I was delighted to be shown a collection of buttons that were handcrafted many years ago. A box full of wooden buttons came off a shelf at the home of Babs’ daughter. It was clear that thought for the raw natural materials had gone into the design and construction of each flat button and toggle. …
Author Archives: tracyj
Vee Beanie Variations
The Vee Beanie, a Made Simply be Erin design, has a repeating “V”-shaped stitch in the crown. The cuff has a tab with a mock button closure. Initially, I followed the original pattern instructions down to the stitch count and number of rows. Crocheted in a crimson blend of merino wool, alpaca and silk, this …
Finding Inspiration
Keeping your eyes open is a way to find and gather inspiration for creative projects. It can be as simple as going for a walk and being observant of your surroundings. Take note of what catches your attention and what details your eye is drawn to. Nature and photography kickstart my creative process in hat …
Elfin Hats
The elfin hat with its conical top is whimsical and playful. It may make you smile, conjuring up visions of ancient mythical creatures or Santa’s toy making helpers. Crocheted in a simple repeating pattern, this merino wool hat is trimmed with a feminine fan lace border. Not for everyone, but certainly babies, toddlers, and kids …
Herringbone Design
The herringbone half double crochet stitch creates an interlocking V-shape or zigzag pattern in the featured beanie. The herringbone design dates back to the Roman Empire when road paver bricks were aligned to distribute load and compression. More recently, both herringbone and chevron were common geometric forms in the Art Deco movement. The difference is …
Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair
If you missed the Point Grey Village Pop-Up Shop, here’s another chance to view and try on hats that I have been busy crocheting and sewing. ‘Tis the season to accessorize with a hat and keep warm at the same time. The Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair is coming up on Saturday, November 26th, 2022 (10 …
Is Orange the New Black?
Orange might be declared the new black in the run-up to Halloween. I think orange is a great colour to accessorize a black outfit. An orange hat is especially fitting in the fall. I was just on the search for stretch knit fabric to sew more beanies and headbands. I picked five colours and, at …
Point Grey Village Pop-Up
The second annual Point Grey Village Pop-Up Shop is taking place on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, 10AM-4PM, at The Brush & Wand Studio (4333 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC). Please come check out the designs and work of local artisans and do some early holiday shopping. Here is a sample of the vendors who will …
Back by Popular Demand
The charmed cloche was the first crocheted hat that I made for craft market sales. I found the design by Maria Bittner on the Ravelry website, a comprehensive database of patterns and yarns for those who knit and crochet. Back in 2018, I made the charmed cloche in many colours of merino for women, children …
Fall Harvest
I was inspired by the colours of the fall harvest for my latest hat creations. The wide-waled cotton corduroy that I sourced reminds me of kale, aubergine, and sweet potato. Six velvet-like ridges, or parallel “cords”, per inch and a final wash in the manufacturing process give this corduroy a vintage look and feel. A …
Hats by Tracy J 