Marquess

Marquess Beret by Ashley Knowlton

What Is Being Made

Marquess is an elegant knitted beret designed to unleash your inner nobility. This hat features an oversized, draping silhouette with a modern yet slightly medieval aesthetic. The beret showcases decorative filigree and diamond lace patterning that frames the crown, creating a sophisticated and artistic accessory suitable for intermediate knitters.

Design and Construction

The Marquess beret is engineered with thoughtful proportions and shaping. The hat features an 18-inch band circumference that sits comfortably around the head, while the crown diameter ranges from 11 to 12 inches depending on yarn weight selection. The generous crown allows for the signature draping effect that gives this beret its distinctive silhouette. The lace patterning is strategically placed to frame and enhance the crown's visual appeal.

Yarn Weight Options and Customization

Ashley Knowlton designed Marquess to be adaptable to different yarn weights, allowing knitters to customize the final look. The pattern accommodates both Aran-weight and DK-weight yarns, with each option producing different levels of slouchiness. The Aran-weight version creates a more substantial fabric with increased drape, while the DK-weight version produces a slightly more structured beret. This flexibility enables makers to choose based on personal preference and desired finished appearance.

Stitches and Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques and stitch patterns:

• Filigree lace – delicate openwork patterning that creates an intricate, ornamental effect
• Diamond lace – geometric lace motifs that form diamond shapes throughout the crown
• Circular knitting – the beret is constructed using circular needles and double-pointed needles to create seamless, tubular fabric
• Shaping and decreasing – strategic decreases are used to create the beret's crown shaping and the characteristic gathered top
• Magic Loop method – an alternative construction technique available for knitters who prefer working with a single long circular needle

Materials and Needles

The Marquess pattern provides two fully worked examples with specific material recommendations. For the Aran-weight version in Mauve, the pattern calls for 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Fez (85% Extra Fine Merino, 15% Camel; 110 yards per 50-gram skein). For the DK-weight version in Gold, the pattern specifies 2 skeins of Mirasol K'acha (60% Merino, 25% Suri Alpaca, 15% Silk; 98 yards per 50-gram skein).

The needle requirements include:

• Set of five US 5 (3.75mm) double-pointed needles
• US 8 (5.00mm) circular needle, 16 inches long
• Set of five US 8 (5.00mm) double-pointed needles
• Alternative option: long circular needles in both sizes for the Magic Loop method, or two circular needles for two-circular construction

Skill Level

Marquess is rated as an intermediate knitting project, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle lace patterning and more complex shaping. The combination of filigree and diamond lace requires attention to stitch counts and pattern repeats, while the circular construction and decreasing techniques demand solid foundational skills.