Vintage Ladies Hood

A Vintage Ladies Hood

Once upon a time on Ravelry a group dedicated to vintage knitting and crocheting hosted a Knit-along, or "KAL". The project was a design by Mrs. Jane Weaver from Peterson's Magazine...hailing all the way back to 1871. There was discussion on the group's forum on interpreting the instructions. I gave it a try, too (see below).

My yarn choices were a delicious white Leicester longwool from Wool out of Wales, used for the finer bands that break up the hood and the tassels. For the larger sections of fabric I selected a squishy-soft Cormo wool, also in natural ivory. The finer bands will have gold beads knit into them. For contrast I'm including a lustrous Coopworth in deep mulberry. 

Here are the instructions as I will attempt to carry them out:

Cast on 27 with A (heavy weight yarn and larger needles), knit 45 rows.

With B (lighter yarn, smaller needles) knit 8 rows.

With A, knit 45 rows.

With B, add 5 stitches to the first two rows, 37 stitches. Continue for 8 rows total.

With A, knit 45 rows.

With B, repeat the increase section of the last lighter weight band, 47 stitches.

With A, knit 45 rows.

With B, decrease 5 stitches in the first two rows, knit 8 rows total, 37 stitches.

With A, knit 45 rows.

With B, repeat the decrease section of the last lighter weight band, 27 stitches.

With A, knit 45 rows

With B, knit 8 rows

With A, knit 45 rows, bind off. Weave in all ends.

Finish by gathering the ends and tying a tassel to each.

I also found a terrific bead shop in Manhattan with a gigantic selection and reasonable prices called Beads World.

My finished Fanchon Hood at Rhinebeck’s Sheep and Wool Festival: