The Jewels of Eden Hat I - Without Lace is a convertible cloche style hat that that can be worn 2 ways:

1) either folded over and pinned back to show off a favorite jeweled brooch or pin decoration reminiscent of the turbans worn by Glamorous Stars of Old Hollywood - the Elegant Option;

2) or folded back, but swinging free with a large playful tassel attached - the Casual Flirtatious Option.

The design allows you to wear the hat either way depending on how you want to style it (and yourself) at the time.

Jewels of Eden I - Without Lace is one of my Jewels of Eden Hats: a series of hats I have designed to decorate and wear with vintage jewelry and other embellishment I have collected.

Jewels of Eden II - With Lace is another variation of the design that can be styled the same ways but incorporating lace in the construction. There are 4 lace motifs in this design - each representing a different vintage gem cut: Marquis, Tiffany, Princess and Rose Cut
Diamonds.

These hats were designed for lovers of vintage jewelry so that they can attach a favorite brooch or other embellishment to the folded down back or along the brim of the hat thus making the design uniquely their own.

The Jewels of Eden Hats are not only Convertible Hats Patterns in terms of styling. They are also Progressive Hat Patterns in terms of knitting.

What is a Progressive Hat Pattern? It is an idea I came up with for teaching people to knit hats. First learning to knit a basic well designed hat that fits perfectly, then building upon that pattern and those skills to learn progressively more difficult knitting skills.

This is a progressive hat pattern. There are two versions so far which become progressively more challenging to knit. You can knit Version I - Without Lace - flat on two needles. Then, when you feel ready to tackle lace, circular and double pointed needles you can knit the second version - Jewels of Eden II - With Lace in the round inserting the lace work into the pattern between the ridges. The two Jewels of Eden Hat Patterns build upon each other like building blocks of knitting technique.

1) This version The Jewels of Eden Hat I - Without Lace is knitted in the British Method and is the easiest to knit. It is knitted flat on two straight needles or a circular needle used to knit flat, then sewn together with a seam up the back.

2) The Jewels of Eden Lace Hat II - With Lace is knitted in the American Method - it is a seamless lace version knitted in the round on circular and double pointed needles so that it requires no sewing. It is constructed differently than Jewels of Eden I and features 4 different lace patterns. Several basic mysteries of lace knitting are revealed as you work your way through the pattern.

It is an interesting progression to make The Jewels of Eden Hat Version I - Without Lace learning the construction of the hat one way then make The Jewels of Eden Hat II - With Lace learning to add lace and execute the same pattern in the round on circular and double pointed needles.