) below gauge-size circular needle
• 40cm (16 inch) gauge-size circular needle
• Gauge-size needles of your preference (for finishing or adjustments as needed)

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with prior experience. The combination of circular needle techniques, stranded colorwork, and beret shaping requires solid foundational knitting skills and familiarity with reading charts and managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously.