Pride, Prejudice, and Proper Headwear

We just can't get enough of Jane Austen! As a special holiday gift, and as tribute to Jane herself, we're offering a free Regency-era-inspired hat pattern. Miss Jane’s Hat is knit in the style of a loose turban, popular in Jane Austen’s time, and could be considered the precursor to modern-day slouchy hats. Knitwear designer and author Joanna Johnson shares the historical background behind this hat design from an article in Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012. Enjoy this free pattern from PieceWork through January 5, 2026.

Jane on Hats, Caps, Bonnets, and Veils

In Regency-era England, it was proper for both married women and single women of advancing years to wear a cap indoors at all times. Jane Austen donned her cap at the young age of twenty-three and found that the practice saved her much time in tending to her hairstyling. In 1798, she wrote in a letter to her sister Cassandra, “I have made myself two or three caps to wear of evenings since I came home, and they save me a world of torment as to hair-dressing.”

Portrait of Jane Austen in typical Regency-era headwear, from the memoir by J. E. Austen-Leigh. From a watercolor by James Andrews of Maidenhead based on an unfinished work by Cassandra Austen. Engraving by William Home Lizars.

Women of all ages wouldn’t consider venturing out-of-doors without a proper hat or bonnet, the subject of which is also found in Jane’s letters. Current styles, prices, embellishments, and people-watching were common topics of her conversational pen. In a 1799 letter, she wrote, “Flowers are very much worn, & Fruit is still more the thing . . . Cherries & grapes about 5, I believe—but this is at some of the dearest shops;—My aunt has told me of a very cheap one near Walcot Church. . . .” As veils came into vogue, they were also speculated upon from Jane’s carriage travels: “I watched for veils as we drove through the streets, and had the pleasure of seeing several upon vulgar heads.”

Fondness for hats, trimmings, ribands (or ribbons), and window-shopping is a topic found throughout Jane’s novels. A memorable quote from Pride and Prejudice pertains to Lydia’s hat purchase just prior to meeting Elizabeth, following her visit to the Collinses: “Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better.” In Northanger Abbey, Isabella Thorpe says to Catherine Morland, “Do you know, I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine, in a shop-window in Milsom Street just now,—very like yours, only with coquelicot ribands instead of green?” And then, a bit more urgently, “I am dying to show you my hat.”

Inspired by Jane Austen, Lesile Petrovski created Miss Jane’s Hat in the style of Austen’s time.

Make your own Regency-era-inspired hat this holiday season with Miss Jane’s Hat. The pattern features an elegant cabled band and loose fit. Find the pattern free through January 5, 2026, in the PieceWork library.