Brimmed Crochet Woman's Hat in Raffia by theoldhooker on Etsy

Brimmed Crochet Woman's Hat in Raffia by theoldhooker on Etsy: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Crocheting with Raffia ribbon

Be careful which ribbon you choose as they all have different properties. Wraffia is lighter weight than Wraphia  and makes a softer hat, while Wraphia makes a stiffer hat. You can find some patterns around the web for crocheting with rayon raffia ribbon and paper raffia ribbon. I haven't tried any of them so can't recommend any of them.

What I have found when crocheting is that different colors of the same brand tend to work up in different ways. You'll need to experiment. So far, I have no patterns that translate to the different yarns. When you do buy a pattern, use the type of ribbon they recommend and the same color.

I had no idea others were making hats like this when I first tried them out. Everything has been an experiment. You need to rest more because the raffia ribbon requires more physical strength than wool or cotton, etc. Lately I have been using the wrist guard I got when I sprained my wrist.

Custom Hats

I am selling more made to order hats than I am the ready made ones. It is really fun e-mailing back and forth with the customers and getting to know them.

My new hat

 I made myself a new Spring/Summer hat. I used wheat-gold rayon raffia yarn, trimmed with a lighter gold and added flowers and leaves in Raffia with some vintage mother of pearl buttons.

Now that the photos are scattered around, I'm thinking I should have made a table!

Top 10 Ways to Communicate Using Color

Top 10 Ways to Communicate Using Color
This is a great article! Find out why you like a certain color.

Hats

I love to crochet, but only hats. A shawl is a shawl. A Blanket is a blanket. But, a hat is a Hat! When I start a hat, I generally have a picture in my mind, but, as I work I can always say, 'Let's try this... or that." I can experiment with the form.

Form! That comes from my years in Architecture. Form is more important to me than embellishment. I like to experiment with form. Always.


Hats are exciting. Anything else is work.

Crochet Raffia Out on a limb New Fascinator Hat by theoldhooker

Crochet Raffia Out on a limb New Fascinator Hat by theoldhooker: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Murphy's Law

Yep, It is always the custom item sold that you have trouble with
1st) new type yarn was late arriving to me
2nd) client paid
3rd) up all night finishing hats
4th) new yarn stretched when blocking, instead of shrinking
5th) took over an hour to work out how to correct stretching
6th) took way long to do all above
7th) exhausted, took short nap but got up in time to meet the mailman
8th) crashed

BTW, Lowered some prices

Now 45.50USD

was 68.00USD

I have a new supplier (see uggg). Their products are of a higher grade than what I have been using, plus they are less expensive, in State (and I ordered one to check them out). Love them. So, I lowered some prices of raffia hats in my shop. I also took the leather embellishments off to be sold separately.

uggg

Don't you just hate it when you've ordered something and it doesn't arrive when it should have! I told a custom order person that my supply to make her item would arrive today. Hopefully it will get here tomorrow!

Rayon Raffia

I have accidentally found that using a low heat setting on an iron helps one to block hats made from Raffia. On one hat that I wasn't planning on selling, I wet it, put it over my mannequin's bare head to form it. Then I let it dry and used the iron to flatten out the brim. My next experiment is to use the steam setting instead of wetting the hat. I am just about positive it will work. I'm just waiting for another hat to experiment with as the first hat looked so good I listed it for sale online.