There are many stunning printed fabrics from around the globe. In this post, I feature printed fabrics from the Finnish design house “Marimekko” and a homespun cotton printed with a traditional Japanese pattern from “Sevenberry”. When Marimekko fabrics caught my eye, I wanted to incorporate some of the large abstract prints into hats. At first, …
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Spring Fling
Thought I would shake up my routine. I’m passionate about making hats, but I felt it might be fun to crochet light weight cotton scarves for spring. Although I shape or “block” most of my finished crocheted hats, the diamond mesh work in this scarf really benefited from spray blocking. I laid the scarf on …
Flat Caps
What do comic strip character Andy Capp, the late professional golfer Payne Stewart, and 1998 Canadian Winter Olympic athletes have in common? All have been seen doffing and donning a flat cap. The flat cap is a round-shaped cap where the crown is pulled forward and attached to a stiff visor or bill with a …
Men in Hats
Men began wearing hats in earnest as a symbol of style and protection against the elements with the advent of organized sport. As early as 1807, a dress code was established at horse races and polo tournaments for attendees at the royal enclosure at the Royal Ascot in Britain. To this day, a black or …
Men’s Classic Beanie
I received a request for “a man’s black toque with a roll-up cuff”. This gave me latitude to try out a new technique. I took my lead from a design for a classic beanie by rich textures CROCHET. Rather than working top down or bottom up, the hat is constructed crocheting sideways. The finished panel …
Pretty in Pink
Is pink reserved for baby girls, Barbie dolls, Valentine’s Day and young women in romantic comedies from the 1980s? Not exclusively. A pink ribbon affixed with a pin has become the symbol for breast cancer, raising awareness for women battling the disease. Consider Pink Shirt Day. In Canada, the last Wednesday of February is recognized …
Scarlet Stockinette
I was lucky to be gifted many balls of yarn, knitting needles, patterns and supplies by Susan, a fellow crafter. A pattern for a cute hat simply knit in stockinette stitch caught my eye. As a novice knitter, I thought it would be a good first hat to knit with the super bulky merino wool and …
Handcrafted Buttons
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. …
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 …
Hats by Tracy J 