The Brownie Hood is a shaped child’s hood from the 1912 Priscilla Wool Crochet Book. It alternates star-stitch rows with double crochet, then adds a separate rever and a three-row frill in cream and pink.
Materials & Original Size
- 4 skeins white four-fold zephyr
- 1 skein pink four-fold zephyr
- Ribbon for ties
- About 10 yards baby ribbon for rosettes and for threading through the double-crochet rows
The source states that the hood will fit a child approximately 6 to 10 years old depending on head size.
First Side
Chain 59 and work 28 stars. Chain 3, turn and, taking the back stitch of each star, work a row of double crochet. Continue until 6 rows of alternating stars and double crochet have been completed.
Row 7: 27 stars, widen 1, then 1 star.
Row 8: Double crochet without widening.
Row 9: Stars without widening.
Row 10: Double crochet without widening.
Row 11: 28 stars, widen 1, then 1 star.
Row 12: Double crochet without widening.
Row 13: Widen at beginning by 1 star, work 29 stars, widen 1, then 1 star.
Row 14: Double crochet without widening.
Row 15: Star stitch, widening at the beginning and before the final star.
Row 16: Double crochet without widening.
Row 17: Work stars to the end, leaving off the last 3 stars; fasten off.
Row 18: Leave off 3 stars, join yarn and work double crochet to the end.
Row 19: Widen at the beginning and leave off the equivalent of 3 stars (6 double crochet).
Row 20: Leave off 4 stars and work double crochet to the end.
Row 21: Work 16 stars.
Row 22: Skip 8 stars and work double crochet over the remaining 8.
Row 23: Widen 1 star and make 3 stars.
Second Side
Work a matching second side from another chain of 59, reversing the shaping so the top edge mirrors the first side. The original source provides the reversed sequence explicitly; compare both pieces frequently so the shaping matches.
Assembly & Rever
Whip the top edges of the hood together and stitch the back seam.
For the rever, chain 91 and work 44 stars. Chain 3 and turn. Work Row 2 in double crochet, Row 3 in stars, Row 4 in double crochet and Row 5 in stars.
Frill & Finishing
Around one side and both ends of the rever, and around the outside edge of the hood, work a three-row frill.
Frill Row 1: With pink, work shells of 2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet in the same stitch, skipping 2 stars between shells and working chain 1 between shells.
Frill Row 2: With cream, work 5 double crochet in each shell with chain 1 between each double crochet; catch down between shells with single crochet.
Frill Row 3: With pink, chain 3 and fasten with single crochet between each double crochet at the top of the shell; between shells, fasten with single crochet without an intervening chain.
Thread baby ribbon through the double-crochet rows in both hood and rever and finish with ribbon rosettes.
Crochet Board Editorial Note
This pattern relies on the star-stitch method explained earlier in the same book. Historical child sizing is not standardized, so measure the intended wearer and treat the stated age range only as historical guidance. Long ties and decorative ribbons should also be evaluated for modern child-safety needs.
Vintage Source
Publication: Priscilla Wool Crochet Book
Editor: Lola Burks Hettich
Publisher: The Priscilla Publishing Company, Boston
Year: 1912
Original printed page: 26 (scan pages 29–30)
Rights: Public-domain historical work. The Library of Congress states that books in this collection are in the public domain and are free to use and reuse.