Looking for super simple pillbox-type hat

[KanaKaulana]

Hi every/anyone :-) I'm new here and barely a beginner but would like to try a pillbox hat. I'm imagining a simple head band with a doily kiind of top (if you will). This way I can avoid inc/dec lumpiness.

Am I all wet here or is it possible? :-)

Gratefully yours,
Kana

[of troy]

LONG ago, (the 1960's when Jackie made pill box hats so popular) there was a simple pattern for a pill box hat.

Yarn: angora and fingering (in a 'real fur color (like mink brown)

(but you could scale up to a dk weight (brushed wool, or a fluffy mohair--or you could even use fun fur type yarns)

you'll also need:
the kind of stiffener sold in fabric stores for pinch pleated drapes (this comes in 2 inch, 2.5 inch, 3 inch, (and even 4 inch)widths,
it is called Buckrum.
buy a yard, (or 3/4th of yard if you can)(i am going to presume a 2.5 width, (not to deep) but you can adjust.

a circ or a set of DPN's a tapestry needle for sewing seams


the hat is knit flat, starting at back seam.

cast on (2.5 inches +about 3 inches(or 3 +3 inches, or ..(2 + 3 inches) depending on the size buckram you bought
Use a simple or provisional cast on

(more stitches for finer yarn/fewer for DK or heavier weight)YOUR GAUGE, with your yarn will vary, so swatch and figure out what works.

K1row, P1 row, , (smooth yarn) then 6 rows of reverse st in fluffy yarn

then 6 rows of stocking knit in smooth yarn..

alternate, stocking knit in smooth yarn,/reverse stocking knit in fluffy yarn till you have a 'scarf' like shape of 20 inches or so long.

what size hat do you want? not sure? paper clip the buckrum together, (into a round) and try it on.. adjust till it is the right size then measure!

about that 20 inch measurement.. this kind of knitting (stocking knit/reverse stocking knit will 'pull tight' like ribbing.. you'll want to stretch it out a bit.
but not to much! and its about 20 inches. if you have a small head, you might only need 19 inches.. if you have a big head, you might need 21 or even 22 inches.. How long exactly? it will depend on your head!

finish by grafting (or if you used a simple cast on a half graft)

Step 2, close top of hat

pick up, using smooth yarn, 1 stitch in center of each smooth yarn stripe (stocking knit) and 2 stitches in each fluffy yarn stripe
(use DPN's or magic loop)

R1, K2 together (stitch count reduced by half)
R2 k every stitch

repeat rounds 1 and 2 till you have 8 or fewer stitches (about 6 to 8 rounds)
bind off by drawsting method.

Step 3--Knit lining.

with smooth yarn, pick up stitch along the other edge of 'scarf sewn into a tube"

Pick up 3 stitches, for every 4 rows. (you might want to pick up 3 stitches in each smooth 'stripe' and 1 in each row of the fluffy. (which will average to 3/4 ratio (since each stripe has 6 rows, (and you'll pick up 3+6 (9) and 9 is 3/4ths of 12!)

work 1 round.

if it seems too loose (it should pull in a little but not much) decrease a few stitches.

knit 2.5 (or 3 or as much as your buckram is deep.)--a little to small (ie 2 3/8 of inch of lining vs a full 2.5 inches is better)

overlap the buckrum about 1/2 inch, and sew it into a round cut off excess

turn hat inside out.
put buckram into hat, lining up the seam in the buckram with back of hat.

fold up lining, covering up the buckram, and sew it in place.

The 'smooth/fluffy ridges will curl under the buckram--and hid the lining)

you can bind off and sew, or bind off stitches as you sew them.

You can wash (block hat) the buckrum will soften a bit, but it will still be stiff enough to keep a pill box shape.


the result is a very posh pill box hat that looks (at first glance) like a fur hat.. It also looks like a HAT not a knit hat!

[KanaKaulana]

Thank you so much for the ideas and the pattern. I'll print it out and give it a good going over. Hope you won't mind a couple of follow up questions.

Kana