Stitch Argyle Beret for the Family in Plymouth Alpaca Prima - F524

Stitch Argyle Beret for the Family in Plymouth Yarn Alpaca Prima – Pattern F524

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern number F524) guides knitters through creating a classic Duplicate Stitch Argyle Beret sized for the whole family — from baby through child to adult. The beret is worked in the round in smooth stockinette stitch, then finished with colorwork added via duplicate stitch embroidery, making it an approachable project for knitters who want the look of stranded colorwork without managing multiple yarns simultaneously while knitting.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a circular beret-style hat in three sizes: Baby, Child, and Adult, with brim circumferences of 16 inches, 18 inches, and 20½ inches respectively. The finished hat features a classic argyle diamond motif rendered in two colors across the body of the beret, giving it a timeless, preppy aesthetic suitable for all ages. Because the colorwork is applied after knitting rather than during, the knitting itself remains straightforward and single-colored throughout.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Alpaca Prima — one 100g skein in color 100 Cream (Main Color, MC) and one 100g skein in color 1700 Periwinkle (Contrast Color, CC). Alpaca Prima is a luxuriously soft yarn with alpaca content, making it an excellent choice for accessories worn close to the face and head.
• Needles: US Size 1 (2.25mm) 16-inch circular needle for the ribbed brim; US Size 2 (2.75mm) 16-inch circular needle for the body; US Size 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown decreases as the stitch count reduces.
• Notions: Stitch marker, darning needle (used for the duplicate stitch embroidery finishing).

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 28 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US Size 2 (2.75mm) needles. Achieving correct gauge is especially important for this hat to ensure the brim fits snugly and the argyle chart aligns properly across the body of the beret.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round — The entire beret is worked circularly, beginning on a 16-inch circular needle and transitioning to double-pointed needles as stitches are decreased at the crown.
• Ribbing (K1, P1) — The brim is worked in a one-by-one rib for approximately 1 to 1½ inches depending on size, providing a stretchy, fitted edge that keeps the hat securely on the head.
• Make One (M1) increases — After the ribbed brim, an increase round using the M1 method adds stitches evenly to create the fuller, rounded silhouette characteristic of a beret shape.
• Stockinette stitch (St st) in the round — The body of the beret is worked entirely in knit stitches every round, producing a smooth, flat fabric that serves as the perfect canvas for the duplicate stitch embroidery.
• Crown decreases with K2tog — A series of decrease rounds using the knit-two-together (K2tog) method gradually taper the crown, with plain knit rounds interspersed between decrease rounds to shape the beret smoothly.
• Duplicate stitch embroidery — After the beret is knitted and blocked, the argyle pattern is worked in color 1700 Periwinkle (CC) using a darning needle and the duplicate stitch technique. Duplicate stitch mimics the appearance of knitted stitches by tracing over existing stitches on the fabric surface, creating the look of intarsia or stranded colorwork without the complexity of managing multiple yarns while knitting. The chart provided in the pattern guides placement of the argyle diamonds beginning at the first round of stockinette stitch.
• Light blocking — The pattern recommends blocking the finished beret lightly before adding the duplicate stitch, helping the fabric relax and ensuring even stitch definition.