This hat was designed for you to look your finest without the need of an umbrella and is a fantastic project for first-time felters. It was inspired by the dapper pork pie, which flatters every head, and was designed to use only one skein of easily accessible wool. After knitting the pattern it is felted which is an exciting and rewarding experience. It can then be decorated to suit any personality—the options are endless.

Make sure you pick the right fibre for the task! It cannot be superwash, because the fibres were treated to resist felting. Wool blended with alpaca or cashmere can felt but yarn with blends that include cotton, bamboo, silk, acrylic or nylon cannot. If you want to test your fibres feltability, take a small length of wool to the sink with hot water and dish soap. Rub and agitate the wool against your hand for 5 mins and it should become smaller and very matted.

Knit a swatch to test your gauge before beginning. If you are knitting the hat in a medium do not felt it as you may need this wool.

Yarn
100% Wool in worsted weight that is not superwash
(other natural animal fibres have different properties but can be felted. I recommend using 100% Wool)

Yardage
180m-230m / 193yds-252yds

Suggested Needles
Size 4.5mm / US #7 very flexible circular needle (magic loop) and optional DNPs

Gauge
17 sts & 23 rounds of stockinette (10cm x 10cm / 4” x 4”)
Highly recommended to test gauge.

Notions
1 stitch marker

Sizes
Medium (56cm/22”) fits most head sizes using around 194m/213yds
Large and X-Large will most likely need 2 skeins.

Optional Materials

• two large bowls
• dish soap
• kettle for boiling water
• ice
• gloves

Optional Decorative Materials

• rope, cord or ribbon
• needle and thread that matches the colour of wool
• broaches, feathers, buttons or beads

The pattern provides detailed videos for felting and blocking the hat by hand.