Baby's Hat c. 1920 - 1930

This baby's hat was made by a Turkoman artist and it’s now here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s this gorgeous dome shape, covered in tiny, meticulous stitches. The colors are muted – reds, yellows, purples – but they pop against the off-white background. You can tell the artist took such care with each stitch, building up these concentric circles of pattern. Looking at it, I’m thinking about process. The maker wasn’t just trying to get to a finished product. The making *was* the thing. You can almost feel the maker’s hands, slowly turning and shaping this piece, adding stitch by stitch. The texture is amazing too, slightly bumpy and uneven. It gives the hat this real handmade feel. It's like each stitch has its own little personality. It reminds me of the quilts made by the Gee’s Bend quilters. Like their quilts, this hat elevates everyday materials into something truly beautiful and meaningful. It’s more than just a hat; it’s a record of time, labor, and love.