Imagine Downton’s Lady Mary wearing this delicious cloche as she swans into the Connaught Hotel for afternoon tea with one of her beaux. Custom-made to her exacting specifications, it would be warm (London in winter can be dreadfully raw), yet chic from all sides. And it had to be an original design because no fashionable Lady wants to see her prized chapeau on anybody else.

For those of us who prefer our hats knitted, fitted, and uniquely embellished, this fetching cloche can be ours. With its double-thick brim, it’s just the ticket for a blustery winter day. Its subtly textured band is manually pleated to form a dramatic back bow that is then secured with a vintage button.

Up front, gingko leaves cascade across the wearer’s brow. Omit one or the other of these adornments if your taste runs to the austere. Or, if you share my belief that too much of a good thing is wonderful when it comes to hats, enjoy them both!

GAUGE
24 sts and 30 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette st on US #4 needles

PATTERN NOTES
The cloche is worked in one piece from the bottom up. The knitted band and stylized gingko leaves are worked separately, and then attached. The upturned brim can be stitched into place at the front center, or can be left unstitched to allow for greater versatility. Instructions for the gingko leaves are provided in both written row-by-row and charted formats.