3. The Minimalist Brioche Slouch Cloche
Drawing inspiration from 1920s cloche millinery, this modern knit version replaces rigid felt with two-color or single-color syncopated brioche ribs.
- What This Idea Means: A bell-shaped, gently downward-sloping silhouette that hugs the back of the head while framing the jawline softly. The brioche stitch provides double-thick insulation and vertical flow.
- How to Make It: Start from the bottom edge on circular needles, casting on with a stretchy German Twisted cast-on. Work in two-color brioche stitch ($brk$ and $brp$), establishing rhythmic vertical columns. Shape gentle crown decreases slowly over several inches to preserve the elongated bell silhouette without abrupt pinching.
- Tips & Variations:
- Pair contrasting neutrals like slate grey and cream, or rich camel and espresso.
- Introduce subtle brioche cable twists near the brim for added depth.
- Add a thin elastic thread along the final rows of the lower brim edge to maintain long-term recovery.
