Although boater hats have been around since mid Victorian times, the images of a boater hat we think of today, were those traditionally worn with a blazer (plain or striped) and pale fawn or white trousers in the summer from Late Victorian times to the 1940’s. After this time boater hats are not as common, apart from use as school hats. Originally worn only by the gentry when poling punts or rowing up the river, these hats eventually became adopted as summer headwear by men of all classes. Midshipmen serving in the Royal Navy during Victorian times, to protect them from the sun when sailing in tropical regions, also wore boater hats.
Boater hats were traditionally made from straw and plaited, they would not normally have been made using crochet, although examples of men’s summer hats can be found which were made from crochet.
Abbreviations: UK crochet terms used
ch – chain; dc – double crochet; sl – slip; st – stitch; ( ) or { } – repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in text
US readers please note: work all dc in this pattern as sc (single crochet)
Materials required: 0.75 mm and 1.25 mm crochet hook, 25 m approx No 70 tatting thread or No 80 crochet cotton, small length of 2 or 3 mm wide ribbon. For stiffening requirements see section after pattern.
1:12th scale boater hat
Note: The hat is worked in rounds and the hook size is changed at the start of round 7.
Round 1: Using 0.75 mm hook make 4 ch, 2 dc into 2nd ch from hook (the 1st of these ch sts forms the 1st dc of this round), 1 dc into 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc into last ch, turn and work 1 dc into base of dc worked in 3rd ch, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (8 dc)
Round 2: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into same place, (1 dc into next dc, 2 dc into next dc) three times, 1 dc into next dc, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (12 dc)
Round 3: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into next dc, 2 dc into next dc, (1 dc into next dc) five times, 2 dc into next dc, (1 dc into next dc) three times, join with a sl st to top, of 1st dc. (14 dc)
Round 4: 1 ch [1st dc], 2 dc into next dc, (1 dc into next dc) twice, 2 dc into next dc, (1 dc into next dc) three times, {2 dc into next dc, (1 dc into next dc) twice} twice, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (18 dc)
Round 5: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into each dc around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc.
Round 6: 1 ch [1st dc], (2 dc into next dc) four times, (1 dc into next dc) five times, (2 dc into next dc) four times, (1 dc into next dc) four times, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (26 dc)
Change to 1.25 mm hook and complete remainder of pattern using the 1.25 mm hook.
Round 7: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into each dc around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc.
Round 8: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into next dc, (2 dc into next dc) four times, (1 dc into next dc) nine times, (2 dc into next dc) four times, (1 dc into next dc) seven times, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (34 sts)
Rounds 9-15: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into each dc around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc.
Round 16: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into same place, 2 dc into each dc around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. (68 dc)
Rounds 17-18: 1 ch [1st dc], 1 dc into each dc around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc.
Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.
Note: at this point the hat will not resemble a boater, the shape is acquired when the hat is stretched and stiffened.
Stiffen the hat as shown below and then add a piece of ribbon around the crown, a bow may be tied or sewn in place on one side of the hat. The ribbon may need to be stitched to the base of the crown to keep it in place.
To stiffen and shape hat
A. Traditional sugar solution method
1. Make a solution of two teaspoons boiling water to one level teaspoon sugar.
2. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Place crochet in the solution until the crochet is completely wet through. Wring out excess solution or sugar crystals will form on the finished work!
4. Pin the crochet out on a piece of corrugated cardboard or polystyrene covered in cling film, using rustproof pins (as normal steel pins will rust and leave unsightly marks). Make a flat oval shape of plasticine or blu tak covered in cling film, (to go inside the crown and shape the hat). If necessary pin around the lower edges of the crown to hold in shape. Pull the crochet into shape as you work around, making sure brim of the hat stays flat, a few pins may be required to hold this in place.
5. Leave to dry in a warm place for 24 hours minimum. Do not attach ribbon to the hat until the hat has completely dried.
B. The item can be starched with laundry starch
Work as above starting at 3
C. PVA Glue
A solution can be made from PVA glue and water, however this will dry clear and slightly shiny. Proceed as from point 3 on sugar starching.
© Copyright F H Powell 2010
All rights reserved. This pattern is for private use only and may not be reproduced in any form, or reproduced for commercial gain including selling any item knitted up from these patterns without written permission from Buttercup Miniatures. Reproducing or transmitting this pattern by any means for any purpose other than for personal use constitutes a violation of copyright law.