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Traditional tam o’shanters are knitted from wool, but others are made from tartan; this is my version, a crochet tam o’shanter.
I first heard the word ‘tam o’shanter,’ which is named after the hero from one of Robert Burns’ poems, when I watched the animated Beatrix Potter Collection as a kid. The first episode has Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny sneak into Mr. McGregor’s garden to rescue Peter Rabbit’s lost jacket and shoes, and Benjamin Bunny finds and tries on a tam o’shanter that was hung up on a scarecrow.
I adapted my cable beret pattern for this crochet tam o’shanter: I used single crochet instead of double crochet stitches, enlarged it a bit to make it more floppy, and added a pom pom. I used an acrylic yarn, but a wool would work nicely and be quite warm.
Cable Crochet Tam O’Shanter and Free Pattern
Supplies
1.5 skeins worsted weight yarn, about 280 m (I used acrylic Patons Canadiana in dark green tea)
5.0 mm crochet hook
Directions
Chain 5. Join first chain with a slip stitch to form a loop.
Round 1) Ch 1, 8 sc in loop; join with sl s in first ch.
Round 2) Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around; join with sl st in first ch.
Round 3) Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, FPDC in next stitch. Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch.
Round 4) Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, FPDC in same st as last sc (FPDC from previous round). Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch.
Round 5) Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, FPDC in same st as last sc (FPDC from previous round). Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch.
Rounds 6-22) Continue pattern, increasing sc count in between FPDC. Hat should be about 27 cm (10.5 in) in diameter with 21 sc in between each FPDC.
Round 23) Ch 1, *sc in next 19 sts, sc2tog, FPDC in next st (FPDC from previous round). Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch.
Round 24) Ch 1, *sc 2 tog, sc in next 18 sts, FPDC in next st. Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch.
Rounds 25-36) Repeat rounds 23-24 six times, gradually decreasing the number of sc in between each FPDC. Hat should have one sc2tog and 7 sc in between each FPDC.
Round 37) Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sts, skip next st. Repeat from * all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch. For optimal fit, try the hat on now. To decrease the size, continue repeating rounds 23-24 until desired size. To increase the size, undo row 36 or more until the hat is large enough, then continue with round 37.
Round 38-40) Ch 1. Sc in each stitch all the way around. Join with sl st in first ch and fasten off.
You made need to block the hat to even out the stitches between the FPDCs.
With the remaining yarn, make a pom pom and attach. Weave in ends.
Terms
ch – chain
FPDC – front post double crochet. Yarn over (YO), place hook around the front of the post of the st you are working, YO and pull up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through 2 loops.
sc – single crochet
sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together. Insert hook in first stitch (st). Yarn over (YO), draw up a loop (lp), 2 lps on hook. Insert hook in next st, YO, draw up a lp. 3 lps on hook. YO, draw yarn through all three lps on hook.
sl st – slip stitch
Please be respectful and do not sell or distribute this pattern in any way, especially as your own. Instead, share the original blog post link! You can sell finished products made from this pattern by giving credit to Kiku Corner as the pattern designer and linking to the blog post. Thank you for your consideration!
The tam o’shanter is so pretty! Thanks for the pattern. Pinned.
Cute! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
So cute! Thanks for sharing at the #InspirationSpotlight party @DearCreatives Pinned & shared.
I love this hat! Just a couple days ago I read an short article in Vogue mag that stated that leather berets are going to be trending soon. I think a crocheted beret could definitely fit in with the trend. You should consider selling these on Etsy, I’d def. buy one.
-Shania
shaniamason.com
Thanks so much for the kind words! Actually, Tomiko and I are planning on opening an Etsy shop for our crocheted and knit items.
I’ve never seen any leather berets, but I’ll keep an eye out because they sound pretty cool.
Such a lovely hat, what a great pattern. Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays last week. You will be one of my features later at today’s blog hop.
Hi I made the tam o Shatner had to change the patern to 5ch 16 sc 32 sc to get the shape right love it have made all the family one great ?Sandra
I’m so glad you liked the pattern! Do you have photos to share on ravelry?
Just want to thank you for this pattern! I’ve been making red berets for people in the US in support of Medicare for All. Been using both of your patterns for berets, though changed it up a bit for sizing – but I’ve been a crocheter for 40+ years.
Thanks again!
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I am having trouble with rows 4, 5, & 6 (specifically exactly how the increase works). Can you describe that a little more in detail? What are the stitch counts at the end of each row?
Hi Allison,
The increases are formed by working both a sc and FPDC in the same FPDC from the round below. That is, to make the increases on round 4, you work a single crochet stitch in each of the two single crochet stitches below, as well as a single crochet stitch in the FPDC in the round below. Then you work a FPDC on the FPDC on the round below. As you increase the rounds, the number of single crochet stitches between the FPDCs increase by one. Hope this helps!
are there ways to size this up or down ? I’m making this for my brother who has a 24″ head in circumference.
Without doing the math, the easiest way would be to use a larger hook size for the band to get a larger gauge to fit your brother’s head. Hope this helps!