A felted hat can be a stylish and affordable way to create something unique and functional that is comfortable to wear three seasons of the year. Knit in the round in stockinette stitch, it’s not a difficult project and felting only takes about half an hour in your washing machine. Once felted, the wool is easily shaped into your preferred style, which may be a pork pie, bowler, or cloche--all classic and classy-looking hats.

You may be able to shape the hat using your fingers alone, with the use of pins, or by stretching it over a bowl, bucket, cake pan, or basket. Be sure that any potential form is smooth and won’t snag the wool.

Some 100% wool yarns are known for their felting potential. Avoid superwash yarns. I recommend Patons Classic Wool Worsted which comes in a good selection of shades, whether you need a neutral or a stand-out colour! However, a very pale shade may have been bleached, in which case it will not felt as well. It may shrink normally but still have stitch definition visible. This was my experience with the Seafoam shade.

Recommended as felting yarns by Yarn Canada:
Cascade 220 Solid yarn
Lopi Lettlopi yarn
Patons Classic Wool Worsted