Erwin Mills Cloche

The Erwin Mills in Durham, NC produced cotton and denim starting in the 1890s. By the roaring 20s, the mills were fertile territory for unionization as workers tried to improve their lot, leading to a strike across Durham cotton mills in 1934. This little striped cloche, knit in worsted yarn, pays tribute to the mill workers of Durham. The button detail and folded seed stitch brim add a bit of modern flair to a simple flapper style.

The hat requires less than 100 yards of two contrasting colors of yarn. The kettle-dyed variations of Malabrigo Rios lend to a subtle striping; solid yarns will provide a more striking contrast. The single large button is purely decorative.