~ Adopted ~ Black and White Animal Hat with Ears

Sorry, but this Black and White Animal Hat with Ears has already been adopted. If you would like your own custom version of the hat, please contact me.

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Black and white felted hat, inspired by Hello Kitty and other kawaii cuties, a hat with ears and Op Art patterning - it's an animal hat for an adult.

A few years ago, I attended an inspiring art exhibition on Japanese characters. There was a whole bedroom devoted to Hello Kitty paraphernalia. And while this black and white beret is decidedly NOT pink, it has some of the kawaii charms of Hello Kitty and Sailor Moon. In addition, the two white ‘ears’ evoke a bit of Japanese Samurai, (or a mouse or hamster), which is certainly smile-worthy.

Process: For this hat, I started with a handmade base of soft, white Merino sheep’s wool, which I laid upon an elliptical resist of plastic. Then, I cut out handmade, black prefelt to form concentric rings, for that OP ART feeling. Carefully and artfully, I arranged the black on the white and added two white, circular felt flaps. The fibers were then rub-a dubbed with natural olive oil soap for a long while to felt and interconnect the fibers. Then, the hat was rolled to firm up and make a strong felt. An opening was then cut into the hat and the resist was removed. Rubbed a bit more on my high tech drain board, rinsed, shaped, and then air dried.

To finish the beret off I have carefully hand sewn a 1 ¼ inch wide headband of pre-shrunk, black fabric (cotton-linen-viscose material) to the felt. The white felt ears have been given a stitch or two to pop up as a perky bow. In between the ears, there are three tiny black buttons, 2 on top and one right above the headband. The buttons hint at a cute animal. The buttons are sewn on in contrasting white thread.

The hat can be worn a variety of ways: you decide if you like the white ‘ears’ facing front, or to the side. Whatever way you wear it, it is a whimsical and modern hat!

The beret has a SMALL head size range of 21.50- 22 inches (54.5 –55.8 cm).
The elliptically shaped hat has an 11 ½ inch (39.2 cm) diameter at its widest point. 

Care instructions: felt is a natural fiber that is particularly water resistant and stain resistant. This particular hat can be hand washed, in cool water with a gentle soap. Rinse. Blot dry on a towel, shape and air dry (please not in a dryer).