Felted Cloche
by Josie Mercier
Size:
-Pre-felting: aprx. $22^{\mathfrak{m}}$ circumerence and $12^{\mathfrak{n}}$ length (including brim) -After felting: aprx. 21" circumference and $8"$ length (including brim)
Suggested Materials:
-Briggs & Little Heritage - $100\;\%$ wool, 215 yd/196m per $4\;\mathrm{oz}/113\;\mathrm{g}$ ball; Colour 41 (Navy Blue), 2 balls (aprx. $6.75~0z\ ⁄190\mathrm{~g~}/\;365$ yd $/\;333\;\mathrm{m}$ per hat -1 set of US #9/5.5mm dpns -1 US #9/5.5mm circular needle, $24"$ length or less (optional) Gauge: 15 sts and $23\ \mathrm{rows}=4\ \mathrm{in}/10\ \mathrm{cm}$ On $5.5\;\mathrm{mm}$ needles (Note - to facilitate felting, the hat is knit at a looser gauge than the 17 stitches to $4\;\mathrm{in}/10\mathrm{cm}$ recommended on the ball band).
Rolled-brim hat
Flat-brimmed hat Directions: Using dpns or circular needle, cast on 100 stitches. Mark beginning of round. Option 1: For a flat brim, work in garter stitch in the round until work measures 2.5 inches. Option 2: For a rolled brim, work in stockinette stitch in the round until work measures 2.5 inches. Next row (flat or rolled brim): K3, k2tog around - 80 stitches remain. Begin working in stockinette stitch, in the round, until work measures 8.5 inches from the beginning. Begin crown shaping: Row $1\,-\,^{*}\mathrm{k}8$ , k2tog\* around. Row 2 and $3\textrm{-k}$ around. Row 4 - $^{*}\mathrm{k}7$ ，$\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ around. Row 5 and $6\textrm{-k}$ around. Row 7 - $^{*1}\mathrm{k}6$ , k2tog\* around. Row 8 - k around. Row 9 - $^{*1}\mathrm{k}5$ $\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ around. Row 10 - k around. Row $11\,-\,^{*}\mathrm{k}4$ , k2tog\* around. Row $12\textrm{-}\mathrm{k}$ around. Row $13\textrm{-}^{\ast}\mathrm{k}3$ ，$\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ around. Row $14-{}^{*}\mathrm{k}2$ ，$\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ around. Row $15-{}^{*}\mathrm{k}1$ ，$\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ around. Row $16-{}^{*}\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog}^{*}$ around. Break yarn and pull through remaining 8 stitches. Weave in ends. Felting: Put the hat in a lingierie bag or an old pillow-case and put it in the washing machine with a little soap and some old clothes for friction (I used dark-coloured clothes in case the dye from this dark-coloured hat ran), on hot water setting. Check hat frequently. Throw it in the washing machine again if it isn't small enough yet - I had to send my hat through my little washing machine four times.
Rolled brim hat before felting (phone book in photo to show scale)
Rolled brim hat after felting
Just for fun - similar cloche hats worn by my Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and my Grandmother's twin sister- Montreal, 1929
