Yeehaw! Custom cowboy hats are the hottest trend riding the western frontier right now! If you find yourself out west, be sure to explore the fantastic shops where you can choose from a vibrant rainbow of hat colors and jazz them up with custom ribbons, playing cards, jewelry, and all sorts of accessories. Feeling adventurous? You can even brand your own hat!

Now you might wonder what this has to do with embroidery. Well, let me take you on a little journey! Last year, I went wild and crafted a colossal 40”x40” cowboy hat for one of my galleries in Aspen. I realized that both embroidery and hat making are all about adding that special touch to make something uniquely yours. The twist? Embroidery is a flat art, while hats have that fabulous dimension. So, my challenge was to create a hat design that popped with dimension.

Brims with Attitude: With over 10 sayings, and even a blank brim for your own message, let your hat speak your mind!

Running Stitch Embellishments: Add flair with various embellishments like stars and other western symbols.

Stylin' Hat Bands: Pick from a range of trendy hat bands to suit your style.

Playing Cards Galore: Choose from over 25 playing cards to add a fun, personalized touch!

Pocket Knives: Because every cowboy should have one—add a pocket knife to your hat!

Feathers, Naturally!: No cowboy hat is complete without a feather or two!

So saddle up and get ready to unleash your creativity—your custom cowboy hat awaits!

No two hats will ever look the same, The options and combinations are endless.

After a fun mix of trial and error, I whipped up my first hat design…and then the second, third, and on it went! I even crafted a smaller, more manageable option that’s a breeze to customize—just for you!

I kicked things off with the hat made up of layered parts, utilizing running stitches in an abstract style. The final result? A stunningly dimensional masterpiece that looks incredible in any hue. From a distance, those subtle color shifts give a striking photographic effect! Then I got creative with the hat band, feathers, and accessories, layering them using some artsy embroidery techniques.

Here's where the fun really kicks in—you can make each hat uniquely yours! I’ve designed a whole bunch of accessories and customization options for you to choose from:

I have hosted my Hat Bar at stores throughout the country. The art pieces would be created on the spot for customers to take home.

All of the hats and elements are included in the Cowboy Hats Add-On collection for the Artful Embroidery Series.