April is just breezing by, at least it is around here! I am excited to the flowers bloom and the green leaves to finally return to the trees, but I’m also just a little bit happy that the weather still seems to favor a handknit or two! Faire les Marches Cloche, our second quickies pattern for the month, is the perfect accessory for this time of year! This cloche is chic, regal and will really make your wardrobe pop.

The cloche is knit from the top down, in one piece, in the round. The folded construction of the brim provides an extra layer of structure that supports its shape. This pattern is designed by Janice Allen in our Rios base, in Jacaranda.  Janice Allen is the founder of Ellevate Designs, a knitwear design company based in Calgary, Canada. She enjoys creating sophisticated designs with a side of fun. Janice has collaborated with several independent yarn dyers and has designed patterns for Knit Picks and Taproot Magazine.

Janice provided us with some additional information about her lovely pattern.

1: What is your favorite part of your Quickies design and why?

My favorite part of this design is the angled brim. I love the fluted shape of this hat and the mellow, joyful vibe it cultivates. It was also super fun to design and knit!

2: What should knitters pay attention to when working this pattern? Do you have any tips pr tricks that will make knitting this pattern easier?

For the most part this a relaxing knit, perfect for a quiet evening or for winding down on the weekend. The one perhaps tricky part is constructing the rose detailing. I recommend paying particular attention to the 3-step sketched instructions, which walk you through how I laid out my rose in the sample. You’re of course welcome to create any variation of this detail that works for you, but if you’d like it to look like the sample, these instructions will walk you through it.

3: What do you think knitters will enjoy the most about this project?

This is a design I think you’ll really love to wear. The shape and detailing make this a three-season accessory; it’s not just for cooler weather! In terms of creating your cloche, I think knitters will especially enjoy adding the I-cord detailing and seeing how this step accentuates the hat’s shape and adds a touch of whimsy.

4: What does your design process look like?

Ooh, good question! I usually start with daydreaming, to be honest! If I can find a quiet moment, I let my mind wander, cast a wide net, and see where creativity takes me. From there I often sketch my ideas to get a clearer sense of how the components will come together in 3D. Next, I move into a stage I call ‘playing with yarn, experimenting with fiber types and stitch techniques to see how these can dovetail with the structure of the design. These first three steps sometimes switch order if I’m drawn to a particular yarn initially. Swatching happens naturally as part of the yarn experimentation step. Finally, I write a rough draft of my pattern while knitting my sample, making any adjustments that shake out in the process of moving from swatch size to the full-sized item. Of course, it’s not always so linear of a process, and often there’s a bit of iteration to land on final design that I love.

5: Was there any particular inspiration you had when creating this piece?

Inspiration for this design was all about shape. I love the fluid lines of a cloche hat, and I wanted to experiment with the smoothly changing angles in this design. As I started to work with these shapes, I thought about where I’d wear this hat, and the ‘faire les marches’ (to do the shopping or run the errands) connection was made!

6: What is the one thing you wish people knew about you as a designer?

I love to teach and I’m very collaborative. I really enjoy partnering with other designers, yarn suppliers, and indie dyers, sharing their work shining a light on the partners I work with. I also love talking about my design process, sharing what I’m learning, and teaching different aspects of designing.

You can find the pattern here on Ravelry: 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/faire-les-marches-cloche

To check out more of Janice’s designs, be sure to look for her on

Instagram @ellevate_designs

Website: ellevatedesigns.ca