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. Some buttons were threaded through the buttonholes and attached to hand-decorated cards. A label on the back of one card read: Handmade Yew Buttons by B. Black, North Vancouver.

Historically, buttons were made by hand and often reflected the status of the wearer. Goldsmiths were commissioned by the wealthy to make buttons from gold, silver, and precious gems. These buttons were considered fine jewelry. Common folk had simple utilitarian buttons made from bone, wood, and coarse fabric.

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 is a luxurious hat with a soft yet structured feel.

I was curious to experiment with the basic pattern. I wondered if I could add a visor and give the hat the look of a newsboy cap. First, with a lighter weight Bluefaced Leicester wool and then, with a heavier merino/polyamide yarn, I crocheted two hats. I had to adjust the pattern to accommodate for the lighter yarn, but I felt I achieved what I had hoped for with both hats.

Next, I wanted to take the Vee Beanie in another direction. I opted to simply trim it in a yarn of contrasting colour and finish it off with a reverse crab stitch.

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 making. For you, it might involve grabbing some paper and coloured markers to doodle and practice with colours and patterns. Who knows how a casual doodle might blossom?

Interesting colours, textures, shapes, and patterns are abundant in everyday life. From an idea, I like to zero in on fabric and yarn stores and relevant websites to research options and take me to the next level of making. Matching materials to design is fun. It’s gratifying to go from a concept to a unique and wonderful product made with my own hands.

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 look delightfully cute and photo worthy in their elfin hats. Tassels, pom poms, and tails often are embellishments. Get your pixie on!

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 that herringbone patterns involve intersections at 90 degrees, while chevron patterns meet at different angles. The visual appeal of herringbone has made it a timeless choice for home decor elements, such as hardwood flooring, backsplash tiles, and textiles.

The beanies highlighted here are based on a crochet pattern by Sweet Everly B. The Chunky Cobblestone Beanies were made from a bulky wool that works up quickly with a large crochet hook and the result is a hat for cold days. Bluefaced Leicester wool was the yarn of choice for a lighter three-season option. I tried out different colour combinations, some with and others without a pompom.

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 AM-5 PM) at Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street. It is one of Vancouver’s biggest and best festive craft fairs with over 140 local artisans, live entertainment, and food.

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 the last minute, added orange. All six fabric pieces are made of bamboo rayon, cotton, and spandex. Some are backed with fleece, others French Terry, and the orange one has the same smooth surface back and front.

To add to my headwear collection for upcoming fall markets, I sewed up a beanie and two headbands. The burnt orange says warmth and comfort. It’s definitely not the new black to me.

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 be participating.

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 and babies. Some were cropped short to wear like a beanie. Others were more feminine and decorated with a flower.

I have been getting requests for the charmed cloche again. Eager to experiment and create new looks, I added striping and made flowers from a mix of yarns. In addition to merino wool, I chose a cotton/cashmere yarn for a lighter cloche.

Along the same theme, I made a simple beanie in double crochet using the cotton/cashmere blend. Yarn in a contrasting colour finishes the beanie and mimics a cuff.

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 cotton plaid serves as lining fabric for the bucket hats shown.

Now imagine cranberries, Brussels sprouts, and Hubbard squash. The “Vee Beanie” is crocheted with a single-ply merino, alpaca, and silk blend. The pattern features a no-space double crochet V stitch. The end result is soft and feminine with button detailing.