The current shop sample being made is Salut Chèri Beret by Sari Nordland. The beret is knit in the round using stockinette stitch and is recommended as a good beginner project. The brim of the beret rolls up slightly, and the beret itself is topped with an i-cord stem, giving the final product texture and detail. This is a free pattern on Ravelry and is available here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/salut-cheri-beret
The yarn we’ve chosen for this sample is Silky Wool Aran from Elsebeth Lavold, the heavier version of the popular sport weight Silky Wool. It is a luxurious aran/heavy worsted weight yarn that is made up of 45% wool, 35% silk, and 20% nylon. Each skein is 50 grams, about 104 yards, and is a great choice for garments when you need a little extra warmth. Since it is being used for our Shop Sample Spotlight, this yarn is 25% off.
Notes and progress
Week 1: I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about using the Silky Wool Aran for this pattern, but I saw one on Ravelry someone else made and decided to give it a try. I cast on using the Silky Wool and almost immediately realized I would need to make an adjustment as I wasn’t getting a lot of elasticity with the cable cast on I used. I could have switched to a different cast on but decided to look for a variegated yarn I could use for the brim. The yarn I found was actually hand dyed from a class we did. Now that I am further into the pattern, I’m really glad I chose to use a different yarn for the brim rather than a different cast on. It compliments the Silky Wool beautifully and adds another dimension to the beret. I can’t wait to see how the rest of it comes out.
-Sabrina
Week 2: So far, I really do enjoy knitting the pattern. It’s very easy to follow, and I like the way it’s knitting up. I could probably have used a size 7 needle instead of a 6, but I also like my hats to be a little more dense. I like the nubbiness of the Silky Wool Aran; it gives some nice depth to the beret. So far, would recommend both the Salut Chèri Beret pattern and the Silky Wool Aran, although I do this the Silky Wool would work better with garments like a sweater of a vest.
-Sabrina
-Sabrina
Week 2: So far, I really do enjoy knitting the pattern. It’s very easy to follow, and I like the way it’s knitting up. I could probably have used a size 7 needle instead of a 6, but I also like my hats to be a little more dense. I like the nubbiness of the Silky Wool Aran; it gives some nice depth to the beret. So far, would recommend both the Salut Chèri Beret pattern and the Silky Wool Aran, although I do this the Silky Wool would work better with garments like a sweater of a vest.
-Sabrina
