Gorgeous handmade hat’s by Rosebea

It’s that time of year again when it’s clear that we have to say goodbye to the summer and stock up on those essentials to see us through the autumn and winter. Living in Cumbria means a warm, snuggly hat is always a must as we head into the colder months and whilst browsing online I discovered the amazing RoseBea Hats.

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Rosebea Hats was originally launched in February 2015 by Rosie and Beatrice in the North East of England, however is now based in Forres, Scotland with Rosie at the helm after Bea sadly passed away last year. Their company was created after Bea was asked to crochet some hats for Rosie’s new granddaughter. Having been unable to source the style they wanted in the UK Bea was coerced into making her some and the rest as they say is history! RoseBea Hats was born. Originally working behind the scenes Rosie then reignited her love of crochet after nearly 40yrs to help with production.

Rosie hasn’t always worked in the crochet business. She has previously owned and run a bakery and a language company as well as being a published author and has been self-employed for 30+ years. However since being diagnosed with Lupus in 2013 she has had to slow things down and take life at a much slower pace, finding crocheting a calming and creative force which she enjoys.

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Rosie kindly sent my son Leo a fox hat to review – this style can be made with or without flaps for toddlers and can be made in any size right up to adult – they would look very cute for twinning with your little one! The quality is fantastic and is very thick and substantial, ideal for keeping the cold out and the warmth in. My favourite part however is the ears! They have been crocheted in such a way that they stand to attention beautifully without flopping, meaning you are able to appreciate the full beauty of the fox look. The attention to detail is fantastic with Mr Fox even sporting whiskers on each side. The eyes and nose give the face a 3D effect and are firmly attached – they stood the toddler tugging test! the product being made of a wool / acrylic mix means it is lovely and soft on the skin and unlike other handmade hats my kids have had in the past and it isn’t itchy when wearing – a real must for any hat or they will flatly refuse to wear it!

The hats themselves take anywhere from a few hours to a number of days depending on how intricate and detailed they are and are made to order based on head size as this can vary quite a bit – of course remember children’s heads grow! Rosebea offer a wide range of hats for the whole family on their website, but are open to new challenges so if there is a design you have in mind feel free to contact them. They would make wonderful gifts, dare I mention Christmas?

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They are currently stocked at Pandora’s Emporium in Brora, but are also sold online via their website as well as a number of social media platforms (see below for details). They can also be found at a number of events and craft fairs throughout the year.