The design of this hat is inspired by Lavinia Grayshott, an impressionable young lady in the Georgette Heyer novel The Black Sheep. It is a sister-in-design to the Frances Wendover cowl pattern.

Like Frances, Lavinia has a love for the romantic and a tendency towards drama. She is a loyal friend and spends time out and about around Bath with Frances - she could wear a warm hat like this on carriage rides through the countryside.

The hat is worked in one piece, bottom up and in the round meaning that every row is worked from the right side. Every round is patterned and the intricate lace uses double decreases and twisted stitches to create blooming lotus flowers.

The pattern has both full charts and line by line written instructions. There are some unusual twisted decreases alongside the usual double and single decreases, yarnovers and stitches knit through the back loop. A simpler alternative to the twisted decreases is included in the instructions.

The sizing is adaptable and the hat can be made taller and slouchier as desired.

This hat is best knitted in a solid, tonal or gradient yarn to ensure that you can see the details of the textured lace.

It is designed to be knit in a yarn with a yardage of about 200m/220yards per 100 grams. This includes all of the Cascade 220 series as well as Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury and Classic 8 ply yarns.

Thanks to the wonderful test knitters of this pattern: Turtleback, Katisha, EleanorRigbyKnits, emmelav, ftmhling, Carriegoon, JStockert.