Sunday-Best Felted Cloche Hat by Eileen Lee

Sunday-Best Felted Cloche Hat

Knitting
July 2013
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
14 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette
US 10½ - 6.5 mm
About 22 inches (56 cm) circumference and 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall, after felting and blocking
English

In the early decades of the twentieth century, it would be a disgraceful act for women to venture out of the house without a hat or even gloves. It did not matter if you were rich or poor, old or young. Once the Great War of 1914-1918 began, fashion was influenced by the new wartime employment activities and women started to engage in more practical dress. This is a simple but sophisticated hat. Typically, the hats of this style possess various types of bands around the base. On this hat there is a modest band knitted in black to give the impression of ribbon.