The hat that I am entering, “Fern” relates to the competition theme – EARTH – by directly referencing plants, integrating botanical printing into the hat design. I used sumac fern that grows in my back yard here in Western New York to print the wool felt of the hat, as well as plant based Indigo dye for the background color.

The botanical printing process also relies on the earth. The tannin in the plant leaves reacts to the mineral iron in the water where I have soaked my wool capeline. The image of the fern then transfers onto the surface of the hat while steaming (for hours). To add background color I used a “blanket” soaked in Indigo dye that I lay over the leaves on the surface of the wool before I wrapped it into a bundle for steaming. Indigo requires oxidation to bond to the fabric, and this happens slowly during the steaming process.

This printing process often yields surprising, unusual and imperfect prints on wool that I especially enjoy when stretched slightly during blocking.

It is my hope that the hat “Fern” inspires love and respect for the beauty of the earth and nature, within both the wearer and the viewer.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.