Whether it’s a casual coffee date or dining out, the new year provides opportunities to wear a warm hat. I took a break over the holidays, but now I’m recharged and inspired to learn more and create hats with a fresh outlook. Lucky me, I received a ball of cornflower alpaca wool from a friend. …
Author Archives: tracyj
Happy Holidays!
Q: Why did the egg wear such a fancy hat? A: She was going to an Eggstravagansa and wanted to look eggsquisite. May your holidays be full of warmth and cheer!
At the Craft Market
Coco and I have met so many people at holiday craft markets. We love the moments when we fit someone with a hat that suits them so perfectly that it feels like it was made for them. We enjoy meeting not only new people, but also the loyal customers who return year after year to …
Alike Yet Different
After crocheting many, many hats, I have become adept at changing the size, look and feel of a hat made from the same basic pattern. When I find a style that I like, I think about variations along a similar theme. For instance, to make a child’s or baby’s version, I experiment by adjusting the …
Holiday Craft Markets
“Hats by Tracy J” will be participating in a number of craft markets this holiday season. Please come by and see what I have been crocheting and sewing, from the classic to the contemporary. I would be delighted to help you pick something to top off your personal style. Holiday Markets Made in the 604 …
Hats with Pompoms
Pompoms today make a fashion statement, but they have a long history of being more than decorative. Over the centuries, they have been used to distinguish regiment, rank, and role in military, naval and clerical settings. French sailors added them to their hats to prevent them from knocking their heads on low ceilings in rough …
Fall Denim and Corduroy
Blue jeans are staples of most fall wardrobes, but cords might be another of your go-to choices. Denim and corduroy are also great fabrics for hats. Both are durable and primarily made from cotton, but differ in their look and hand feel. The manufacturing processes of denim and corduroy gives each its classic look. The …
Chapeau Rouge
When my friend, Yvonne, and I were travelling in Dijon, France, we visited a hat shop named Chapellerie Bruyas. The shop has the look of an old-fashioned boutique with its wood-framed windows and doors. The window displays entice the passerby with a collection of stylish and well-crafted hats for women and men. We were welcomed at …
Jewel Tones
It is time to swap out warm whites and pastels for rich hues like emerald, sapphire, ruby and amethyst. Saturated colours can add drama to our homes and wardrobes. Be bold with upholstery or a dress in a jewel tone. Or accent your outfit with a pop of colour in a hat, scarf, gloves, shoes …
From One Hat to Another
One summer I came upon a multitude of damselflies with metallic blue bodies and elaborately veined transparent wings. They were mating in flight, the slender bodies of the male and female damselflies connecting together in a heart or wheel shape. It was fascinating to witness this ritual. So, it was no surprise that a gift …
Hats by Tracy J 