How are your hats made?

I hand-sculpt each hat in my home studio on salt spring, Canada, using various felting techniques...  

Wet Felting

Wet felting is a time consuming, tactile process where thin tuffs of wool are layered over a resist (pattern). Once 7-10 layers of wool are achieved the fibres are saturated with soapy water and agitated gently at first, then firmly by hand until the wool fibres have entangled around each other.  The next step is to full (shrink) the felted fibres by thoughtfully and energetically rubbing the piece over a textured surface using very hot water - this step is typically repeated over the course of a few days until the item has shrunk to approximately 50% it's original size.  When the desired shape is achieved, proper PH balance is restored by soaking the item in a vinegar solution mixed with essential oils to protect against wool moths.

Dry Felting

Typically, my more sculptural hat embellishments are created by dry felting, where special barbed needles are repeatedly stabbed into wool bundles until the desired shape is achieved.  This is also a time intensive, but highly meditative process… and just a bit dangerous for the fingers!

Nuno Felting

Some of my pieces incorporate nuno felting, which is a technique that combines wool fibres with natural fabrics, such as silk. It creates beautiful textures and allows for excellent draping and strength for garments.  

Leather & Weaving

For accents and hat bands I love harkening back to my leather working days when i made stone embedded cuffs and book covers.  I particularly enjoy harvesting vines from my backyard to weave hat bands and circulets that have a more earthy, natural feel.

can you make me a hat?

Hello dear one! i am sorry to say that i am not currently taking orders for hats. i have been on a journey that turned my path away from hat making for almost 3 years. in that time i homeschooled my 2 girls, ran an airbnb, raised animals and tended gardens on my little homestead - i also learned a lot about myself, including the fact that i am not a great multitasker! Hat-making is a deep passion of mine, but it requires such an intense focus that i found i was experiencing frustration trying to fit it in to my chaotic schedule. So i made the difficult decision to set my beloved felting practice aside to give my uncluttered attention to my new role. It is now 2024 and my path is yet shifting again! My girls are now heading into the teenaged years, homeschooling requires less of me and i’ve given the key to my airbnb suite to a full-time tenant - leaving me with the precious and illusive gift of time. And with that new-found time, i plan to leap whole-heartedly back into heaps and heaps of wool! So stay tuned… magic is brewing.