How to Make a Cloche Hat

The Well Dressed Flapper in Her Cloche Hat

Bring back the roaring '20s with a homemade Cloche hat. This 1920s fashion fad was fun and even carried a few secrets about the wearer. Cloche hats, which are bell-shaped and fit closely around the head, were worn before the 1920s, of course, but they came to define the independent new woman during the flapper craze. They had a small to large floppy brim, depending on the wearer's preference, and they conveyed at a glance the wearer's relationship status. The "flappers," or progressive young ladies, who wore them would adorn the hats with items to signal men if they were taken or single. You can sew, crochet or knit your own. Note that the items you'll need are based on what kind of materials or method you use to make your hat.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Colored yarn
• Extra yarn in other colors for trims
• Crochet needles
• Knitting needles
• Scissors
• Pattern
• Material
• Extra material for trim
• Ribbon
• Buttons
• Other items to use to decorate your hat

1. Decide what material you want to make your cloche hat from. If you are sewing one, popular choices are wool or felt. If you know how to knit or crochet, you can choose from a variety of yarn styles based on where you will be wearing the hat and depending on the season.

2. Choose what color you want your hat to be. Decide if you want a small brim or one slightly bigger and a little floppy, or if you even want one at all. Brims are a matter of personal choice, but the actual hat needs to be snug and pulled down snugly over the head.

3. Find a pattern to use based on your choices of materials. Many free patterns for crocheting or knitting these hats are available on the Internet. Any sewing store will also have patterns for a cloche hat.

4. Read over the pattern instructions and purchase any necessary tools and materials. Include any extra items needed for the decoration of your hat.

5. Create your cloche hat by following the patterns instructions.

6. Add any personal touches to decorate your hat. Some examples are flowers, ribbons, buttons and rhinestones. Let your imagination go wild and make your hat uniquely yours.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind the "hidden meaning" in cloche hats. Original cloche hats that flappers in the 1920s used codes. A firm knot trim indicated the wearer was married and unavailable. An arrow-shaped ribbon indicated a single girl who was already in love with someone. A flashy bow meant a woman was single and looking for love.

• Because cloche hats are so form fitting, take into account any special hairstyles you might have while wearing the hat.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Fashion Era: Cloche Hat Timeline