April 20, 2012

WHAT'S IN A NAME?


'Harry Potter' wizard ~ hand knit


























The first time my Mum saw the colourful round hats I was making she said..."They look just like cake tins!"...which is, of course, how my hats got their name. If the name or the hat fits, might as well wear it!

Just using the name Cake~Tin Hats has probably influenced my creative thought process over the last four years when creating my hat designs. I like different and funky things and the idea of wearing a cake tin (well...sort of) on your head is pretty out there! I do think if you are going to wear a hat it might as well have something to say both about you and about your sense of style.

Wearing a hat is also about a sense of fun and I try to express that in each hat I make. Recently, I came across the following article published in the Milwaukee Sentinel on July 3rd, 1931 in the 'Fashion and Beauty' section (next to the food ads) that made me laugh. __________________________________________________

CAKE TIN HATS
______________

New York - If you happen to have one of those little cake tins with a fluted edge, you can make a dandy Paris hat out of it. Turn the brim up in front and wear the hat fairly well back on the head. Otherwise, there's a little Paris hat of black picot straw with an upturned brim in front and the brim is crossed by a band of pleated gros-grain ribbon in a bright turquoise shade.
___________________________________________________

Seriously! Here's the link
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19310703&id=bFgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid= 6AwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3848,315624





'Icelandic Flowers'  gnomie ~ hand knit & felted
(Winnig hat pattern design by Harpa Jonsdottir)



 

'Multi' beanie ~ hand knit cotton & silk








'Checker' beanie ~ hand knit



 
 


'Ribbons' ear flapper ~  hand knit &
embellished with ribbon






'Feathers'  ear flapper ~ hand knit







 
'Celtic basket' beanie ~ hand knit






'Juliet' princess cap ~ hand knit & embellished






'Pink & Gray' beanie ~ hand knit angora & merino





Yellow haute couture ~ hand knit






Blue haute couture ~ hand knit






Green haute couture ~ hand knit





'Hearts' ~ hand knit
(Design by Louisa Harding)




'Sock Monkey'  beanie ~ hand knit
(Hat pattern design inspired by Debbie Ware)


 
 
 

'Tambourine' beret ~ hand knit & felted







'Bobble beanie" ~ hand knit







'Marine blue-green' ear flapper ~ hand knit &
embellished with ribbon





'Aqua' beanie ~ hand knit


 
 
 
 
'Katmandu' beret ~ hand knit


 
 
 

'Picot beanie' ~ hand knit



 
 
 
Cake~Tin Hats at 'Arts on Main Gallery' in Picton, Ontario 
 Guest Artist ~ Novwemer 2011 ~ January 2012






April 14, 2012

SPRING BREEZES








'Enchantilly' march hare ~ hand knit & felted
























'Mushroom Cap' beanie ~ hand knit, felted & pleated






















It's so nice to be able to felt with the doors open and a lovely breeze blowing into my work space. Newly felted hats dry outside in the warm air instead of in front of the fireplace for a change. 

When I start a new wet felting project it means I am committed to that particular project for the hours it takes to complete it. I stay home and work away enjoying every moment of the time it takes.

Since felting is not transportable the way knitting is... and my hands like to be busy most of the time...I always carry a small knitting project with me where ever I go. This includes hats, headbands and lately I have been knitting cuffs and wristlets...with ruffles! I also like to felt old sweaters and use the sleeves to make wrist warmers with a little knitted band or ruffle and a bit of embellisment. These are an important part of a good winter wardrobe and I always use them under coat sleeves for extra warmth. On chilly spring days I choose wristlets instead of a coat since they are so easy to pop on and off. Besides, I'm done with coats until next November! Give me wrist warmers any day!







'Blue Belle' mad hatter ~ hand knit, felted & embroidered

























'Desert Flower' pill box ~ hand knit, felted
& embellished with mink
























'Henry Tudor' beret ~ hand knit & felted
























Single wrist cuffs ~ hand knit Noro merino and silk
























Wristlets ~ hand knit merino and silk
























Wristlets with thumb hole ~ hand knit merino and mohair

























Wristlets ~ repurposed felted sweater cuffs
with vintage buttons

























Wristlets ~ repurposed felted sweater cuffs
with hand knit mohair ruffles
























Wristlets ~ repurposed felted sweater cuffs with
 needle felted embellishment


















Wristlets ~ repurposed felted sweater cuffs with embroidery
(embroidery inspired by Mags Kandis)
























Wristlets ~ hand knit merino with vintage buttons




















Delicate wrist cuffs ~ hand knit
merino with mohair lace ruffles

























Wristlets ~ hand knit merino with vintage buttons
























Wristlets ~ hand knit merino with mohair ruffles
























Arm Warmers ~ repurposed felted sweater sleeves with
needle felted embellishment 

























'Viola's Elegant' wrist warmers ~ hand knit
merino and silkwith mohair ruffle

























'Icelandic' wrist warmers ~ repurposed sweater cuffs with
needle felted embellishment
(Lace up ribbon inspired by Harpa Jonsdottir)


























Lynn's 'Noro' wristlets with thumb hole ~ hand knit