Jocasta MacKenzie is sister to Dougal and Column, aunt to Jamie,in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. She is, as

are all of the MacKensie’s “clever as a fox,” a dignified and wealthy woman distin-guished by her bright blue eyes and, sadly for one who was once an artist, blind.

The Sotch Bonnet shape dates from the 1600s when knitters were making soft woolen capsand then felting them down for a denser, quite weatherproof, fabric. A happy by-product of this denser fabric is the ability to shape the fabric, first by the underlying knitting and then during the drying process. Once shaped, a Scotch Bonnet will hold that shape indefinitely, even if dampened down considerably by weather.

Today you are most likely to see 19th and 20th century versions popularized by the HIghland regiments, complete with regimental or clan badges, rosettes, and ribbons. A terrific example of a man's balmoral, complete with instructions for adding the trim and ribbons was created by Anne Carroll Gimore for Piecework Magazine (Jan/Feb 2011) and offered for sale on Ravelry's website. In fact, this pattern is based on her work, but reworked for Bree's Blue in Icelandic and Angora which is a dk worsted weight yarn, and resized, to make the hat smaller and more flattering to a woman's head. You'd be well advised though to spend the money and buy her pattern so you can add the ties (which allow you to adjust for a custom size) and the ribbons (which are very swish).

A more detailed version of this pattern is on WoolandFeathers.com

Jocasta MacKenzie’sScotch Bonnet

materials:

1 skein (4oz) worsted weight wool, the sample bonnet is knit from The Farm’s20% angora/80% icelandic blend

A couple yards of contrasting colors (2)If you have two skeins of the 20/80 blendyou can make a pair of mittens and there is enough left over for a cc on the hat. There are also enough materials to do 3 rows inthe hat color on the mitten cuff, if you like the look of a “set.”

sz 10.5 single and double point needles,darning needle, hot water, soap, bathtub

gauge: 4st/inch, thereabouts.

Cast On 102 on straight needles.

K 3 rows (garter stitch) This is going to keep the cast on stitches from felting too tightly relative to the rest of the bonnet and, as an added benefit, will leave you with a tiny notch in the back of the hat, so you can put your hat on right even in the dark. Something Jocasta would have appreciated.

Knit the next row onto you double pointed (or circular) needles increasing 2 stitches at the end of the round (104 stitches). Mark your beginning and, if you'd like to make "dice" attach your first contrasting color.

(K2 MC, K2 CC) around for 3 rows.Add your second CC and (K2 CC, K2 MC) around for 3 rowsCut your second CC and (K2 MC, K2 CC around for 3 rows.

Shift one stitch from your last needle to your first, and mark where the back of your work is. In MC:K5, (K2, K2 together) until 5 stitches from end, K5Knit one roundThe distinctive shaping of the hat comes from Anne's work, and if you're confused you should definitely buy the pattern. Goto Raverly.com, the pattern tab, and search for “Classic Highlander's Balmoral Bonnet”

On the next round K2 then (K1 inc 1 (Anne does this by knitting into the front and back of each stitch, I do it with a yarn over and then knitting into the back of the loop on the next row) 35x. then (K1 Inc 1, K1 inc 1, K1) 5x, then K5 to end the round: 135 stitches.

Knit around 17 rows, roughly 3.25 inches from the increase row.

Anne offsets her decrease rows and I've followed her lead, but changed her directions to tighten down on the size of the bonnet. So we're going to:(K13, K2 together) around, then knit 3 rounds.then K6 K2 tog through the back loops (K12, K2 together ttbl) around, end with K6, then knit 2 rounds(K11, K2 tog) around, K 2 roundsK5, K2 tog ttbl (K10, K2 tog ttbl) around end K 5, then knit 2 rounds.(K9, K2 tog) around, then knit 2 roundsK4 K2tog ttbl (K8, K2 tog ttbl) end K4, then knit 2 rounds(K7 K2 tog) around, then knit 1 roundcontinue in this alternating pattern, knitting one round between each decrease, until you reach (K1, K2 tog). Complete that row then K2 tog ttbl around, and, on the next row, K2 tog around. Cut your yarn with a generous length and darn around the top of the cap.

Pattern & History

The Farm at Morrison Corner

c. 1770

www.WoolandFeathers.com

OutlanderAdventures.com

Bonnie Scotch Bonnet

Jocasta MacKenzie’s

You can felt this in your washing machine, but where's the 18th century fun in that? Fill a bucket with very hot water, enough to submerge your hat and then some. Plunge your hat into the hot water, and then soap it up nicely. The water will turn blue. Squeeze the soap through the fabric, and don't be gentle about it, there's no need. Now, rinse out your hat under cold water. Give it a good solid rinse in cold then dump your bucket and fill it with fresh hot water. Plunge your hat back into the hot water, soap it up, squeeze it around a bit, and then rinse it clean again in the cold water. You will feel the fabric start to tighten up from the shock of it all. After 4 trips from hot to cold lay your hat out and get a feel for how much it has shrunk down. Likely it isn't small enough. Get it hot again, and good and soapy, and good and wet. A bathtub or enclosed shower is the best place to finish the felting... now throw your hat down with some force. Pick it up and do it again. Do it 25-40 times, then rinse it clean again in cold water. Try your hat on. If it slips down over your eyes do it again, until it fits nicely. Shape, and dry over a bowl or pot.