Christine Eborall

For some years I’ve been designing and handmaking caps and hats and weaving tapestries with discarded plastic. The caps and hats have now taken over, but at BEAT I shall be exhibiting some of my remaining tapestries too.

After studying millinery design at Kensington & Chelsea College, I’ve been designing and hand-making casual hats and caps in my workroom in Ealing. My focus is solely on everyday hats, which people often don’t wear because they find it difficult to find anything suitable or that fits. I aim to produce hats and caps which fit, are informal and undemanding to wear yet look stylish, confident… and fun.

The fit of hats is very important and often overlooked. I normally make in three headfitting sizes (small 55-56 cm, medium 57-58 cm, large 59-60 cm), but can make larger or smaller as well.

I prefer to reuse and recycle whenever possible. I have an extensive collection of unwanted, often donated, fabrics and most of my knitted hats are made from surplus yarns from fine knitwear manufacturers in Britain, Italy and elsewhere in Europe. At BEAT you’ll be welcome to try on as many hats and caps as you want, in peace and quiet. I also sell at a few local craft markets.

After 15 years of tapestry weaving, I feel I’ve taken it as far as I want. Tapestry weaving is an ancient art form, but instead of using traditional materials such as wool, silk or linen, I wove only with discarded plastics. I’ve used various images to convey my concerns about the wastefulness and non-recyclability of much of the plastic we’re continuing to use. During BEAT I will be showing my remaining tapestries.

All my BEAT proceeds will be donated to the UNICEF Ukraine appeal.