Whether it be outerwear, cardigans or blankets, tweed garments are rustic, durable, and warm. Traditionally, sheep shorn for the first time provide the finest and softest fibres that are the building blocks of tweed yarns and fabrics. The name “tweed” comes from the River Tweed that runs along the Scottish Borders Region. Tweed was developed in the 1700s to help deal with the harsh climates of Scotland and Ireland. Sheep wool fibres used to be dyed with natural materials such as lichen and wildflowers. Thus, wool was typically the muted colours of brown, green and grey.
The wool fibres are spun into yarn. Colour blending produces a multi-coloured tweed wool, often with small flecks of colour, for knitting or crocheting. Other natural fibres like cotton and silk might be mixed in. I found that tweed yarns look great made up with all-over repeated stitches. Simple is better when it comes to tweed. For the Alpine Crochet Headbands, the stitches alternate between double crochet and front post double crochet stitches.
For this beret, I used a seed stitch which gives the hat a nubbly waffle texture. The closed pattern suits the tweed yarn with its subtle specks of colour. The beret and the hat shown below are made from a tweed that blends wool, alpaca and viscose.
To wear your beret as shown, place it on your head so that the band is at the top of your forehead. Then pull gently down on one side so it feels secure. You can wear a beret to one side or centred and covering one or both ears.
This hat is made with an easy single crochet stitch that results in the crocheted fabric being reversible. The “right” side gives the look of horizontal striping, while the “wrong” side resembles vertical ribbing. Options include slouching the hat, the side of your choice exposed. I photographed my model wearing it cuffed to show off both textures and for double protection of the forehead and ears.
Hats by Tracy J 