Crochet these from long thin scraps of cotton or jersey - old bedspreads, sheets, duvet covers are ideal.
| Jo models my "allotment" hat.. | |
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If you are new to crocheting, there are some excellent explanations & tutorials online at Craftown
You will need a no. 5 crochet hook & about 36 strips of rag cut 1cm (or less) thick and as long as possible - 2m is ideal! (A rotary cutter makes this a lot easier, but real cotton will tear easily along the grain.)
Cast on and hook 7 chain; join to make a circle. Chain 3 then work as many double crochet + 1 chain as will fit flat round the circle, usually 6 or 7. Join with 1 slipstitch, chain 3 and continue working double crochet + 1 chain, one in the first hole then two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth etc. round the rim. It should start to curve up a bit as you go. Join up with a slipstitch, 3 chain and off you go round again, but you won't need to add as many stitches this time. A lot depends on your fabric; you will need to adjust the number of stitches to get the right degree of curvature but I usually end up working two stitches about every third hole - some rounds you won't need any extra. Using double crochet all the way, work about 9 rows, checking periodically on the head for fit, then work half a row with no extra stitches, and the other half doubling every time. This is the start of the brim at the front. Join this row with a slipstitch, chain 3 and working on the bit that was single last time, double up all the way round that. When you reach the ones that were doubles last time round, drop to single, though you may want to add a double every now & then to make the brim "frill". Join up, tie off & work the end back in, & there you have a hat!
You might want to stick a piece of elastic in to hold it on firmly, but as it is quite heavy it tends to stay put in all but the stiffest breeze.
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