crochet hat - the hatband©

The hatband© is a revolutionary item, I have made and designed it with and specifically for individuals with varying degrees of Tactile Defensiveness.

 

This is a term you may not recognise, as such, without patronisation this is what it means...

Tactile Defensiveness is a sensory difficulty resulting in over-responsivity to touch stimuli (basically you react in a negative way to touch/materials).

 

Tactile Defensiveness falls under the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) group.

SPD means that the brain can sometimes struggle to take in, organise and use sensory information.

Someone with tactile defensiveness may not be able to control their response to the physical sensations of certain materials.

 

Below is a small list of things that someone with spd may feel:

Individuals may experience tactile defensiveness in their whole body or just on certain parts of their body, for example, hands, feet, head, mouth.

 

If you or someone you know can identify with these feelings there is a chance you have SPD, perhaps you could speak with your Dr for further advice.

 

For those with SPD or the carers of those with SPD, you may already know that winter is a particularly difficult time of the year for sensory overload, layers upon layers irritate you, your hair gets stuck in your scarf which causes panic, your sleeves are up your coat somewhere and your vest is half way up your back, your hair is flopping into your face, your hat is blowing off in the wind or it's falling over your face (this gave me anxiety to write all in one go, eugh the memories!).

 

So, I wanted to try to resolve the problem of Winter hat wearing.

Having spoken with a wonderful friend who struggles with wearing the generic winter hat, she explained that she who could not find anything in the shops or online that was warm, comfortable and would keep their hair away from their face and the hat firmly on their head, we got to chatting and they put a solution to me - this is when The Crochet Hatband© was born.

 

Crafted with care, thought and empathy, this innovative combination of a hat and hairband provides comfort, functionality/warmth, and style.

Let’s delve into the details:

This hat can be made for children and adults, male/female/non-gendered

 

Dual Functionality:

Hat: The crochet hat is handmade from acrylic yarn or cotton (your choice), so no itchy sweaty wool, it can be made in any colour combination you wish (which helps with aversions to certain colours)

It can be made so that the crochet gaps are tight so there is minimal breeze to the head or it can be made so that the head can breathe with larger crochet gaps.

 

Headband: The integrated headband gently secures hair away from the face, preventing distractions and irritations caused by loose strands. The headband comes in different thicknesses, some people like the thin bands some prefer thick. You choose. The headband can also come in different colours. This will be hidden behind the ears and under the hat so it will not be visible unless you choose to make it that way.

 

Sensory-Friendly Features:

Soft Fabrics: I have chosen soft material that rarely irritates the skin. I say rarely because I don't want to assume that your aversion is only to scratchy wool. If you have an aversion to acrylic yarn I can make it in bamboo or cotton (cotton won't be as warm however).

There are no scratchy seams or sewn in washing instructions or handmade labels, the washing instructions are provided on a card separately.

 

Seamless Design: The hatband allows the hair to stay our of your face, stops the hat slipping down over your forehead and stops it blowing away in the wind.

 

Subtle Embellishments: If you require a detail adding to the hat please let me know, if I can crochet it I can add it on! Skulls, cars, cats, rainbows, names, anything (no copyrighted ones though)

Unisex Design: Suitable for all genders and ages, because sensory needs are not bound to age or gender.

Community-Driven Innovation:

 

I collaborated with individuals living with SPD and I have used my own lived experience as a mother to 3 children with varying sensory processing and mental health needs to create a product that truly meets their very different needs.

 

Your purchase of the Hatband will support ongoing research into other SPD items that I would like to make.

The Sensory-Friendly Hatband isn’t just a necessary accessory for winter; it’s a tool for empowerment, it will allow individuals with SPD to navigate the winter world with confidence and comfort.

 

Once you have made your purchase I will contact you and we will work on colours/embellishments/hairband size. If I have eveything in stock I can post the following day, if not, you may be waiting for up to a week but I will keep you updated.