I recently began exploring the art of hat-making during a two-week holiday on the shores of Lake Malawi. This particular hat is my fifth creation, though I’ve worked with felt for some time. When I came across a hat-making competition with the theme “water,” it felt like a perfect fit, as I’ve been creating these hats right next to one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.

Lake Malawi itself became my inspiration. Its waves shimmer with a range of blues and sparkling highlights, and the constantly shifting patterns of light and movement influenced every aspect of the design. I love felt for its versatility””it can be shaped and twisted to capture the sense of flow and motion that water embodies. Using this flexibility, I created waves and spirals in the hat’s structure to reflect the energy and beauty of splashing water.

I love working with merino wool because its color range is extraordinary, especially the blues, which echo the depths and hues of the lake. I also had a bundle of glittering white and gold fibers that seemed perfect for recreating the shimmer of sunlight on water. I used this on the edges of the hat, of the ‘rolling wave’ with a few speckles here and there over the rest of the hat.

This hat is both a tribute to Lake Malawi and a celebration of felt as a medium. For me, it’s about translating the natural beauty of water into something tangible and wearable””a piece of art that connects deeply with the theme and the place where it all began.

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