Knit your own Bella's Beads Cloche Hat using these clearly-written instructions by knitwear designers Jackie E-S and Laura Andersson for HeartStrings FiberArts and the Comfort Collection.

Bella's Beads Cloche is is a flapper style hat, inspired by the movie “Agatha” with Vanessa Redgrave. Women in the 20's and 30's wore these lovely cloche hats. Laura envisioned one with a beaded band ... which started us on the way to creating this hat design. A second inspiration was a biography of Bella Abzug, a politican who did a lot for women's issues. Bella was famous for always wearing a hat; hence Bella's Beads.

The design has a beaded roll brim followed by plain knitting, then a beaded band emphasized in purl stitches. Two versions for the crown are given - one with beaded purl circles (left), and the other with beaded garter spokes (right).

For the beaded areas, you will be manipulating two strands of yarn, one with and one without beads. This is a simple way to introduce the beads as needed into the knitting.

The Comfort Collection provides stylish comfort to those suffering cancer, as well as be fashionable for anyone. A design collaboration of Jackie E-S and Laura Andersson. Because of deeply felt personal losses when cancer struck members in both our families - - I lost my beloved husband Johnny, and for Laura it was the loss of her dear father.