Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche Hat Knitting Pattern

Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche

What Is Being Made

The Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche is a vintage-inspired adult hat that combines traditional knitting techniques with the felting process to create a refined, timeless accessory. This design is reminiscent of classic cloche hats from an earlier era, offering a stylish and elegant headwear option. The finished hat is designed to fit an average adult head and showcases the natural beauty of premium wool fibers.

Craft and Materials

This project is a knitting pattern that uses Imperial Yarn Columbia 2-ply yarn, which is 100% wool sourced from the historic Imperial Stock Ranch located in Maupin, Oregon, USA. The yarn is described as naturally luxurious, allowing knitters to work with Oregon's finest wool. The pattern requires 1 skein of main color (MC) yarn and optionally 1 ounce of Imperial Natural (#01) for a contrast color (CC) cast-on edge and cord.

Needles and Notions

The Felted Cloche pattern requires the following tools:

• US size 10.5 (7.5 mm) circular needle, 24 inches (60 cm) long, for the main body of the hat
• US size 10.5 (7.5 mm) double-pointed needles (dpn) for working the crown decreases
• US size I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for finishing details
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Stitch markers for tracking rounds
• Approximately 2 yards (1.83 meters) of non-wool yarn, such as worsted weight cotton yarn, which works best for the felting process

Techniques Used

The Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its construction method:

• Worked in the Round: The hat is knitted circularly using circular needles and double-pointed needles, creating a seamless construction that eliminates the need for seaming.
• Seamless Construction: By working in the round from the brim upward, the hat maintains a continuous, seamless structure throughout the entire piece.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pattern is worked from the brim of the hat upward toward the crown, beginning with a cast-on edge at the bottom and decreasing stitches as the crown is shaped.
• Felting: After knitting is complete, the finished hat undergoes a felting process that transforms the loose, loopy knitted fabric into a more compact, finished textile. The pattern notes that the knitting will appear loose and loopy prior to felting, which is an intentional part of the design process.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern used in the Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche is circular Stockinette Stitch, which is achieved by knitting every round (abbreviated as k all rnds). Stockinette Stitch in the round creates a smooth, V-textured fabric that is ideal for felting, as it provides an even surface that felts uniformly. The pattern also incorporates knit two together (k2tog) decreases to shape the crown of the hat as stitches are reduced toward the top.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The gauge for the Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche is 13 stitches and 20 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in circular Stockinette Stitch using US size 10.5 (7.5 mm) needles, measured before felting. The finished hat is designed as one size to fit an average adult head. Knitters should note that the gauge measurement is taken prior to the felting process, as felting will alter the final dimensions and density of the fabric.

Pattern Origin and Adaptation

The Imperial Yarn Felted Cloche pattern is adapted from Knitter's Magazine, Winter 1997 and is reprinted with permission from wXRX, Inc. The pattern is authorized for non-commercial use only. This design represents a collaboration between Imperial Yarn and the original pattern designers, bringing a classic hat design to modern knitters using premium American wool.