The Auto Priscilla Hood is an elaborate 1912 cold-weather hood designed with a shaped crown, contrasting front section, star-stitch turnover and ribbon ties. Its construction reflects the era of open automobile travel, when warm head coverings were practical necessities.
Materials
- Solid-color wool for the crown
- Contrasting wool for the front
- 3 yards of approximately 3 1/2-inch satin ribbon for ties
- Fine crochet hook; the original suggests approximately No. 11 or 13
The surviving scan obscures part of the first yarn quantity, so Crochet Board does not guess it. The front-color quantity is described as nearly 2 ounces.
Crown
With the crown color, chain 9 and work 3 stars. Work around the foundation, widening 3 stars at the end, placing one opposite each of the 3 on the other side, then 5 across the end. Continue around, increasing as needed until the work is about 7 inches across at its narrowest measurement.
Work 5 rows of single crochet, increasing as needed to keep the work flat. Work 2 rows of star stitch. Then work 2 more rows of single crochet without increasing, followed by 1 row double crochet, 1 row single crochet and 1 row double crochet.
Decrease the Crown
Decrease row 1: Single crochet, taking every 8th and 9th stitches together.
Decrease row 2: Double crochet, taking 2 stitches together over every decrease of the previous row.
Decrease row 3: Work 9 single crochet, miss 3 stitches; repeat around.
Decrease row 4: Work 15 stitches, miss 3; repeat around. Fasten off.
Work several short rows to make the front deeper than the back. Mark the exact front and back. Begin about one-third of the way past the middle of the back and work single crochet toward the corresponding point. Subsequent short rows begin closer to the front. Decrease at the established front decrease lines until the half-width is about 11 to 11 1/2 inches, or the size needed.
Front of Hood
With the contrasting wool, make a loose chain that closes into a circle the same size as the crown opening. Mark the exact halfway point. Work single crochet around, increasing 1 stitch at the marked front point. Work 5 more rows in this manner, keeping the increase near the center front.
Front Shaping
Row 1: Slip stitch over about 8 stitches, chain 2 loosely and work double crochet over the next 10 stitches. Continue in single crochet until 18 stitches remain before the center-back mark, then work 10 double crochet to match the beginning. Turn.
Row 2: Chain 2. Work the first 3 stitches together as 1 stitch; work 15 double crochet, continue in single crochet until 18 stitches remain, then work 15 double crochet and take the last 3 stitches together.
Row 3: Take the first 3 stitches together; work 20 double crochet, 3 single crochet and slip stitch. Fasten off and work the other side to match.
Rows 4–7: Continue the historical shaping, progressively lengthening the double-crochet sections while taking 3 stitches together at the outer edges. On the final shaping row, work 25 double crochet on each side with single crochet across the central section.
Star-Stitch Turnover & Assembly
Work evenly in star stitch across the completed front edge, allowing about 5 stitches to each star. On the return row, work 2 single crochet over each star. Repeat until there are 9 star-stitch rows, each separated by a single-crochet return row.
Match the center marks of the crown and front, keeping them even at the back and placing any extra fullness toward the upper front. Crochet the pieces together on the wrong side.
Finish with a small flat scallop of 3 double crochet with single crochet between scallops. Arrange the ribbon along the back and form the side ties as described in the original model.
Crochet Board Editorial Note
This is one of the more advanced patterns in the book. The original instructions expect the maker to shape by measurement and visual fit rather than by rigid stitch counts. Use the 1912 scan as a visual companion while working the crown and front shaping.
Vintage Source
Publication: Priscilla Wool Crochet Book
Editor: edited by Lola Burks Hettich
Publisher: The Priscilla Publishing Company, Boston
Year: 1912
Original printed page: 13 (scan pages 16–17)
Rights: Public-domain historical work; Library of Congress states that books in this collection are public domain and free to use and reuse.