The Mandarin Hat

Another smart knitted hat from Trove, published in The Sunday Mail, 12 May,1935. It is knitted in the round with sport-weight yarn on smaller needles than you might normally use, which creates a thick fabric. The narrow brim is wired to give it a perky edge.

The edited pattern follows: 

THE MANDARIN HAT

The Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. Australia), 12 May 1935.

This smart little mandarin hat is quite simple to make and is cleverly wired to give a special tilt and becoming suggestion of a brim. The ribbed edge makes the hat fit snugly and grip well. Two ounces of 4 ply wool (sport weight), a set of 4 No. 11 (US2 or 3, 3.0mm) knitting needles, pointed at both ends,and one yard of thick round hat wire are required for the making.

Measurements: Depth from top of centre of crown to edge of band 10-1/2 inches: size round head 16 inches, stretching to fit.

Tension: 7 stitches to 1 inch in width, and 11 rows to 1 inch in depth.

Abbrev.: K, knit; p, purl- sts., stitches; st-st. stocking stitch: tog., together: rep., repeat; dec, decrease or decreasing. Always work into the back of all cast-on stitches to produce firm edges. Begin at the outer edge of crown.

Cast on 132 sts., on three needles (44 on each of 3), then work round with 4th needle as follows:— 1st and 2nd, rounds— *K, 2, p. 2. rep. from* all, round; 3rd and 4th rounds— *p. 2, k. 2, rep. from * all round. Rep. these 4 rows twice more (12 rounds in all).Now k. 12 plain rounds, then rep. the first4 the shaping for the top. 1st round — K. every 10^th and 11th sts. tog. (120). 2nd and every alternate round— K. without dec. 3rd round.— K. every 9^th and 10th sts. tog. (108).5th round.— K. every 6th and 9th st-sts.tog. (96).7th round— K. every 7th and 8th sts tog- (84). 9th round.— K. every 6th and 7th sts.tog. (72). 11th round.— K every 5th and 6th sts. tog. (60). 13th round.— K. every 4th and 5th sts. tog. (48). 15th round.— K. every 3rd and 4th sts. tog. (36).K- 5 rounds without dec. 21st round.— K. every 2nd and 3rd sts. tog. (24). K. 5 rounds without dec 27th round.— K. 2 tog. all round(12) K. 5 rounds without dec. 33rd round.— K. 2 tog. all round (6). 34th round.— K. 6 Cut wool,leaving a short length, thread into a wool needle,then slip through the remaining ,draw up and darn in end. For the band, begin at the outer edge to fit round the outer edge of the crown. Cast on 132 sts. (44 on each of 3 needles) and work round with the of 3 needles)

and work round with the 4th needle as follows:— Work the first 12 rounds in pattern as on the crown. Then k. every round in plain, but shape as follows: — 13th round.— K. every10th and 11th sts. tog. (120).K. 11 rounds without dec. 25th round.— K every 9th and 10th sts. tog. (108). K 9 rounds without dec. 35th round. — K 2, k. 2 tog. * K. 15,k. 2 tog. Rep. from *. finishing k. 2 tog., k. 2 tog. -100 sts.). Now work 9 inch in k. 2, p. 2 rib,then cast off in the rib. but not tightly. Press work on wrong side with a warm iron and damp cloth. Sew outer edge of band to outer edge of crown on wrong side:press seam. Now join the wire in a circle measuring 9 inches in diameter, then slip wire into crown when it meets the band. Join the wire together by binding with strong thread.