Slow down and make a hat.

Have you ever made a piece of clothing for yourself to wear?

I made my first wearable item of clothing in 9th grade. I found a pattern at the local fabric shop, I relied on the wisdom of the ladies there who have been sewing for years and had them help me pick out the fabric and notions. I made a bright yellow skirt that flowed and twirled. I wore it to school and even in a theatre production and whenever somebody complimented me on my skirt I got to proudly announce that "I made it!"

Fast fashion is an issue - styles change quickly and the material waste that comes with it is overwhelming. If you need a humbling look at how fast fashion and consumerism negatively affects people and our environment watch this documentary: The True Cost

When you slow down your consumerism and make something for yourself instead of buying it, you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the time and effort it takes to make a high-quality item.

So slow down and make a hat, or a skirt, or a scarf, or really anything that sounds exciting to you! Get a how-to book from a local bookstore, borrow a crochet hook from your grandma, source materials from local independent shops, and learn how to make something for yourself. It might not turn out perfect but that first feeling of self-sufficiency is pretty sweet.

And when somebody compliments you on your new hat, you can tell them “I made it” and maybe even share with them what it means to you to make something for yourself instead of buying it.

This basic beanie is made from 100% merino wool from a local fiber mill in Michigan!

Want to make a hat like this?

I used this pattern, the Basic Back Loop Beanie

Want to learn more about how to crochet? Modern Crochet is a great book with easy to read directions and helpful tutorials on how to make a variety of crochet projects: