The Ruth Cloche is a crochet cloche with a gentle texture. This subtle crochet stitch pattern is perfect for highlighting a hand dyed yarn. It’s also a one skein project, which makes it perfect for making with that extra special yarn skein.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for the sample was generously provided by Dream in Color.
Several years ago, I designed a series of crochet patterns inspired by pioneering aviatrixes. The Ruth Cloche was inspired by Ruth Elder, who was also an actress with a flirty sense of style. (Apparently, being a pilot in the early days was an expensive endeavor; everyone had to have a side job to get access to planes.)
My friend, Carlota, was my model for these photos taken at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodome. I feel like we were able to capture the spirit of the 1920s, don’t you?
In order to create the structured feel of a cloche, you’ll need to work your stitches a bit tighter than usual. I did this using a smaller crochet hook to get a tighter gauge. Definitely, check your gauge on this project if you want it to fit correctly.
The Ruth Cloche was previous a premium (for sale) pattern on Ravelry, but I came across the sample this fall and fell in love with it again. I decided to make it a freebie pattern.
I hope you enjoy wearing it as much as I do!
If you make your own Ruth Cloche, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Ruth Cloche
Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
The inspiration behind this pattern is Ruth Elder, a pioneering aviatrix and actress. Ruth placed fifth in the first Women’s Air Derby in 1929 and was a charter member of the Ninety-Nines: International Organization for Women Pilots.
Ruth Elder was a fabulous dresser with a flirty sense of style. This cloche is based on one she wore. The gently textured stitch pattern showcases the hand dyed yarn. This timeless piece is also a great one-skein project.
Finished Size
- Adult: 20” (51 cm) circumference
Materials
- Dream in Color Classy yarn (100% superwash Merino, 4 oz/113 g, 250 yd/229 m) – 1 skein 180 Visual Purple, or approximately 230 yd (210 m) in any medium weight yarn.
- US H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
- Yarn needle.
- Stitch marker.
Gauge
- Through Rnd 9 in pattern = 4” (10 cm) diameter. For best results, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Marly Bird has a helpful video for identifying the back loop here.
- ch – chain
- ea – each
- FL – front loop only – Fiber Flux has a helpful video for identifying the front loop here.
- hdc – half double crochet
- invdec – invisible decrease – Insert hook in FL of ea of next 2 sts, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 3 loops. Planet June has a helpful invisible decrease tutorial here.
- rep – repeat
- Rnd(s) – Rounds()
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- * Rep instructions after asterisk as indicated.
- [] Rep instructions between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- This hat is crocheted in the round from the crown to the brim in spirals without joining. Move marker up each round.
- Oombawka Design has a helpful magic ring tutorial here.
Pattern Instructions
Hat
- Beginning at crown, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in ring, place marker in last st and move up ea rnd. Tighten ring to close. (8 sts)
- Rnd 2: 2 scBL in ea st around. (16 sts)
- Rnd 3: *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2 scBL in next st; rep from * around. (20 sts)
- Rnd 4: *2 scBL in next, scBL in next 4 sts; rep from * around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 3 sts; rep from * around. (30 sts)
- Rnd 6: *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2 scBL in next st, scBL in next st; rep from * around. (36 sts)
- Rnd 7: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 3 sts; rep from * around. (45 sts)
- Rnd 8: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 4 sts; rep from * around. (54 sts)
- Rnd 9: *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 2 sts; rep from * around. (63 sts)
- Rnd 10: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 6 sts; rep from * around. (72 sts)
- Rnd 11: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 8 sts; rep from * around. (80 sts)
- Rnd 12: *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2scBL in next st, scBL in next 4 sts; rep from * around. (90 sts)
- Rnd 13: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 8 sts; rep from * around. (100 sts)
- Rnd 14: ScBL in ea st around.
- Rnd 15: *[ScBL in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts] 3 times, scBL in next st, 2 scBL in next st; rep from * around. (105 sts)
- Rnd 16: *ScBL in next 20 sts, 2 scBL in next st; rep from * around. (110 sts)
- Rnd 17: Rep Rnd 14.
- Rnd 18: *Hdc in next 3 sts, scBL next 2 sts; rep from * around.
- Rnds 19-20: Rep Rnd 14 twice.
- Rep Rnds 18-20 until hat measures 7” (17.5 cm) from crown.
- Rnd 21: *Sc in both loops in next 20 sts, invdec; rep from * around. (105 sts)
- Rnd 22: Sc in both loops of each st around.
- Rnd 23: *ScFL in next 10 sts, 2 scFL in next st; rep from * around to last 6 sts, scFL in next 5 sts, 2 scFL in next st. (115 sts)
- Rnd 24: *ScBL in next 4 sts, 2 scBL in next st; rep from * around. (138 sts)
- Rnd 25: ScBL in each st around.
- Rnd 26: Rep Rnd 25. Sl stBL in next 2 sts, fasten off.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat. Optional: Spray block.
Fell in love with this design! Was wondering what would be a good alternative to the superwash merino. I am allergic to sheep wool and break out in hives all over arms and hands. Would Alpaca work? or something else.
Thanks for writing. I’m not sure that alpaca would work well as it has a tendency to stretch and you want something that would really hold its shape for this design. You could try acrylic.
Thank you for the pattern. I can’t wait to get started. I like purple, but yellow is my favorite. I plan to do three caps, purple, pink and yellow. Thank you again for the pattern.