I am thrilled to finally debut a line of hats I’ve been working on since Spring.  The Gossamer Hat.

I have a customer with alopecia, who wears my hats year-round.  We had been in touch planning her next hat, but with the onset of the heat and humidity all I could think about was how hot it would be for one of my felt hats… I know that felt is good at thermoregulation (warming you up when cold, and cooling you off when hot), but I knew I had to develop a thinner option for this lady…

When I felt, I use several layers of wool to make a thin, even felt.  There are no “weak spots”, which are considered flaws or mistakes.  Nobody wants uneven felt in their hats, let alone a weak spot…unlesssssssssssssss… 🙂  What if I was to make a hat entirely of weak spots!?

I started with a prototype thinner hat.  It turned out beautifully, but wasn’t thin enough.  I then went REALLY thin, figuring out how to line the complete inside of the hat with silk as well as the outside.  Was that enough wool to “glue” the two sheer layers of silk together, essentially creating a silk sandwich?  YES!  Eureka!

The creation process takes longer in the layout, as I’m putting silk all over the inside AND the outside of the hat.  The felting is much faster, but one has to be very gentle at first, as it feels as if you’re wet-felting a tiny kitten!  The finishing of the hats is pretty basic, as they are so thin,and do not have much structure.  But that is where the magic lies with this new line of hats.

These Gossamer felt hats are SO incredibly thin, and comfortable.  Where felt typically holds a shape with “memory”, the Gossamer felt doesn’t have much structure to maintain a stiff shape. They are pliable, roll-able, wearable inside and outside.

For those suffering from hair loss, they breathe, with chiffon silk lining against your scalp.  The sculptural shape gives your head volume, which once your hair might’ve done.  For those with hair, they do not crush your locks, unless it is quite tight.  They are a great option for outdoor activities in the fall or spring.  In the winter they might need to a hood overtop of them to keep the wind and bitter cold out.  Smart, sensible AND chic!!!

Proof is in the pudding.  Below is the interview I did on Shift, CBC’s afternoon program with Vanessa VanderValk.  The interview is embedded in the article.  The article is a wonderful testimonial to the comfort of these hats, and how they can help you find comfort and style in a little headwear!

Enjoy the article.  Let me know if you have any questions!?  🙂

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/hat-maker-fredericton-trish-hirschkorn-1.4889720