Bearded Toque

by vanessa vine giftable@gmail.com

giftable-designs.com

Size
Adult M to L

Materials
Any worsted weight yarn. In two contrasting colors (or not, if you prefer) US size 8 circular needle (16), or size needed to obtain gauge Set of double pointed needles in the same size Place markers or scrap yarn Ruler or tape measure Crochet hook or tapestry needle A few sets of metal snaps Sewing needle and thread

Gauge
4 st/in in stockinette stitch. Check your gauge!

Pattern Notes
The cap is knit all in one piece from the top down. The mustaches are knit separately and interchangeable via snaps. The construction isnt always very easy to write down in words, so reference the photos if youre confused or just wing itknitting is fun and nobody ever said you had to follow my pattern verbatim. This pattern was written very quickly and is freeIm sure there are some errors. If you bring them to my attention, Ill gladly change them.

Special Terms and Abbreviations Used

note: explanations for all terms and abbreviations used can be found on knitting help (knittinghelp.com) KLL= knit left loop. Insert left needle into left loop of stitch two rows below last completed stitch. Knit this stitch through the back loop. KFB= knit 1 stitch in the front, then knit the same stitch in the back. Seed Stitch (or Seed St)= *k1 p1; repeat * to end. On next row, do the opposite of the row before.

2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs

Pattern
CO 8 sts with Emily Ockers circular cast on (tutorial for this magical cast on can be found at http://www.spellingtuesday.com/circular_co.html). Distribute evenly over DPNs and knit around. Tighten cast on stitches by pulling on yarn if necessary (the top should look tight, as below) Shape crown Row 1: K1fb around (16 sts) Even rows: k around Row 3: *K2 KLL; repeat * to end (24 sts) Row 5: *K3 KLL; repeat * to end (32 sts) Row 7: *K4 KLL; repeat * to end (40 sts) Continue in this manner until there are 80 sts on the needles. You should see a sort of spiral design (see right) Shape hat Switch to circular needle. Knit 2.5 straight. In the following steps, you may want to switch to a contrasting colour for the portions that will be knit in seed stitch. These will make up the beard part of the toque. If you do this, you will have to cut each yarn and weave in all the ends for a few rowsIm sorry, there isnt a magical easy way to do this. Row 1: pm, knit 20 sts in seed stitch, pm, knit around Row 2: knit in seed stitch 2 stitches before first pm and 2 stitches after second pm. Knit around Row 3 and 4: repeat row 2 Row 5: knit in seed stitch 21 stitches before first pm and 21 stitches after second pm. Knit around Row 6: knit in seed stitch around Row 7: cast off all sts between pms (60 sts left) Row 8: k2tog, seed st to last 2 sts, k2tog Row 9: knit in seed stitch to end Row 10: repeat row 8 Knit in seed stitch around for another 1 This next part gets a little confusing. Keep in mind that you want to always remain knitting in seed stitch, so try to make your increases keep the pattern (for example, you may need to PLL instead of KLLits the same thing, just purl to keep the pattern)

2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs

Row 1: seed st for 2 sts, KLL, k1, KLL, seed st to last 3 stitches, KLL, k1, KLL, seed st to end Row 2: seed st to end Repeat rows 1 and 2 five times (80 sts on needles) Note: if you are knitting this for yourself or someone within reach, have them try it on. The placement of increases and decreases works for me, but maybe you/they dont like itnow is the time to fix it before you connect the sides back. Next row: pm, CO 3 sts, connect and knit seed st in the round for 1 The next part is where you will be shaping the beard. If you have a strong idea about how this should look, write down some notes to yourself. Otherwise, heres what I did. I use the sloped bind off as explained on knittinghelp.com (free videos on their site if Im not clear). If youd prefer to use k2tog as a decrease, give it a try. Row 1: (note, beginning of the row is at the pm placed in the last section) knit in seed st for 34 sts, BO 12 sts, knit in seed st to end Row 2: knit seed stitch to last stitch, do not knit this stitch. Turn work Row 3: slip first stitch from left needle purlwise. Pass the unworked stitch from the last row over the slipped stitch. Cast off two more stitches. Knit seed stitch to last stitch, do not knit this stitch. Turn work Repeat row 3 until there are 50 stitches left, then switch to only casting off one stitch per row after the sloped bind off. Continue in this manner 10 times (30 sts left on needles). Next section, work a sloped bind off without binding off any extra stitches four times (26 sts left on needle). Then begin working two rows even in seed st alternated with two rows of sloped bind off twice. (22 sts) Next, work four rows even in seed st alternated with two rows of sloped bind off once (20 sts), then work the following: 2 rows even. 2 rows of sloped bind off. 2 rows sloped bind off, casting off one extra stitch per row. 2 rows sloped bind off, casting off two extra stitches per row. BO all stitches

2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs

Knit mustaches The easiest way to write this up/understand it is by charts. At least I cant think of a better way. This way, I can explain the standard way to fabricate any type of mustache and if you want a style I dont have listed you can chart it yourself. Here are the standard directions Use a provisional cast on for the amount of stitches in the middle (vertically) of the mustache. Follow the chart from the middle to left while knitting in seed stitch. When there is an increase, k1fb on the first or last stitch of the row, depending on where you want the increase. For a decrease, use k2tog the same way. When youre done, pick up the stitches from your scrap yarn and work the chart from the middle to the right. Heres an example:

Cast on 6 stitches with a provisional cast on. Rows 1, 2: knit even in seed st Row 3: k1fb, knit in seed st to last st, k1fb Row 4: knit even in seed st Row 5: k1fb, knit in seed st to end Row 6: knit even in seed st Row 7: k1fb, knit in seed st to end Rows 8-12: knit even in seed st Row 13: k2tog, knit in seed st to last 2 sts, k2tog Row 14: knit even in seed st Row 15: k2tog, knit in seed to to end Row 16: knit even in seed st Row 17: k2tog, knit in seed st to last 2 sts, k2tog Row 18: knit even in seed st Row 19: k2tog, knit 1 st in seed st, k2tog Row 20: k3tog Row 21: knit 1 st in seed st Bind off Pick up sts from middle and do the exact same thing on the opposite side (be careful so that you have the tops half and bottom half on the correct sides.)

2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs

Mustache charts

Note: on this one you will have to cast on extra stitches rather than just using increases and decreases

Finishing Weave in all loose ends with crochet hook or tapestry needle. Sew female side of the snaps to the hat and male sides to the various mustaches. Use the tape measure or ruler to make sure they are all the same distance apart. If you decide hey this looks really sweet, I wish I could show it to someone who really wanted to see how other peoples turned out please email me photos! My email is on the by-line of this pattern and Id love to see! Give people funny looks on the street and enjoy!!

2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs