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 …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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 …
Autumn Equinox
On September 22nd, 2022 at 6:03 pm, the autumn equinox will usher in the beginning of fall in the northern hemisphere. We can look forward to the bounty of harvests, vibrant leaf colours, shorter days, and crisp air. How will you welcome fall? If you like to get outside in nature, stay cozy and warm …
Fibrations Festival 2022
With more than 70 vendors, the Fibrations Festival extended from the lawn outside Fernwood Community Centre to its gymnasium. “Hats by Tracy J” was indoors, alongside a dozen fibre artists. We had a steady flow of shoppers, especially in the morning. Many shoppers were strategic. They would begin with a preliminary circle of the entire …
Calling all Fibre Lovers!
Hats by Tracy J will be participating at the 2022 Fibrations Festival in Victoria, British Columbia on Sunday, August 21st, 10 am to 5 pm. Please come by Table #4 in the gymnasium at Fernwood Community Centre to say hello and try on a hat or two! This annual free event will be held both …
Cotton Textile
Cotton textile comes from the fluffy cream-coloured fibres of the cotton boll. The fibres that wrap around the seeds of the boll are separated in the mechanical process of ginning and cleaned before being carded and combed. Aligned and straightened fibres are then spun into cotton yarn that can be woven or knitted into fabric. …
More Bucket Hats
The weekend newspaper featured a crochet bucket, one of “Fab Five” summer hats presented by Rebecca Tay. The powdery pastel rainbow colours remind me of fun childhood chalk and sidewalk hopscotch. I created a similar hat in a warm beige tweedy blend of merino wool, cashmere, and silk. Different but similar. The Rolled Brim Bucket …
the World of nature according to Noro
“Many, many years ago, Eisaku Noro took a leap of faith. Trusting his experience and knowledge, his instincts and determination, he envisioned creating a yarn like no other. So many exuberant entrepreneurial moments like this end without success, but not this one. We can only imagine how hard Mr. Noro worked to market a yarn …
Dunbar Salmonberry Craft Fair
The inaugural Dunbar Salmonberry Craft Fair is taking place on Saturday, May 28, 2022, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM at Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, B.C. Please come by my table, “Hats by Tracy J”, and check out my warm weather headwear collection. Bucket hats and newsboy caps in cottons and linens will be featured. …
Babes, Tykes and Teens
While I’ve made many hats for grownups, young ones need to keep their heads warm and faces protected from the sun too. If you’re a parent, you might have experienced a kid itching to tear off a hat. This might be avoided with hats that are comfy, hard wearing and well fitting. Washable natural materials are …
