Nordic Wool Basketmütze in Novita - Downloadable PDF

Nordic Wool Basketmütze Marja by Novita – Knitted Beret Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Novita presents the Gestrickte Baskenmütze Marja (Knitted Beret Marja), a stylish and classic beret designed by Essi Isokoski. The pattern is worked in the round and is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore shaping and textured ribbing. The finished beret has a brim circumference of approximately 54 cm when slightly stretched, making it a well-fitted, wearable accessory suitable for everyday use.

What Is Being Made

The Marja is a traditional-style beret or basque-style hat — known in German as a Baskenmütze — featuring a snug ribbed brim that transitions into a fuller, rounded crown. This silhouette is achieved through strategic increases after the brim section and then decreases toward the top of the hat, giving it the characteristic beret shape. It is a single accessory pattern included in this PDF.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Novita Nordic Wool in colorway Sand (060), approximately 100 g required. This is a DK weight yarn, and the pattern calls for it to be held double throughout, which creates a denser, warmer fabric and a slightly chunkier visual texture.
• Needles: Novita double-pointed needles (Nadelspiel) in size 7, or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. Double-pointed needles are used to facilitate knitting in the round, especially as stitches decrease toward the crown.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 13 stitches in stockinette stitch over 10 cm, worked with yarn held double. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the brim fits as intended at approximately 54 cm in circumference. Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size accordingly.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round – The entire beret is worked in rounds using a set of double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Twisted ribbing (Verschränktes Rippenmuster) – The brim is worked in a twisted rib pattern, which creates a firmer, more elastic edge than standard ribbing. This is achieved by knitting through the back loop on the right-side stitches.
• Increases (Masche doppelt stricken) – After the brim, stitches are increased by working into both the front and back loop of the same stitch (a form of KFB increase), expanding from 46 cast-on stitches to 90 stitches for the body of the beret.
• Stockinette stitch in the round (Glatt rechts) – The main body of the beret is worked in smooth stockinette, where every stitch in every round is knitted, producing a flat, clean fabric surface.
• Stitch markers – Five stitch markers are placed once the work measures 16 cm in height to guide the decrease sections that shape the crown of the beret.
• Crown shaping with decreases – Decreases are worked at regular intervals guided by the stitch markers to taper the fabric neatly to the top of the hat.
• Double-stranded knitting – Holding two strands of yarn together throughout is a key technique in this pattern, effectively creating a bulkier fabric from a DK weight yarn.

Stitches Used

• Twisted knit stitch – Knit through the back loop (verschränkt rechts), used in the ribbed brim for added elasticity and structure.
• Purl stitch – Used in alternation with twisted knit stitches to form the 1x1 twisted rib pattern at the brim.
• Knit stitch (plain) – Used throughout the body of the hat