Free Vintage Crochet Tam-O-Shanter Hat Pattern - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet

This free vintage crochet Tam-O-Shanter hat pattern is from the Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet. The pattern has been updated to modern use with AI. You will find the original text from the book at the bottom of this page in italics. The book's how to crochet section is here: A Lesson In Crochet - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet.  The modern pattern is untested. I am adding these free vintage crochet patterns to my blog so they are in one place and easily searched.

Vintage Crochet Tam-O-Shanter Hat Free Pattern

Modern Pattern:

This vintage crochet pattern creates a stylish cap using two different yarns. You'll need one skein of worsted weight yarn (like a 4-ply) in electric blue and one ball of gray Angora yarn. Choose a crochet hook size that works well with your chosen yarns.

Crown of Cap:

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1: Work 7 double crochets (dc) into the ring.

Round 2: Work 2 dc in each dc around (14 dc total).

Round 3: Dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the following dc. Repeat from * around (21 dc total).

Round 4: Dc in the next 2 dc, 2 dc in the following dc. Repeat from * around (28 dc total).

Round 5: Dc in the next 3 dc, 2 dc in the following dc. Repeat from * around (35 dc total).

Continue increasing in this manner, adding one more dc between the increases in each round, until you have 30 dc between the increases (or more if you want a larger crown).

Brim:

Round 33: Dc in the next 7 dc, skip 1 stitch. Repeat from * around.

Round 34: Dc in the next 6 dc, skip 1 stitch. Repeat from * around.

Round 35: Dc in the next 2 dc, skip 1 stitch. Repeat from * around.

Rounds 36-45: Dc in each stitch around.

Rounds 46-47: Using the gray Angora yarn, dc in each stitch around. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Button Cover:

Using the blue yarn, chain 3, turn.

Round 1: In the second chain from the hook, work 8 dc.

Round 2: Work 2 dc in each dc around.

Round 3: Dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the following dc. Repeat from * around.

Continue working in rounds, increasing as needed to keep the circle flat, until it's large enough to cover your button mold (approximately 6 rounds).

Next Round: Dc in each stitch around without increasing.

Place the button mold inside the cover. Skip 1 stitch, dc in the next stitch. Repeat from * around to close the cover.

Cord:

The pattern suggests a few options for the cord: a double chain (chain stitch with dc worked into it), a regular chain, or a knotted cord using the "fool's delight" method. This method is described below.

Fool's Delight Cord:

Cut a length of Angora yarn six times longer than your desired cord length (it's better to have too much than too little). Make a slip knot at one end. Pass the other end of the yarn through the slip knot to create a loop. Tie the two ends of the yarn together.

Hold the knot between your thumb and forefinger of one hand (e.g., your right hand). The yarn that pulls through the half knot should be under this hand. Hold the loop on your right forefinger. Hold the non-pulling yarn (the other end) in your left hand.

Pass your left forefinger through the loop on your right forefinger from front to back. Catch the non-pulling yarn with your left forefinger and draw it through the loop. Transfer the knot to your left thumb and forefinger, keeping the loop on your forefinger. Pull the working yarn to tighten.

Now, the loop, working yarn, and knot are in your left hand. Pass your right forefinger through the loop on your left forefinger, catch the non-pulling yarn, and draw it through to create a new loop on your right forefinger. Transfer the knot to your right hand and pull the working yarn to tighten.

Repeat this process, alternating hands, to create the cord.

Finishing:

Sew the cord around the edge of the covered button and around the top of the cap. Sew the button to the cap. Weave in all loose ends.

Original Text:

For the model were used one skein of electric-blue knitting-worsted and a ball of gray Angora wool, with a hook large enough to carry the yarn easily.

Make a chain of 3 stitches, join.

1. Seven doubles in ring.

2. Two doubles in each double, taking both veins of stitch.

3. A double in double, 2 in next; repeat.

4. A double in each of 2 doubles, 2 in next; repeat.

5. A double in each of 3 doubles, 2 in next; repeat.

Continue in this way, adding 1 double between widenings each row, until you have 30 doubles in each section—between widenings—or more, if a larger crown is desired.

33. A double in each of 7 doubles, miss 1; repeat.

34. A double in each of 6 doubles, miss 1; repeat.

35. A double in each of 2 doubles, miss 1; repeat.

36 to 45. A double in each stitch.

46, 47. With gray Angora wool, make a double in each stitch and fasten off the last row neatly.

Cover a large, flat button-mold with the blue wool: Make a chain of 3 stitches, turn, and in 2d stitch of chain make 8 doubles; make 2 doubles in each of 8 doubles, working in both veins of stitch; then make 1 double in 1st stitch, 2 in next, and repeat. Continue to work around and around, widening to keep the work flat, until you have a circle which will cover the button-mold, say 6 rounds; then work once around without widening, slip in the mold, * miss 1, a double in next, and repeat until the cover is closed.

For the edge of the button and the cord around top of band either the double chain may be made, an ordinary chain filled with double crochet, or—better still—the cord may be knotted by what is called the "fool's delight" method—which seems a very sensible method, indeed: Take a length of the Angora wool six times as long as the cord is wanted to be; indeed, it will be better to start with a longer piece, for fear it may "take up" more rapidly than anticipated. Make a slip or half knot at one end of the yarn, pass the other end down through this to form a loop, then tie the ends of the yarn together. Hold this knot between thumb and forefinger of one hand (say the right), with the yarn which pulls through the half knot under the same hand, and the loop which was formed held on the forefinger, holding the yarn which does not pull in the left hand; pass the forefinger of left hand through the loop on right forefinger from front to back, catch up and draw through the non-pulling or left-hand thread—exactly as you would make a chain-stitch in crochet—transfer the knot which ties the two ends together to thumb and forefinger of left hand, keeping the loop over forefinger, and draw up the pulling yarn, or that passed originally through the half knot. Now the position of the loop, pulling yarn and knot is exactly the same in the left hand as formerly in the right. Continue by passing forefinger of right hand through the loop on left forefinger, catching up the non-pulling thread and drawing it through to form the new loop (on right forefinger again), transfer the knot from left hand to right, and pull up, repeating the process from beginning. This is really a sort of double chain, and when one has learned to make it evenly and well—as may be done with a little practise—it will be found superior for bags, lingerie, and many other articles requiring a drawstring or a cord.

Sew this cord evenly around button and top of band, and the cap is completed.

Happy Hooking!

 

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This free vintage crochet pattern is from Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet by Anonymous. It is available for download on Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26113 . The wording has been updated for modern readers with the assistance of Google Gemini 2.0 Flash.