Noall'te Beret

Noall'te Beret by Sarah Sipe

What Is Being Made

The Noall'te Beret is an intermediate-level knitted hat inspired by Sami spindle whorls from the Arctic Scandinavian region. This jaunty beret features a flat crown and is designed to fit a 22 inch (56 cm) head circumference with a finished diameter of 10 inches (25 cm). The design draws cultural inspiration from the etched lines and radiating dots found on traditional bone whorls, translating these geometric patterns into a colorwork knitting project.

Colorwork and Design Inspiration

Noall'te is the Sami word for spindle whorl, and this beret celebrates that heritage through its construction. The flat whorl's characteristic etched lines and dots radiating from the center shaft hole inspired the colorwork pattern of this hat. The designer chose undyed, natural yarn shades to echo the appearance of authentic bone whorls used by the Sami people, creating a design that honors traditional craftsmanship while working in a contemporary knitting format.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round using circular needles
• Colorwork knitting to create the spindle whorl-inspired pattern
• Decreasing stitches to shape the beret crown
• Blocking on a dinner plate to achieve the characteristic flat beret shape

Stitches and Construction

This pattern primarily uses stockinette stitch worked in the round as the foundation fabric. Colorwork techniques introduce the geometric patterning inspired by the Sami whorl design. Strategic decreases shape the crown of the beret to achieve its distinctive silhouette. The pattern requires finishing with a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Yarn and Materials

The recommended yarn is Classic Elite MountainTop Vista, a worsted-weight blend of 50% wool and 50% alpaca. The pattern calls for 100 yards total, divided equally between two different colors (color A and color B) of this yarn. The natural, undyed shades available in this yarn perfectly complement the Sami cultural inspiration. Alternatively, other worsted-weight yarns in similar colors may be substituted.

Needles and Gauge

The project requires two sets of US circular needles for knitting in the round: US size 6 (4 mm) needles and US size 8 (5 mm) needles. The gauge is 18 stitches and 10 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round on the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the beret to fit the intended 22 inch (56 cm) head circumference.

Finishing Supplies

Beyond needles and yarn, the pattern requires a dinner plate for blocking the finished beret into its characteristic flat shape and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends during finishing.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters are comfortable working in the round with circular needles, reading colorwork charts, and executing decreases. The cultural and geometric inspiration makes this a meaningful project for knitters seeking to explore traditional design elements in a modern knitting context.