Creativity DIY: Crochet Beret & Headband for Summer
Create your own exercise friendly crochet beret or headband! Inspired by that ubiquitous unisex 80s/90s colorful headband sported by the likes of Duran Duran, Andre Agassi, and Prince, this month’s theme is DIY headband and beret.
But not just any kind of beret. Often associated with food service and vintage 40s wear, this one’s a cross between a hairnet, snood, and beret that allows for summer time breathability. Add color and pop for pop culture associations!
Summer Hats
I’ve only ever visited Japan in the summer, where humidity mixes with global warming level heat. Whenever I’m there, I get a sudden shopper’s craze for hats. So many people wear hats there in the summer along with long sleeved gloves meant to protect from the sun and mosquito bites. It almost feels Victorian in skin coverage. There, energy conservation feels real, with air conditioning kept just below comfortable (like if you move, you feel a bit uncomfortable). And people line dry their expensive fashions rather than using dryers.
Every hat I was drawn to one summer was an environmentally friendly paper hat made soft or firm by the blend of paper with fabrics. A couple of brands I returned to was CA4LA, which had boutiques in major shopping districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, and Rope Picnic, which seemed to be in all trendy shopping districts. You can find the former also on Grailed and eBay. The latter has resale value and can be found on Poshmark and Thred Up.
Characteristics to look for in Summer Hats:
- Breathability (by structure and fiber content, like cotton and linen)
- Sun protection (some hats even have a UV protection label)
- Hair restraint (for those of us who need it)
- Sweat absorption (and therefore, washability)
Crochet Resources
Crochet is an entry-level beginner-friendly craft that can be meditative in process and social, inspiring knitting circles. You just need to be sure of the crochet hook size for the yarn weight or gauge, which is provided per project. For this crochet beret, I followed a design by Kim Werker on Craftsy.com in a class called, Crochet in the Round.
My favorite crochet hooks so far have been:
and
They can feel like an investment, so if you’re just starting out, you can just purchase individual hooks at the size needed.
Yarn Brands
- Crochet hat
- Mirasol Pima Splash – 100% cotton, #4 medium weight (orange)
- Headbands
- Mirasol Pima Splash – 100% cotton, #4 medium weight (natural color)
- Universal Yarn, Universe – 42% linen, 41% combed cotton, 9% glitter, 8% polyamide, #1 superfine weight (glittery, black and white striped yarn)
- Uluru – 55% cotton, 26% acrylic, 19% polyester, $1 superfine weight (Tahiti Teal)
Yarn Vendors
- WEBS Yarn Store
- Piedmont Yarn (my local yarn store in Oakland)
This video is in tandem with some core workout ideas I present @artbeatf on Instagram.
I also present key characteristics to watch for in summer hats and environmentally-friendly paper hats reinvented from Japan by some trendy brands, CA4LA, and Rope Picnic.
Crochet Classes/Demos
The crochet beret as mentioned before is from Crochet in the Round on Craftsy.com. Learning how to crochet a beret takes a bit more effort and is classically crocheted from the center out. So you do need to first learn how to crochet in a circle. Other projects like a beanie hat lead you toward the beret.
The boho bobble twist headband in the video was taken from a YouTube demo by A Crafty Concept. She also has a bobble messy bun beanie, which doesn’t require crocheting in the round and is the ultimate beginner project for its accessibility.
Feel free to post your creations here!
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