I lost my hat. I lost my favorite hat. I suppose I should be seriously bummed but, with all the problems in the world, it’s not worth the effort it would take. Besides, the loss of my beloved chapeau has given me the opportunity to go hat shopping. Traditionally, I acquire my hats in one of three ways: online shopping, someone gives me a hat, or I find the hat. Literally, find the hat. I found my favorite hat on trash collection day a few years ago. It was tucked into a Neiman Marcus box that was sitting on top of a pile of garbage. I could not resist looking into the Neiman Marcus box and there was my hat. It needed no adornment. I could wear it right out of the box. And wear it I did during the cold weather. I have one more hat (given to me by a woman I hardly know) that I wear during the coldest weather. I have an in-between hat. I bought this hat in a store, but after I brought it home I put it away and could not find it for two years. And then I set it on fire by accident. Don’t ask. It is a small hole in the brim. I sewed it shut and no one notices it until I point it out. Which I do. And I have some summer hats.
So I have been auditioning new hats. I like to decorate my hats with flowers made from cloth or felt. Which brings me to the cure for my wintertime blues that is the title of this post. Homemade bread and soup are good for the wintertime blues, but they reinforce the fact that it’s winter. Flowers, on the other hand, even felt ones, point to the Spring and Summer that are sure to come.
So I have been making felt flowers. Once I start doing something like this, I can’t stop. (Before I got on this kick, I was making stacking rings like there was no tomorrow and only stopped because I filed holes in my thumbs and I had to let them heal. ) (And now I have thumb protectors.)
Needle felting can be tough on your fingers. (I prefer needle felting to wet felting.) I have gloves and finger cots and finger shields, but so far have managed to not innoculate myself with the felting needles. I use felt sheets that I make from fulled 100% wool sweaters and scarves, and I adorn the flowers with roving, wool yarn and bits of craft felt. I have not seen anyone who makes felt flowers in quite this way so I will post a tutorial sometime in the future.
You could use the flowers as brooches or corsages. Each one as a pin sewn on the back. But I prefer to use them to decorate hats, Here are some pictures of my hats festooned with felted flowers. Spring is just around the corner.
Ornamento 