The Kim Cloche

By Kim

Y'all. I love the cloche hat. And I have been plotting and scheming since the beginning of TIME how to make one. Well, how to make one without mad haberdasher skillz. I ain't that invested.

Anyway, love the cloches. Couldn't make one. The closest I could find were some patterns for bucket hats that I would have to buy off the scary internet (fools will rob you, yo), and a felted version in a book (did not turn out well, anyone want to buy a book?). Years went by.

One day, fortune recognized my hard work as a knitter and decided to smile upon me. I came upon an awesome, floppy, knock-off designer cloche in NYC Chinatown. $30.00 later, the faux Yves Saint Laurent was in my arms and a pattern was brewing in my brain.

Dudes, I knocked off a knock off. And now, that knock off can be yours.

Circumference:

approx. 22"

Materials:

Approximately 220 yards Heavy Worsted Weight yarn.

US size 8 dpns or your choice of circular for knitting in the round (I used magic loop)

Tapestry needle.

Gauge:

4.5 sts and 6 rows = 1 inch. BE SURE TO SWATCH FOR ACCURATE GAUGE

Abbreviations:

sts: Stitches

PU: Pull Up and Knit

KFB: Knit front and back (increase)

Special Note:

The pull up stitch will be used in this pattern. For instructions on how to do this technique, please refer to "The Pull Up Stitch."

Directions:

Cast on 7 sts.

Join in the round.

Round 1: KFB* repeat to end. 14 stitches.

Rounds 2-5: Knit.

Round 6: KFB* repeat to end. 28 stitches.

Rounds 7-11: Knit.

Round 12: KFB* repeat to end. 56 stitches.

Rounds 13-21: Knit

Round 22: KFB 5 times, K1, (KFB 4 times, K1)* repeat parenthetical instructions to end. 100 stitches.

Rounds 23-25: Knit.

Bind off loosely.

Hey, it is hard to photograph the top of your head.

Click for larger photo.

 

Pick up and knit 100 stitches.

 

Knit 29 rows in the round, stockinette.

Round 30: Peer over to the wrong side of the work, count down 10 rows and pull up a stitch and ktog with the next stitch* repeat to end. (NOTE: It is extremely helpful to run a "lifeline" through the stitches you are going to pull up. Use slippery yarn.)

Rounds 31 - 33: Knit

Rounds 34 - 36: Starting with a purl row, stop knitting in the round and start knitting back and forth.

Round 37: (K 19, M1)* repeat parenthetical instructions to end. 105 stitches.

Rounds 38 - 48: Knit in St st.

Round 49: Purl (fold line)

Rounds 50 - 60: staring with a purl row, knit in St st.

Round 61: (K 19, k2tog)* repeat parenthetical instructions to end. 100 stitches.

Rounds 62 - 64: starting with a purl row, knit 3 rows St. st.

Bind off loosely.

Finishing:

Sew down the "welt" made from the pulled up stitches. This is your "hat band."

Teh Close Up

Using mattress stitch, sew up the sides of the brim from the fold line up. Sew the brim in place.

If "nipple top" happens at the very top of the hat, sew that down too. I'm sorry, I just don't know how to fix that.

Block lightly if desired.

Voi-La.