McGuire, Tess

Tess McGuire Hatmaker is based in Kelseyville, in Northern CA.

Growing up in Switzerland, I loved knitting from an early age. Fortunately, I grew up in a culture that, to this day, values traditional crafts. In grade school, girls had to take many years of knitting, sewing, and embroidery lessons.

I discovered felting (or fulling, as the technical term for felting knitted garments is known), when I came across a felted hat at a yarn shop about ten years ago. I became fascinated with the process that involves using hot water, soap, and friction to turn a loosely knitted fabric into a warm, solid, and virtually waterproof garment. I have been experimenting with different shapes and colors ever since.

After several years of making hats part-time and selling them through shops and galleries, I took the leap and began attending art and craft festivals seven years ago. I sell my hats all over California and the United States.