FeltHappiness Hats
Poolbeg ArtHat - Irish Wool with Eco Printing
Poolbeg ArtHat - Irish Wool with Eco Printing
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Poolbeg ArtHat - Irish Wool
This hat was created for Feltmakers Ireland's annual exhibition, which had the theme of 'Symbols of Ireland'. You can see the entire exhibition catalogue - HERE. (I was the person who set it up!)
Here is my section:
Having lived in Ireland for only three years, Juliane continues to explore and connect with her adopted city of Dublin.
Everywhere she turns, Ireland's layered history reveals itself. In the countryside, ancient Neolithic dolmens and medieval castles emerge from the landscape like echoes of the past. In the city, abandoned buildings stand as silent witnesses to time, their weathered facades haunting the streets. These monumental and forgotten human-made structures shape Ireland's unique character—blending memory, identity, and transformation.
Among the many landmarks she admires are the Poolbeg Chimneys—remnants of a former power station—whose striking silhouette is woven into the fabric of the city's landscape. Walking through Dublin, she finds the red and white striped towers peeking out from unexpected places, much like the elusive figure in the 'Where's Wally?' picture books. They seem to be everywhere—an unmistakable and ever-present emblem of the city.
COLOUR:
• . The hat is neutral coloured via ecoprinted seaweed combined with an 'iron blanket'. The red of the Poolbeg chimneys comes from commercially dyed fibre.
SHAPE:
• The hat is witch-shaped, with seaweed-y fronds. There are two striped, red and white poles - for the ever-present Poolbeg Chimneys in Dublin.
SIZE:
• It's a medium-weight felt thickness.
• Size MEDIUM, although variable as it is cone-shaped - it fits a 22" /56 to 22.75" / 58 head size.
If you do not know your head size, go here to learn how to measure.
This hat does not have a grosgrain ribbon on the inside.
This hat is ready to ship.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Materials
Materials
Irish Cladoir wool, Austrian Bergshaf, some Merino, Silk fabric, millinery wire, thread, and viscose fibre.
Size
Size
VARIABLE
Care
Care
Of course, you can wear your hat in the rain. After all, felt is made with soap and water, yet naturally resists water. However, if your hat gets drenched, please air dry it by sitting over a wine bottle, so that the brim can retain its shape.
What is Felt?
What is Felt?
Each FeltHappiness Hat is entirely handmade and created from soft Merino wool fibers using the technique of wet felting. It's an ancient and simple craft that takes patience and lots of kneading to shrink the fibers into a strong, flexible, and warm felt. To learn more, see HERE.
In addition to insulating, wool naturally resists water. Hence, your felted hat will keep you warm in chilly weather and dry in light rain. Plus, wool resists mildew, dirt, and fire!
It's magical stuff!
Measuring Your Head
Measuring Your Head
Every head has its own unique size and shape, which can be measured with a flexible tape measure or even a piece of string.
Take the tape measure and encircle your head, just above the top of your ears. Make sure that the tape measure goes over that small bump at the back of your head. Please don't pull it tightly. Leave a little 'ease' so that one finger can fit under the tape. An ear-to-ear measure can be helpful too.
Measure three times: it is surprising how it can vary!
Inches or centimetres are fine.
Sustainability
Sustainability
While Ireland is full of sheep, sadly, the wool from Irish flocks is being used less and less. There are several reasons for this — one major factor is that many local wools don’t have the same softness as imported Merino wool. As a result, farmers receive very little for their fibre. In fact, it often costs more to shear a sheep than the farmer earns from selling the wool — if they can sell it at all. Shockingly, Irish wool is frequently treated as a waste product.
This decline in the use of wool began after the rise of polyester clothing and fast fashion, when synthetic fibres became cheaper and more convenient to produce. As these man-made materials flooded the market, demand for natural fibres like wool dropped dramatically — and their value followed.
Using locally sourced materials can make a real difference — both for the environment and for the local economy. By supporting Irish farmers and working with what’s readily available, we can reduce transport emissions and help create a more sustainable supply chain.
Here at FeltHappiness Hats, I’m committed to increasing the amount of Irish-raised fibre in my creations — striving for greater sustainability while still crafting the unique, joyful hats you love.
As of 2023, every hat in my new collections* includes at least one layer of Irish-raised wool. My most recent series, The SeaSun Cyan Collection, is made primarily — and proudly — from Irish wool.
*Note: Certain items, such as cowls, still require fine Merino fibres to ensure they’re soft and comfortable when worn close to the skin.
