Handmade hats, everything you need to know.

Handmade hats.

It is known that one of the most handmade accessories, by beginners and experts alike, is undoubtedly the HAT.

Today I decided to talk to you about the origins, uses, curiosities... I decided to guide you in choosing the project and the materials you will use to create your super trendy accessory in recent years.

Prepare your creativity because it's time to get started.

Meaning

The term hat derives from the Latin CAPPELLUS: CAPPA. Indeed, the hat is a head covering present in both children's and adults' wardrobes, in both men's and women's wardrobes, and there are accessories for every season. Each hat is created for a specific season, with different materials, shapes, and techniques that vary from project to project.

Usage

The hat is used in the hottest seasons to protect against UV rays, in the coldest seasons to protect against the cold, but among the younger ones, and not only, this accessory is spreading as a true detail that identifies one's look. Just think of all the teenagers who use the bucket hat, that is, the fisherman's hat.

Origins

The origins date back to thousands of years ago. The first materials used for making hats were:

LEAVES, ANIMAL SKINS, and WOVEN VEGETABLE FIBERS.

In the medieval period, they were used to indicate social status:

NOBLES wore luxury hats, decorated with feathers and jewels,

the COMMON CLASS, on the other hand, wore simple hats.

During the Renaissance, hats became more elaborate and decorative, with fashion favoring tall and rigid ones.

In the 19th century, men's hats were top hats, while women's hats were decorated with feathers, flowers, and ribbons.

Today, they are seen as fashion accessories or for functional purposes such as protection from the sun or cold.

How to choose the right hat based on face shape?

Regarding the models, let's see which ones to choose based on your face lines and shapes:

• LONG OVAL FACE: a typical example is Sarah Jessica Parker. If you have a long face, it is better to opt for a medium or wide-brimmed hat that does not add volume to the top of the head, or a soft hat like a beret.
• INVERTED TRIANGLE FACE: think of Madonna. She has a heart-shaped face, an inverted triangle, with wider temples and a narrower chin. For this type of face, we recommend a beret or a narrow model, also great when worn sideways.
• ROUND FACE: an example is Kirsten Dunst. For this shape, we recommend structured hats that also develop in height with a more rigid consistency.
• SQUARE FACE: in this case, let's take Demi Moore as an example. It is better not to choose models that are too structured or squared and prefer soft and gentle lines. A wool hat, a beret, or a cloche is perfect for softening the more squared jaw.
• OVAL FACE: it is a regular face and the easiest to enhance, an example is Monica Bellucci, who can wear all models.

How to choose the right yarn for your hat?

The choice, as we have said so far, depends on several factors, primarily on the model we want to make. In the past, grandmothers created simple ones, enriched with pompoms to protect grandchildren from the cool breeze or with beads around for more important occasions. Today, some also decide to make models to sell and that are very trendy.

• WINTER HAT

For the coldest season, we recommend thicker and warmer yarns like wool, alpaca, cashmere, merino wool, or acrylic that remain soft to the touch, warm, and durable over time. These yarns can be worked with crochet, knitting needles, with the mill, or even with the loom.

• West Boreale Barry Verve Fluotik

• SUMMER HAT

For the warm season, we recommend fresh and light fibers, in cotton or mixed, linen, bamboo, ecological cotton...

• Iggy arancio Lynyrd bianco Drake azzurro

• STIFF HAT

Known and famous also by the name of CLOCHE, with an ancient soul, contemporary taste, and in the 1920s style, it is one of the most loved and reproduced by creatives, with crochet and thin cords. For this type of hat, thin cords are recommended but with a pinch of stiffness, such as THAI SKINNY - THAI SLIM - THAI SUBLIME.

• Skinny Azzurro Slim Sfumato Silver Sublime Argento

Idea for a stiff hat.

We often receive requests for assistance to know which article is used to make a wide-brimmed hat, I suggest REGILENE, a useful item for this type of project.

But what is REGILENE? Let's find out with Amelia:

How much yarn is needed to make a hat?

There are several factors to consider before proceeding with the creation of a hat:

the exact dimensions, the project, the stitch, the yarn you choose, the hand, the twist, the number of knitting needles and crochet hooks. Let's see broadly what is needed to make a hat.

Newborn hat

For a hat to be made for a newborn:
circumference 35cm and height 16cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

30g and 50g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Baby hat 3-6 months

For a hat to be made for a baby 3-6 months:
circumference 40cm and height 18cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

40g and 60g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Baby hat 6-12 months

For a hat to be made for a baby 6-12 months:
circumference 45cm and height 20cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

50g and 70g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Baby hat 12 months-3 years

For a hat to be made for a baby 12 months-3 years:
circumference 48cm and height 21cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

60g and 80g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Idea to be done with the instructions of Criss's corner:

Child hat 3-10 years

For a hat to be made for a child 3-10 years:
circumference 50cm and height 22cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

80g and 100g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Idea to be done with the instructions of Criss's corner:

TABLE TO MAKE A CHILD'S HAT:

Teen hat

For a hat to be made for a boy or a girl:
circumference 55cm and height 22cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

90g and 110g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Idea to be done with the instructions of Brunaticality:

Women's hat

For a hat to be made for a woman:
circumference 55cm and height 28cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

100g and 150g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Idea to be done with the instructions of Egle Breme:

Men's hat

For a hat to be made for a man:
circumference 59cm and height 29cm, for this project, always with a basic stitch, you can consider between

120g and 160g, depending on the dimensions, the stitches, the hand, the twist, etc.

Idea to be done with the instructions of Fata Tuttofare:

TABLE TO MAKE A TEEN, MEN'S OR WOMEN'S HAT:

What is needed for the work?

After selecting the quantity needed for your project, let's move on to choosing the materials. First of all, let's choose the yarn.

Which yarn to use to create a hat?

Wool

Wool: wool is the most common yarn for making hats. There are different varieties of wool, including sheep's wool, alpaca, merino, and cashmere. Wool has good elasticity and is very durable, making it an excellent choice for a hat that needs to last a long time.

• Justin Baby Fuxia Verve Classik

Alpaca

Alpaca: alpaca wool is soft and smooth to the touch. It has good thermal insulation capacity, so a hat made with this yarn will be very warm. Moreover, alpaca is water and moisture-resistant, making it suitable for a hat to be used even in difficult weather conditions.

• Armsoft Anemone Gloria coccio

Cotton

Cotton: cotton is a lightweight and breathable yarn, perfect for hats to be worn in spring and summer. Moreover, cotton is easy to work with and available in many different colors.

• Frida cosmopolitan Viscoiggy Arancio

Acrylic

Acrylic: acrylic is a synthetic yarn that has many properties similar to wool, but it is lighter and less expensive. It is available in many colors and has excellent elasticity.

• Chuck batik acid Dusty Acqua

Mixed yarns

Mixed yarns: there are many mixed yarns on the market that combine wool, alpaca, cotton, and acrylic in different proportions. These yarns can have the properties of each component, creating a durable and versatile hat.

• Swollen Smeraldo Teck Cotton lilla

Cords and ribbons

Cords or ribbons: there are many cords that lend themselves to the creation of structured hats, which are worn to give a touch of style.

• Thai slim sfumato uva Rafia naturale lilla

Other tools needed?

For making a hat, in addition to the yarn, you will need:

• crochet hook
• knitting needles
• markers
• measuring tape
• scissors
• yarn needles
• applications.
• Markers Measuring tape Yarn needles

Knitting needles or crochet?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the choice between knitting a hat or crocheting one depends on personal preferences and the skills of the person making it.

Knitting a hat with needles requires the use of two needles that are used to create a flat fabric. This type of work is generally faster than crocheting, and the resulting fabric is often thick and soft. Additionally, knitting can be easier for beginners as it requires less manual dexterity compared to crocheting.

On the other hand, crocheting a hat with crochet can create a tighter and more durable fabric, which is ideal for winter and work hats. Furthermore, crocheting offers many possibilities for creating patterns and decorations, making it suitable for creating hats with a more elaborate design.

Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preferences and the skills of the person making it. If you are a beginner, it might be easier to start with knitting, while if you are more experienced or interested in creating a more complex design, crocheting might be a better choice.

Hats and trends.

Certainly, the most fashionable model at the moment is undoubtedly the fisherman's hat or bucket hat, which has become a very popular fashion accessory. Originally designed for fishing and other outdoor activities, the simple and practical design of the hat has made it a versatile and easily recognizable style icon.

The success of the bucket hat can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the fisherman's hat is very comfortable to wear, thanks to its soft shape and lightness. Moreover, the hat offers sun protection for the face and head, making it ideal for outdoor activities.

It has been adopted by many artists and celebrities, who have made it a mainstream fashion trend. For example, the singer Justin Bieber is known for wearing bucket hats in many of his music videos and concerts, and the rapper Pharrell Williams has helped make the bucket hat a style icon with his famous snakeskin hat.

It seems to have been successful thanks to its practicality, versatility, and adoption by celebrities and influencers. Today, the bucket hat is available in a wide range of fabrics, prints, and colors, and many creatives have proposed their own versions. Let's see some of them.

A model that is very frequently recreated is undoubtedly this one by Brunaticality:

Then we move on to this model by CAO from Maniak Crochet, who made his version with 100% cotton yarn:

Free pattern.

Before we meet again in the next article, I leave you a free pattern to easily make a handmade hat.

Procedure:

• Start with a magic ring and work 3 chains (which replace the first double crochet).
• Then work 11 double crochets into the magic ring and close with a slip stitch in the third chain of the first 3 chains.
• Work 3 chains and 2 double crochets in the same stitch, skip 2 double crochets, 3 double crochets in the next stitch.
• Repeat from * to * until the end of the round, closing with a slip stitch in the third chain of the first 3 chains.
• Repeat round 2 for another 5 times, changing the color of the yarn whenever you want.
• Work 3 chains, 2 double crochets in the space between the double crochets of the previous round, 3 double crochets in the space between the double crochets of the previous round.
• Repeat from * to * until the end of the round, closing with a slip stitch in the third chain of the first 3 chains.
• Repeat round 4 for another 4 times, changing the color of the yarn whenever you want.
• Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. Pass the tail through each remaining stitch and pull it to tighten the top of the hat.
• Sew the threads behind the work, and the hat is ready!

I hope this pattern is useful for making your crochet hat.

Conclusions.

We have come to the end of this wonderful world of yarns, models, projects, and ideas, dear readers.

You now have all the information to venture with me into this wonderful world of handmade hats, which not only enhance handmade crafts but also add a touch of personality to your wardrobe and that of your loved ones.

All you have to do is ride the wave of the 2023 trend by making your own handmade hat proposal.

See you in the next article.

Rosaria Tessiland®