Purple Crochet Beanie Pattern

The notion of the "slouch hat" comes from the brimmed hats of military uniforms worn by many nations for over one hundred years. "Slouch" comes from one side of the brim drooping down on these hats. It's also known as the "Australian bush hat" and it's very recognizable as the hat Theodore Roosevelt wore when he was part of the "Rough Riders" during the Spanish-American War. 

While the hats that we consider "slouchy" today don't usually have a brim and aren't associated with the military, the history behind it is interesting. The "slouch" hats or beanies we see today have a droop in the back where the beanie flops down because the pointy end doesn't fit the roundness of the back of the head. These hats are worn by many, but are typically associated with today's "hipster" culture. "Hipsters" could be seen as the movement against mainstream culture, a war of sorts. 

The two ideas of "slouch hats" have some relation to each other because they both identify their wearers: military person or hipster. Share your new knowledge the next time you see someone wearing a slouch hat or beanie. Better yet, if you crochet one, you can tell people about your insight into the slouch hat trend.