Bella's Beads Cloche Hat

HeartStrings knitting pattern #KH02

This hat is a flapper style, inspired by the movie "Agatha" with Vanessa Redgrave. Women in the 20's and 30's wore these lovely cloche hats. Laura envisioned one with a beaded band ... which started us on the way to creating this hat design. A second inspiration was a biography of Bella Abzug, a politican who did a lot for women's issues. Bella was famous for always wearing a hat; hence Bella's Beads.

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The design has a beaded roll brim followed by plain knitting, then a beaded band emphasized in purl stitches. Two versions for the crown are given - one with beaded purl circles (left), and the other with beaded garter spokes (right). For the beaded areas, you will be manipulating two strands of yarn, one with and one without beads. This is a simple way to introduce the beads as needed into the knitting.

Models shown above:

• Beaded Purl Circles version in Heirloom Aristocrat 12 mohair/merino - color #334 azure blue, 10/2 tencel thread in indigo color, and Miyuki beads in a color mix of pearls, crystals, blues and purples.
• Beaded Garter Spokes version in Heirloom Aristrocrat 12 mohair/merino - color #304 White, 10/2 tencel thread in natural, and Miyuki beads in a color mix of pearls, crystals, grays and blacks.

More sample models showing how nice Bella's Beads looks when made in a smooth yarn, too! (commissioned by Laura Andersson and knitted by Rachel Wilson)

Beaded Garter Spokes (left) in Lorna's Laces Shepherd worsted weight yarn, color Old Rose. Beaded Purl Circles (right) in 2 strands of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock fingering weight yarn, color Mixed Berries. Instead of using a separate supplemental thread, the beads were carried on one strand of the sock yarn.

Adult small[medium, large] - finished circumference 19¾[21, 22½]" to fit head approximately 21[22, 23]". Heavy worsted weight or UK 12-ply yarn - 105[115,125] yards. 4½ stitches/inch over stockinette on larger needles. Suggested needle sizes US 6 and 8, 40 g size 8/0 seed beads. Supplemental thread for carrying the beads: 35[40,45] yards. Written stitch instructions.

Sample pages of the Bella's Beads Cloche Hat knitting pattern. Click picture to open document in another window. Requires Adobe Reader v7.0 or higher to view.

Bella's Beads is part of The Comfort Collection. Also, see more Knitted Hats in the Jackie E-S Design Collections.