Felted Cloche

An easy, warm and flattering winter hat that is knitted and then felted. The hat includes directions for a flat brim (shown above) and a rolled brim (shown below). The Felted Cloche pattern is also available as a free Ravelry PDF download.

Size:
-Pre-felting: aprx. 22" circumerence and 12" length (including brim)
-After felting: aprx. 21" circumference and 8" length (including brim)

Materials:
-Briggs & Little Heritage - 100 % wool, 215 yd/196m per 4 oz/113 g ball; Colour 41 (Navy Blue), 2 balls (aprx. 6.75 oz / 190 g / 365 yd / 333 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 rows = 4 in/10 cm on 5.5 mm needles (Note - to facilitate felting, the hat is knit at a looser gauge than the 17 stitches to 4 in/10cm recommended on the ball band).


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 - *k8, k2tog* around.
Row 2 and 3 - k around.
Row 4 - *k7, k2tog* around.
Row 5 and 6 - k around.
Row 7 - *k6, k2tog* around.
Row 8 - k around.
Row 9 - *k5, k2tog* around.
Row 10 - k around.
Row 11 - *k4, k2tog* around.
Row 12 - k around.
Row 13 - *k3, k2tog* around.
Row 14 - *k2, k2tog* around.
Row 15 - *k1, k2tog* around.
Row 16 - *k2tog* 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 (shown on phonebook for scale):

Rolled brim hat after felting: