{"id":24303,"date":"2023-05-20T20:17:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-21T00:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=24303"},"modified":"2023-05-20T20:19:58","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T00:19:58","slug":"episode-821-bread-bag-hats-and-kathleen-simpson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=24303","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 821 BREAD BAG HATS AND KATHLEEN SIMPSON"},"content":{"rendered":"
EPISODE 821  BREAD BAG HAT\u2026COURTESY OF KATHLEEN SIMPSON<\/p>\n

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alan skeoch<\/div>\n
may 20, 2023<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, Alan,I remember that story you did on CBC radio about the Bead Bag hat.\u201d said Nancy Smith last Friday <\/div>\n
\u201cYou have  a good memory\u2026story happened decades ago.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cKathleen Simpson was the hat maker\u2026.sold the hats at their farm auction .\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThe auctioneer took time to explain how Kathleen gathered a pile of bread bags then got her crochet hook working. \u201c<\/div>\n
 “About 30 years ago or more bread was packaged in colourful plastic bags.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI think I should do tat story again.”<\/div>\n

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I did not need to do the story again.  Instead I punched up \u201cbread bag hats\u2019 on my computer and Presto! There<\/div>\n
was the story and a picture of me with my bread bag hat.<\/div>\n

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ALAN WITH THE BREAD BAG HAT<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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One  of  my favourite radio  broadcasts\u2026kind I enjoyed  doing\u2026was  the Case of the BREAD  BAG HAT.\"\"alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bread-bag-hat-300×197.jpg<\/a> 300w, alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bread-bag-hat-768×503.jpg<\/a> 768w, alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bread-bag-hat.jpg<\/a> 1280w” sizes=”(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px” style=”box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px;”><\/p>\n

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We were at a  farm  auction near Marsville, Ontario, about 20 years ago when the auctioneer casually put up a few odd looking hats.  Hats  like  something I had never seen before.<\/div>\n
\u201cLadies and gentlemen these  hats have been  made from  bread  bags.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBread  bags?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cPlastic bread bags just like these,\u201d and he  held  up some bread bags some  of which were Wonder Bread  and others.<\/div>\n
\u201cMrs. Simpson hates to see things wasted so when she saw all these plastic bags  going to land fill sites she used  here  rug making skills and  began  making bread  bag hats.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cFor auction?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, right now\u2026Do  I have a  bid?\u201d<\/div>\n
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So Marjorie and I bought  a few bread bag hats  and the following week  I turned  it into a radio program.  People  seemed  interested.  Take a look at the hat.<\/div>\n
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Just for fun I tried variations on the expression \u201cbread bag Hat\u201d such as \u201chow to make a bread bag hat\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHats made from bread bags\u201d etc etc.  And each time a picture of Kathleen Simpsons\u2019 hat appears. <\/div>\n
Guess whose mug appears under the hat?  A moment of unexpected fame.The real fee goes to<\/div>\n
Katleen Simpson and her decsion to keep plastic bags away from landfills.  A leading lady.<\/div>\n

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alan skeoch<\/div>\n

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HOW TO MAKE A BREAD BAG HAT<\/div>\n

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Recycled Plastic Bag Hat <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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This hat is made from <\/span>used <\/span>plastic grocery bags. The bags are cut into strips and crocheted. The result looks a lot like a straw hat. It can be scrunched, folded, washed and\/or stomped on without damage. And best of all, it’s all recycled! <\/span><\/p>\n

This was my first project in crochet, and it’s really easy. The most boring (and therefore the hardest) part is cutting the plastic bags into strips. <\/span><\/p>\n

Materials: <\/span><\/p>\n

20 – 30 plastic grocery bags, cut in strips
Crochet Hook size J (6mm) or closest size. Use wood or metal hook, plastic hooks stick to <\/span><\/p>\n

the plastic bags. <\/span>*See notes on back about bag choices + methods of cutting into strips. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is no gauge since bags come in many weights. The hat is measured in inches as you work. <\/span>The hat is worked in a spiral, all in single crochet (sc), with increases and decreases determining the shape. <\/span><\/p>\n

Top: <\/span><\/p>\n

Use your favorite circle method and sc 8 sts into a circle.
<\/span>**I use the <\/span>Magic Adjustable Ring<\/span>, by Donna Hulka. See ** next page. <\/span>Since the hat is worked as a spiral this is where you should place a marker to keep track of your rounds (see below). <\/span><\/p>\n

Work 2 sc into each stitch (st) until you have 16 sts. After this keep increasing as much as you need to keep the circle flat. <\/span>You need to increase 6 – 8 times in each full circle, so you <\/span><\/p>\n

could place a stitch marker and keep count. Or, like me, you could just guess, and if it starts to curl increase more, or if it looks ruffled stop increasing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Side: <\/span><\/p>\n

When the circle is around 7 inches in diameter stop increasing. Continue to sc in every st until the hat is the height you want (try it on). 4 inches is a reasonable minimum. <\/span><\/p>\n

Brim: <\/span><\/p>\n

You now need to start increasing again. (I usually increase every 3rd st for the first row, to give it a definite turn.) Then work as you did on the top until your brim is as wide as you desire. Bind off and wear! <\/span><\/p>\n

Optional: <\/span>Stitch in a sweatband of some stretchy fabric (old t-shirt?) for comfort.
Add a band and\/or decorations. Put a string or shoelace in to tie it under your chin<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Variations: <\/span><\/p>\n

To give to top edge of your hat definition, sc into the front loop on the last round before turning. Make your hat have a round top by increasing less often. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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*Notes on bags.
Bags come in many sizes, colors and weights. It is easiest to use bags of all one weight, but really, anything goes. Cut heavier bags into more narrow strips.
To make strips: <\/span><\/p>\n

method #1: Spiral cut. Trim off the bottom and handles of the bag. Start at one end and cut into a continuous spiral. The width of the strip is your choice, wider strips need bigger crochet hooks. My favorite method is to put the bag over a pole or tube (broomstick or vacuum cleaner tube?) and hold the scissors and pull the bag towards you. You don’t actually need to snip. <\/span><\/p>\n

method #2 : Loops. Fold the bag lengthwise into quarters and cut strips across it (more narrow than the spirals)…these make loops. Loop the loops to each other to make a continuous double weight strip, with little lumpies where they are attached. <\/span><\/p>\n

I personally don’t like crocheting with those little lumps, so I use the spiral method.
<\/span>** <\/span>Magic Adjustable Ring <\/span>(http:\/\/www.crochetme.com\/Dec_Jan_0405\/reads_round.html<\/a>) <\/span><\/p>\n

Make a loop. Hold the “yarn” where it crosses and reach your hook through to grab the “yarn” to make a single crochet. Make 8 scs and pull the tail to tighten the loop. <\/span><\/p>\n

Crochet links:
If you’ve never done crochet you can learn here. If you’re a pro you can get ideas. <\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/learntocrochet.lionbrand.com\/<\/a> – basic instructions in a pdf. http:\/\/www.anniesattic.com\/<\/a> – Stitch instructions in quicktime videos http:\/\/www.crochetme.com\/<\/a> – Online crochet magazine http:\/\/www.turn-of-the-century.com\/hooks.htm<\/a> – Gorgeous hand turned wooden hooks <\/span><\/p>\n

Basic single crochet stitch (sc). <\/span>But please, get a basic book or check out the links above. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Insert hook, put yarn over it and pull through. 2 loops are on hook. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Loop yarn over hook again and pull through both loops. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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One single crochet complete. On all rows after first circle insert hook through both loops of lower stitch. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Instructions by Jeanne Borofsky, <\/span>the Dreaming Printer <\/span>\u2022 http:\/\/dreamingprinter.com<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EPISODE 821  BREAD BAG HAT\u2026COURTESY OF KATHLEEN SIMPSON alan skeoch may 20, 2023 \u201cOh, Alan,I remember that story you did on CBC radio about the Bead Bag hat.\u201d said Nancy Smith last Friday  \u201cYou have  a good memory\u2026story happened decades ago.\u201d \u201cKathleen Simpson was the hat maker\u2026.sold the hats at their farm auction .\u201d \u201cThe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24303\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}