1970s flower crochet hat

Here's the pattern for a hat to match this 1970s crochet scarf. It's so simple and pretty. You could even make the flower motif and attach it to an existing hat in your collection or use it to jazz up a shop-bought woolly hat.

You will need: 4 ply yarn for hat and contrast yarn for flower. 3mm and 3.5mm crochet hooks.

Tension: 6 tr = 1 inch in width measured over pattern on 3.5mm hook.

Hat: Using 3.5mm hook and main colour yarn, make 4 ch and join into a ring with a sl st.

1st round: Work 8 dc into ring, sl st to top of first dc to join. Do not turn.
2nd round: 2 ch ( = 1 tr), work 1 tr into first st, work 2 tr into each dc to end, sl st to 2nd of 2 ch.
3rd round: *Work 1 dc into first st, 2 dc into next st; work from * to end, sl st to 2nd of 2 ch.
4th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into 1st st, *1 tr into each of next 2 dc, 2 tr into next dc; rep from * to last 2 dc, 1 tr into each of last 2 dc, sl st to 2nd of 2 ch. 32 tr.
5th round: Work 1 dc into each of next 2 tr, *work 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each of next 3 sts; rep from * to last 2 sts, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into last st, sl st to top of first dc. 40 dc.
6th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into each of the next 4 sts, 2 tr into next st; rep from * to last 4 sts, 1 tr into each st to end. 48 tr.
7th round: Work 1 dc into each of next 2 tr, *work 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each of next 5 sts; rep from * to last 4 sts, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each st to end. 56 dc.
8th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into each of next 4 sts, *2 tr into next st, 1 tr into each of next 6 sts; rep from * to last 2 sts, 2 tr into next st, 1 tr into last st. 64 tr.
9th round: Work 1 dc into first st, *2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each of next sts; rep from * to last 7 sts, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each st to end. 72 dc.
10th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into each of next 5 sts, *2 tr into next st, 1 tr into each of next 8 sts; rep from * to lat 3 sts, 2 tr into next st, 1 tr into each of last 2 sts. 80 tr.
11th round: Work 1 dc into each of next 4 sts, *2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each of next 9 sts; rep from * to last 6 sts, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each st to end. 88 dc.
12th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into first st, *1 tr into each of next 10 sts, 2 tr into next st; rep from * to last 10 sts, 1 tr into each st to end. 96 tr.
13th round: Work 1 dc into each of next 3 sts. *2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each of next 11 sts; rep from * to last 9 sts, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc into each st to end. 104 dc.
14th round: 2 ch, work 1 tr into each of next 2 sts, *2 tr into next st, 1 tr into each of next 12 sts; rep from * to last 10 sts, 2 tr into next st, 1 tr into each st to end. 112 tr.

Work straight in alternate rounds of dc and tr until hat measures 6 inches from last increase ending with a round of dc. Fasten off.

Make a flower centre and 6 petals as detailed in the pattern for the floral scarf.

To finish: Sew centre of flower to centre top of hat. Sew on 6 petals evenly spaced around centre of flower.

Sew a 1960s hat

From Reveille newspaper, 1964:

"This is the hat of the year. We saw it in the South of France, the Italian Riviera. In Spain and Portugal, too.

Bikini girls were wearing them in cotton as sun hats or bathing caps. Now girls are wearing them in velvet, or taffeta for parties... This is a wonderful little hat. It suits every face. Already girls who dislike wearing hats are changing their minds. You can see them around. You will be seeing plenty more. So practical if your hair looks untidy. Tuck it under the hat. It hides all those straggly ends."

Would you like to make this quintessentially 1960s hat? You'll need half a yard of 36 inch wide velvet, or material of your choice; half a yard of 36 inche wide net; 5 inches of elastic; five-eighths of a yard of beaded trimming.

Make a paper pattern from the diagram below. Each side of a square = 2 inches. Allow for turnings. Line D - E on diagram marks the grain of material.


On single material and net cut out shape A. Also cut and join a strip to measure 34 inches long and 3 inches side when complete - this will be the hat band.

1. Place net on wrong side of velvet. Make 9 pleats at outer edge, as marked with arrows on diagram.

2. Make a casing at back, between X - Y marked on diagram. Thread through elastic as marked on diagram. Make up headband in double thickness and stitch to pleated edges of hat, leaving 6 inches ends to tie at back.

3. Top trim head band with beaded trimming as pictured. To wear hat simply knot tie ends at back.

Mushroom Magic hat

Ah, the innocent days of the early 1950s, when you could use the phrase Mushroom Magic without hearing hippy sniggering from the back of the class.

This perky little hat is knitted from dk yarn with an angora crown. What better way to keep off the chill on a spring morning?

To make a magical mushroom hat, you will need half an ounce of angora wool, 2 oz double knitting yarn, two no 9 and no 11 needles.

Tension: 5 and three-quarter stitches and seven and three-quarter rows to one square inch on no 9 needles measured over stocking stitch.


Using no 9 needles and double knitting yarn, cast on 110 sts. Work in K1, P1 rib for 7 inches.

Change to no 11 needles and using angora for remainder of hat proceed as follows:

Next row: K5,(M1, K2, M1, K3) 20 times, M1, K5 (151 sts)

Next row: P

Work crown as follows:

1st row: K

2nd row: P

Work these 2 rows 6 times more.

Shape crown as follows:

1st row: *K13, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

2nd and alt rows: P

3rd row: *K12, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

5th row: *K11, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

6th row: P

Continue dec in this manner on next and every alt row until 21 sts remain.

Next row: P1, (P2 tog) 10 times.

Thread yarn through remaining sts and fasten off securely.

To make up, use a back stitch to join seam, taking care to reverse seam for turn-back.

1940s child's beret and loveheart hat

This 1940s school girl looks ready for anything in her striped beret with matching socks! Her rough-textured blazer and softly-curled hair are so typical of the period. The Juliet Cap, on the other hand, looks very modern in both shape and motif design. I can see this looking wonderful worked in pink with a red heart motif.

Cap, beret and socks are all worked in 3 ply oddments and are suitable for a girl aged 8 - 10 years old. Measurement from centre of crown to edge of beret is 6 inches, width all around edge (slightly stretched) is 20 inches.

Chick hat for children

Five quirky children's knitted hats from what looks like the early 1960s (or, to be precise, four quirky hats and one standard pom-pom hat).

The yellow chick embellishment is incredibly cute and easy to make - make two yellow yarn pom-poms, one small one for the head, and a larger one for the body. Sew the head onto the body then trim to give the chick a good shape. Work two french knots in black cotton for the eyes and add a tiny pointed piece of black felt for the beak. Sew a few loops of yellow wool to the back of the body, making each one about 1 inch in length, then cut the loops to make a tail.

English hat - no mitts

As a contrast, this very British creation sticks two fingers up at Parisian chic. It says, "I may not be hanging out on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore nibbling on a patisserie, but at least my ears are warm. And because my ears are covered, I cannot hear you say that I look like a toilet seat cover. So don't bother."

Possibly a look that only works on the under-3s.

The loop stitch that this hat is mostly worked in is a very useful stich to have in your knitting repertoire - great for edging sleeves, scarves and hems.

Loop stitch: K1, * insert needle into next st knitwise (put wool round needle, then round first 2 fingers of left hand) 3 times, then roound needle again, draw all 4 loops through and slip st off needle; rep from * to last st, k1.

Two hats in one

I love the way that this cosy knitted hat from a Argyll yarn pattern can be worn in two ways: firmly pulled over the head for maximum warmth, or perched on top for a more cheeky gamine/blimey-my-ears-are-cold sort of look.

Yarn: 4ozs DK. It's knitted in doubled-up double knitting yarn for extra warmth - you're knitting with 2 balls of yarn at the same time.

Needles: pair of No 4 UK needles.

Tension: 3sts and 7 rows = 1 inch squre measured over pattern.

Note: Wind 2 balls of yarn together before commencing. Using No 4 needles cast on 27 sts, and k 1 row. Commence pattern: -

1st row (right side): Sl 1, * k into st below next st on needle, slipping st above off needle in normal way (called K1B), k1; rep from * to end.

2nd row: Sl 1, * k1, K1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

These 2 rows form pattern.

Shape top:

1st row: Sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, turn.
2nd and every alt row: sl 1, * k1, K1B; rep from * to end.
3rd row: Sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, turn.

Continue in this way working 2 sts less at end of every alt row until "sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 12 sts, turn" has been worked.

12th row: sl1, * k1, K1B; rep from * to end.
13th and 14th rows: Work in pattern across all sts.

Rep last 14 rows 9 times more. Cast off in pattern.

To make up: sew together cast-on and cast-off edges, leaving centre of crown open for pom-pom. Press. Make a pom-pom, insert through hole in corwn and sew centre seam.

Haven't tried making this hat yet - let me know how it turns out.