Birdie Hat & Mittens

In a family album there is a picture of my great-aunt Birdie in a smart close fitting cloche hat. I think the picture was taken in Donegal where we get plenty of strong winds and chilly weather. So I thought Birdie would have wanted a stylish and warm cloche and some smart mittens for her walks.

This hat and mitts are inspired by vintage hats and by traditional cable and argyle patterns that would have been familiar to my great aunts. The slightly tweedy yarn also has a vintage feel and is the right level of cosy for winters today and even a walk in a snowy alpine town. The hat is constructed by knitting the cabled band first and then picking up stitches for the crown. It is a surprisingly easy way of making a hat that fits well and looks great.

The cable pattern also runs up the back of the mittens creating a vintage look in a cosy mitten.