Vintage Miriam Carter of Dublin Felted Wool Hat

Miriam Carter of Dublin has taken a contemporary approach to a traditional craft. Her hand-made felt hats are “blocked” with antique hat molds she salvaged from a local hat-making company that, after a series of moves, was on its way to China. Shaping today from the past, her styles and colorful felted materials are alive with fresh design. Carter has an almost unlimited number of options to shape hats, pairing separate wooden molds for brims and crowns. She creates fabric from Merino wool fibers with agitation, water and pressure. The fiber’s tiny hooks and scales lock together or “mat” to form a felt body. In the process, additions of yarn and silk are added for surface design and textural interest. Finally, the hat body is shaped over the molds: “I use Australian Merino wool because it is the finest available and makes a refined product.” This is in excellent condition and stores in a smoke/pet free environment. Prompt shipping.