Last Friday was lunch and knitting with the Amiras, more on that later. For now I wanted to show you this.

No, that beret was not part of Friday’s menu. It’s my latest FO. A beret. A hat. A tam. Something to cover one’s head when it’s cold. Or when one wishes to look fashionably chic.

This was supposed to be my project for the Knit-Along with the Amiras but I was impatient and cast on a bit sooner. The pattern is so addictive and easy and I was done with it in no time. This is Ysolda Teague’s Snapdragon Tam from her booklet Whimsical Little Knits 2. It was Charmaine’s gorgeous blue-grey tam which inspired me to finally knit one of Ysolda’s berets.

I have to admit the chart scared the living daylights out of me! Good thing Ysolda’s written instructions are always so clear and easy to follow.

The white bits on the tam is caused by sloppy dyeing by yours truly. Louise said it looked like I was sprinkled with snow! How sweet.

Oh and I can’t even begin to tell you how much a fan of dinner-plate blocking I have become!

This beret looked more like a bonnet when I cast off, but soaking in woolwash softened the yarn further. Then I placed it over a dinner plate and left overnight to dry and voila! It was like magic.

I think I will knit this again, with a different coloured yarn, without any white spots. I’ll be needing lots of hats where I’m going.

Project: Oh Snap! (Ravel me)
Pattern: Snapdragon Tam by Ysolda Teague
Source: Whimsical Little Knits 2
Yarn: Gritty Knits DK Superwash, handdyed by me
Needles: 4mm
Cast on: 14 June 2010
Cast off: 17 June 2010
Notes: Instant gratification personified!