The Tretta hat is part of a tradition of close-fitting, beaded hats that I’ve been designing and knitting for my little cousin Sarit. The original Odessa and Black Sea hats having been lost, Tretta is the third in this series. The name is a loose derivative of the word “third” in Russian.

Tretta is a very quick and satisfying project. It’s knit entirely in the round and requires only 130 yards of DK-weight yarn. A perfect place to use that luxurious skein of cashmere or alpaca! The stitch pattern is basically a beefed-up and embellished ribbing, so the built-in stretchiness allows the hat to cover a range of head sizes - from 20” (large child) to 23” (large adult).

Unlike my other beaded designs, only 30 beads are needed if the pattern is knit as written. This time around, there’s very little tugging and pushing! Although the beads are a wonderful detail, it’s important to point out that they are a choking hazard; please use your judgment.