Voyagers Toque

My husband and I are avid canoeists and he wanted an authentic toque such as the Canadian voyagers wore. After doing some research and obtaining a Tully's book (through OC interlibrary loan) containing the pattern I was able to knit him one. In the photos above he is wearing it in two different way. An adaptation of this pattern is what I used for all my hats. There are a lot of patterns for hats that are called toques but there is only one "real" toque.

The following is an excerpt from a website I found: Toques make excellent cool or cold weather caps. There are many styles and methods of wearing these hats, and we refer you to the Voyager’s Sketchbook by James A. Hanson for more references on ways to wear the toque and on other types of hats worn by the French. Two styles of toques are noted in journal accounts: the single and the double cap. A single toque resembles a simple modern stocking cap, while the double toque resembles a deflated football with one end stuffed into the other to form a double layer. Depending upon how deep you stuff one end into the other, it is possible to adjust the “drop” or “bag” of the double toque… The distinct fashion statement of the toque was the “bag” of the cap, which is the leftover portion that hangs from the head.



Some styles of wearing the toque, often shown in period sketches and paintings
A pattern for knitting this correct style of toque is available in Mark Tully’s “The Packet II” (M. Tully 2000 The Packet II – Being Another Collection of Patterns, Articles and Essays of Particular Interest to the 18th-Century Re-Enactor. Ballindalloch Press. Baraboo, WI).

Duluth Pack sells a toque that comes in several different colors. It is pictured below in red.