This pattern is available in ENGLISH and PORTUGUESE

This hat was inspired by the traditional barreta from the island of São Miguel, Azores. The barreta is a cone shaped knitted hat with a large tassel on top that was worn by men in São Miguel until the mid 20th century. Its simple yet beautiful abstract motifs seem to have remained mostly unchanged at least since the 1830s, when the barreta was first documented by british travellers Joseph and Henry Bullar. The traditional barreta is worked in two contrasting natural shades of fingering weight hand spun yarn.

My pattern is for a more contemporary beanie shaped hat with a ribbed edge. I have also introduced a subtle accent colour that doesn’t occur on the original barreta. Feel free to experiment with as little or as many colours as you like.

The pattern includes a chart.

Size

This is a medium sized beanie. The finished measurements are: circumference: 50cm; height: 21.5cm from the CO edge. For a larger hat, knit at a looser gauge.

Materials

Yarn: A Retrosaria Apresenta Soft Donegal (100% wool; 190m/208yd = 50g). 25g MC, 25g CC and 5g of AC. Sample was knitted in brown 5549 (MC), light pink 5541 (CC) and beige 5508 (AC). With one skein of each shade you can make two hats reversing MC and CC.