Yo Adrian

Every year my husband and I throw an all out Oscar Awards watch party. Last year it was red carpet/black tie formal. This year, we went with a costume party. All of our friends came dressed as their favorite character from any Oscar nominated movie, past or present. James and I decided to pay homage the oft-under appreciated Oscar Award winner for Best Picture in 1976 – ‘Rocky’.

Pulling together our costumes for this beloved movie couple was surprisingly easy. We had all the clothes we needed in our own closets. The only thing I was missing was Adrian’s iconic red beret.

Big, fuzzy and felted , This hat is 70s chic and timelessly modern. Here’s the pattern for how I made it.

Yarn: 1 skein of worsted weight yarn – 100% wool. I used Paton’s classic wool.

Needles: 12-16″ Size 8 circular needles and set of size 8 Double pointed Needles

Cast on 88 stitches.

Join to knit in the round and place a marker to mark the end of the row.

Knit in a 1×1 rib (k1, p1) until the brim measures 1 1/2″ long.

Next row: *K2, M1*, Repeat ** to the end of the row. (132 stitches)

Knit every row for 6″ (the hat is now 7.5″ from cast on)

Start decreasing, switching to double pointed needles when necessary.

Decrease Row 1 = *SSK, Knit 22, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 2 (and all even numbered rows) = knit

Decrease Row 3 = *SSK, Knit 20, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 5 = *SSK, Knit 18, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 7 = *SSK, Knit 16, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 9 = *SSK, Knit 14, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 11 = *SSK, Knit 12, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 13 = *SSK, Knit 10, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 15 = *SSK, Knit 8, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 17 = *SSK, Knit 6, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 19 = *SSK, Knit 4, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 21 = *SSK, Knit 2, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 23 = *SSK, K2tog* Repeat ** until end of row

Decrease Row 24 = Knit

Decrease Row 25 = K2tog until 3 stitches remain.

Put the remaining 3 stitches on one needle and pull them through to the opposite (right side) of the hat.

Knit an i-cord for 3 inches and bind off leaving a 6 inch tail.

Use the tail to sew the i-cord into a loop on top of the beret.

Trim the edges and felt the hat on the warmest washing machine setting.

Pull out the beret immediately after felting and shape it to your head tucking the brim under so it rolls on itself. You’ll want to keep it shaped while it’s drying – at least 24 hours. My drying rack of choice is a tightly rolled towel on it’s end, but get creative – almost anything will do the trick. And now comes the hard part – waiting for it to dry enough to wear it!