Bearded Toque
by vanessa vine
[email protected]
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 isn’t always very easy to write down in
words, so reference the photos if you’re confused or just wing
it—knitting is fun and nobody ever said you had to follow my
pattern verbatim. This pattern was written very quickly and is
free—I’m sure there are some errors. If you bring them to my
attention, I’ll 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 Ocker’s 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 rows—I’m sorry, there isn’t 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 pm’s (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 KLL—it’s 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 don’t like it—now 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, here’s what I did. I use the sloped
bind off as explained on knittinghelp.com (free videos on their site if I’m not clear). If you’d
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 can’t 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 don’t 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 you’re done, pick up the stitches from your scrap yarn
and work the chart from the middle to the right.
Here’s 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 people’s turned out…
please email me photos! My email is on the by-line of this pattern and
I’d love to see!
Give people funny looks on the street and enjoy!!
© 2007-2010 v. vine for giftable designs