Instructions On Making Hats

Jenny Deters' industrial revolution | LYNDA HEINES

"I designed patterns to make hats, socks and mittens. I'd package the yarn and instructions into kits and sell them at fiber events," she said.

She soon realized that designing the patterns was time-consuming. Then she would spend hours knitting the socks and if she didn't like the pattern, she had to start all over again.

"I thought if I just had a machine it would be much faster."

About that time, she received a postcard from a yarn shop that was going out of business and selling two circular sock machines. She immediately called the number but they already were sold. The shop owners suggested she check out online auctions, and in 2003, she bought the first of several machines.

"It really saved me a lot of time. I loved this knitting and learned you can do more than just make socks or circular items."

Her experiments with this hobby resulted in two books. The first, "Unique Fancy Sock Patterns," was written in 2003. In 2008, she entered several creations in a contest at a conference in Nashville, Ind.

"Someone there suggested I write another book to include those patterns."

That was her next book — "Socks and More for the CSM (Circular Sock Machine)."

In 2010, she wanted her readers to know that there were more items to make with this machine. That turned into "Hats and More for the CSM," and also included instructions on fiber dyeing.

Her love of cable stitches brought her to write her latest book, "Just Socks: Cables and Lace."

Deters enjoys using this machine to create wearable products she can see immediately.

"I can make a sock in 25 minutes and then 15 to 20 minutes to close a toe. When I knitted socks by hand, it took me a day to make a pair," she added.

The machine is the largest investment. The basic model, which includes 60 needles and is 4½ inches in diameter, will cost around $1,500.

She has bought several machines from online auctions, but she cautions potential buyers to do their homework. Countryrain.com lists helpful tips on purchasing them at auction.

Fashion Purse: How To Make Hats And Accessories: Instructions For ...

Originally published in 1946, this book by Vee Powell shows you how to make fantastic vintage accessories including hats, gloves, hand bags, belts, muff, muff-purse, and parka hood. Chapters detail -- **HATS:** making a hat wedge, decorative tubing trim, hat linings, covered hat pins, sequined hat pins, bows, felt trims, felt feathers and French-room trims; makings hats using hat patterns including a bonnet-type hat, forward worn hat, forward-or-back worn hat with recomendations on which pattern pieces to use for each hat type; step-by-step instructions and illustrations for making a fabric hat; making a hat from straw braid including pinning and sewing the braid; making hats from wool felt; making hats using fur felts; five sample hats with instructions and recommended pattern pieces for making; working with blocks; how to make a buckram skull crown which then enables you to make hundreds of types of close fitting hats; how to make half hats; blocking with felts and straws; using ready made frames. **ACCESSORIES:** how to make gloves including full size patterns for both a large and small hand size glove; how to make a square, oblong, rounded or rectangular flat underarm bag; reduced size drawing/pattern for a felt pouch bag along with step-by-step instructions for creating; how to make a muff with measurements and step-by-step instructions for lining and sewing; making a muff-purse combination which includes a zippered pocket; how to make decorative belts from an existing belt; making shoulder pads; reduced size drawing/pattern for making a parka hood and instructions for completing. Over 200 illustrations and full size patterns for basic hats, gloves, shoulder pads, and flowers are included. The book also details remaking hats, reusing trims, and how to clean hats. Contents page and sample book pages are shown at the top of this page.

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