Karma Kaps - Resilient Generations

The Karma Kaps project has grown from my love for textile and desire to leave the world a better place than I found it. I have been spinning since I was 15 years old, but life got in the way for many years. During Covid, I started making hats. You can find the images of the hats I have made over the past year for various people in the ribbon below. With the recent purchase of a new spinning wheel, a desire to spin dog hair, and a big hairy dog, I started making hats out of dog hair (mixed with lambswool). People often asked to pay for the hat, but that did not seem like good Karma. You cover the cost of the materials and a little labour (a cost to you of $50.00), and an additional charge of $100.00 is the Karma. The $100 provides business loans to young entrepreneurs through Resilient Generations. If you have dog hair you would like to donate, let me know, and please follow us on Instagram @karmakaps

The images below tell the story of the hats I have made and the loans they have provided.

This project was so fun. These hats are made out of this family’s Samoyed Nyota’s hair. The hair is mixed with lambswool. The green wool in the two hats was purchased as unspun wool from Knotty by Nature The other two hats are made of Samoyed hair and Husky.

How are these hats made?

Step 1: Dog hair is required (dog hair is then washed and washed and washed..some of it is kinda dirty)

Step 2: Tease the dog hair after it is washed so it can be carded.

Step 3: Purchase carded lambs wool.

Step 4: Card the dog hair and lambs wool together

Step 5: Spin the carded wool

Step 6: Take the wool of the spindles and roll into balls

Step 7: Knit the hats.

If you purchase a hat you will also be supporting the growth of a business for a young entrepreneur in Africa.

Thank you for your support.