Felt Hat Sister Act: Robyn’s Story

Posted on 11 May 2014 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

“I wanted to treat my sister to one of Carrie’s gorgeous hats:

Freehand embroidery: Pink French Knot Mandala

…and accidentally fell in love with this green/navy dragonfly hat when trying them on… So I treated myself and bought Pam her stunning pink-on-pink hat. We now are both stylish AND very warm!

Freehand dragonfly embroidery with agate bead eyes.

During this bitter winter, my dragonfly hat has kept me warm through many hockey practices at the rink, and has garnered many compliments around town. I always looked awful in winter hats, and was amazed to see how stylish Carrie’s hats are. They are unique, and can be worn on a run or with dress clothes. I even wore mine into to a job interview with a suit (and got the job)!!

I recommend Carrie’s heirloom hats even to people on a budget; think of what we spend on groceries or oil, but this is something you invest in for yourself. I bought mine with Christmas gift money, and it has been my favorite gift.

Pam & Robyn sporting their new felt hats.

Thanks Carrie for keeping us all warm and happy this coooold winter!”

Icy Seafoam Mandala Bound For Newfoundland

Posted on 25 November 2012 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

Most of the hats I make end up here in New England and the Northeast (although occasionally one finds a home in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska).

Last week, I shipped off my first hat ever to Newfoundland:

Freehand embroidery of French knots on icy sea foam felt hat by fiber artist, Carrie Cahill Mulligan of Canaan, New Hampshire.

Embroidered felt hat #82 of 2012.

Detail of freehand French knot embroidery on felt hat #82 of 2012

Detail of freehand wool embroidery on felt.

French knots and split stitch make up the embroidered mandala design.

I’m delighted to have my work tested in the raw, wet winters of Newfoundland, and I love that the colors of this particular hat echo those of icebergs born of the North Atlantic. Seems particularly fitting!

Latest Freehand Embroidery: Red-Hot Denim Blues Mandala

Posted on 2 April 2012 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

Recently, I was contacted by Gayle in Portland, Oregon, who’s ready for a new hat.

She loved the original Red-Hot Blues French-knot Mandala I embroidered last summer. But that hat found a new home with Gwen at the 2011 League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair:

Although not generally a “hat person”, Gwen’s blue eyes perfectly match her new felt hat.

I strive to create felt hats as unique as the wearer, so I didn’t want to re-create the exact same hat. Instead, Gayle selected several yarn colors she liked, and gave me her head-size measurements.

As luck would have it, I had a suitable hat, felted & ready for embroidering just waiting in my studio. And in between games at my 1st-ever coed hockey tournament this weekend, I was able to embroider it: