The Secret Life of Handmade Hats

Sinamay hat, linen suit, and carnelian earrings; made by me

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Some time ago, I discovered the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi.

It refers to the beauty of a handcrafted item's imperfections. Through this lens, you don't see flaws as errors.

Instead, you begin to appreciates a handmade object's signs of human touch. (Remember those coil clay pots you made in art class?)

Hat and scarf made with Mayflower merino #291; using my crochet beret pattern here / Tunisian crochet arm warmers made with Wool of the Andes

As a child, I loved strolling through craft markets with my mother. Outdoors or in, there was a promise of magic hiding in every artisan's display.

Those handmade works had a soul.

Handcrafted gifts, hand-knit baby blankets, hand-thrown pottery--and hand-stitched headwear.

Fabric-swathed fedoras; watch my video tutorial here

When you wear something handmade, you can feel the intent that went into crafting it. The thoughtful vision, the hard-earned skill, and the sense of accomplishment.

Scroll to shop some of my favorite handmade chapeaux. They're from a mix of artisans on Etsy, the world's biggest craft market.

I handpicked hats that are made in the USA, unless noted. Let's jump in!

Neutral tones

Luxury picks

When there's a chill in the air

Whimsical

Ships from overseas

Brights and pastels

Thank you for reading!

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