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It’s the way it’s made
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Patch it rather than discarding it
While the pattern of the beanie is pretty unique — a criss cross knit with 100% merino wool — it’s not the most novel part of it. What makes it take the world by storm, is the way it’s made. Reverting to the 400 year old recipe:
Over 3500 knitting hours worth of beanie
And 41 American States
Norwegians have sworn to wool since ancient times — all the way until today.
Wool is praised for
In 1932, grandma was only 5 years old when she asked an old widow who lived on the attic to teach her to knit.
The first scarf she made for her doll was not a masterpiece, but it was the beginning of something great.
Two generations later, her daughter and grandson (having grown up with hand knit wool his entire life) founded Red Hat Factory. A brand established to honor the Norwegian knitting heritage by providing genuinely hand knit beanies to the world.
Now the three generations work together. Grandma knitting — mom designing patterns, knitting, and coordinating Norwegian logistics — and the son crafting the brand and communications out of Sweden where he lives.
It was not an easy journey by any means. Presenting a hand knit product at a value up to par with how it's made is never easy. It’s very much striving against the machinery of modern manufacturing. But that's a strain that gives us energy, and exactly the company we wanted to found. A family company providing hand knit beanies, knit in Norway.
We worked out a model where Norwegian ladies (only ladies for now) who already knit, will craft batches of beanies for us on order. These are often stay at home parents, or retired ladies who have knit ever from childhood.
For them to be able to monetize it with no marketing work, is a fun endeavor for the ones who join us.
Currently we are connected to 26 Norwegians who knit the occasional batch for us, and we've made sure to stay stocked up as far as we can make it. Every single beanie is signed with the initials of the knitter.
And grandma is still very much a part of it.
We’ll never forget January ’22, when she at the age of 95 churned out 30 beanies — only one short of one per day.
Just received it. Love the material, love the design, love how it fits onto my head. Perfect colour. Will definitely buy more. I lived in a very hot climate country. BRUNEI!!!
It’s just amazing! Fits perfectly, you can really feel the amazing quality of the wool and they are just great if you love wearing something on your head!
I’ve ordered 2 (a red Ona and an olive one) but the sizing is a bit different! The red one fits me better. Maybe that’s a little point of critique for the cool people behind this awesome brand!
The north cap is a beautiful product that keeps you head warm and fit wise, the more you wear it the more it molds to your head! Safe to say I’ve been wearing it daily.
What a wonderful hat! Luxuriously soft, made with quality and care- I love this.
It’s comfortable, stays put and is lean enough to easily stash when necessary.
Knowing it’s the handy work of a conscientious person adds so much more meaning and connection.
Beautiful hand knit beanie that expands to fit your head. Can’t recommend more and communication was fantastic.
I am looking for this hat for a long time, finally i found it here! So great hat!
The hat is pretty great, the fit is what you would expect from this style, that it is not so easy to find online.
I wish it would’ve been made 1oo% of wool, rather than just 8o%.
The only negative aspect is the long delivery time for international orders, as postal service is used and import duties are applicable.
Response from Red Hat Factory
Thank you for the review! I am happy to say that we have now moved our entire storage over to Sweden to offer better shipping times, and tracking on all shipping, including free.
It is a very handsome hat, but more importantly I do not have to stretch it to fit my rather large head.
I particularly like the chunky yarn.
Throughout the fall and the winter season I love to wear beanies and the Westcoaster is at the top of the list of those I own.
One of my favorite things about the Westcoaster is the ability to change the fold, to make it a little longer or a little shorter, depending on how I like to wear it, the elasticity and quality of the wool also makes it fit perfectly to my head (and yours too, seeing is believing).
It keeps very warm, and this for a beanie I would say is a pretty important thing.
I have to say that since adding the Westcoaster to my beanie collection it has made my choice much easier when I’m undecided about which one to wear.
Best beanie out there, handmade, with a beautiful texture and super warm. I don’t need anything else!
The westcoaster is just amazing. It has a “fluffier” look than the Southlander, and the material is just amazing. Super soft and easy on the head, it’s quite elastic as well. Thank you very much RHF, every time I wear your hat I’m super happy! 🙂
This is the only beanie you’ll ever need! I’ve used mine a lot – and its quality is impeccable! Beautiful handcraft that is made to last<3
It is just starting to get cold here in Michigan and I can already say that this hat has replaced all of my other dome warmers. It is comfortable, warm, and best of all; it fits in my pocket.
Although winter hasn’t beguines yet here in South Dakota we’ve had some cooler days. The day I received my Westcoaster was one of those days soon after it arrived I had do be outside so I put on my cap WOW! I was surprised as how warm and comfortable it was I’m not normally a wool person this is definitely my new favorite hat.
There’s no doubt the care that went into the Westcoaster beanie. The quality, finish is first hand, along with it’s style. A must have for the winter!
Our family loves Red Hat Factory!
Great quality and cozy. We got hats for the adults and kids!
After spending quite a few winters in Australia, where it gets surprisingly cold (especially when you add some wind and rain to the mix), I’m still struggling to find high quality warm clothing.
However, I was super happy with my own Redhat, so when my daughter was born, the Bay Bee was one of the first things I wanted to get to keep her warm for the winter.
Even though she was only a couple of months when winter started, it had a great fit. Very high quality knits, as well as super comfy for her to wear (I haven’t seen her pull it off).
Having loved my own beanie so much, I’m excited that I could introduce my daughter to her own RedHat already.
We love the Beanie for our baby! If you have a newborn you can just wrap it twice and its fits perfect!
From the first time I put the North Cap on, its has become an extension of my head. I always wear it, apart perhaps from the hottest summer days. I love everything about this woolly hat – the fit, the colors available and the fantastic wool! Highly recommended!
I go everywhere with my red hat .
I ordered the red southlander; stylish, warm, comfortable, high quality and love the fact that it’s traditionally handcrafted what really makes it a bonus!
Have been using it almost every day now, especially with my outdoor activities (hiking, camping, …) but it goes perfectly in the city as well.
Just love how the red color stands out 🙂
It looks small when you first see it but it stretches to a comfortable fit with no itching after a while.
Definitely will get another in a different color!
I expected this to be a good quality hat when I ordered it. But it is so much more! When it first arrived I was worried it would be too small (I have a really big head). But it fits perfectly (so long as you understand this is an on-top-the-ears hat). The color is fantastic – I got the yellow/orange, and the yarn is vibrant and beautiful. The knitting is extremely well done, and it’s a tight enough knit pattern that when it stretches, it not only keeps a good form, but it also stays really warm. I’ve been wearing it every day for two weeks now, there are no stitches out of line, and it’s gotten more comfortable with every wear. Can’t recommend these hats enough!
Awesome toque, I have a lot of different toques but this one is very comfortable, looks good, feels awesome, Even my wife likes it on me
The moment you feel the hat you know that it is a high quality piece of gear. It looks small when you first see it but stretches to comfortably fit your head and keeps your head warm the entire time you are outdoors. I couldn’t be more pleased with the purchase.
Stylish and comfy!
I have Southlander blue hat and I like it. It’s well made, stylish, cosy and very warm. Probably will get another one in different colour!
Great little hat with a lot of character. Made with love from the motherland is an added bonus to my cousteau beanie. Recommended.
In a perfect world, my own mother would have knitted this hat for me, but none of the hats I have gotten from her has had this style and look (don’t tell her that). To be able to buy a hat, this good looking, that someone elses mother has hand-knitted, is as close to perfect as I can get. No itching, perfect size and shape, it only looks better with use, and of course the beautiful red color! (Yes, you need to get the red one first!)
I love this cosy hat, really comfortable and warm. And of course it’s an added bonus that I look like a character from the life aquatic!
Hands down my fav. I personally own 4 of this model. Which says a lot about the product. The only way to get your hands on a hat of this quality, is to find yourself a Norwegian grandmother or just buy for RHF. Seriously the best.
This traditionally handcrafted knit cap is a true gem! The red color provides a nice pop of color and goes very well with everything from raw denim to outdoorsy clothing. And what I personally like very much with this particular model is it’s small size, which is perfect for us with quite small heads 😏.
Highly recommended!
Stylish, classic. Iconic
I got one southlander, as well as a custom knit beanie in merino wool and dyed with tumeric from mom’s market. I love them both, though they do have a very different feel. The yellow merino wool one feels like a looser knit and the yard is a bit thinner, which is honestly nicer in slightly warmer northern california days. The regular is a bit thicker and not quite as loose a knit. When I got them I was suprised, they’re a little looser knit than other hats of the same style that I’ve gotten and also seemingly a little smaller, but they stretch and look great. They’re a bit pricey, but I totally get that they’re handmade, which I think is great and is worth the knowledge that real people are actually making them.
I’ve owned my Red Southlander for a bit more than two years now, and the longer I have it, the more I fall in love with it.
Not to say I didn’t love it immediately, cause that would be a lie, but the more I wear it, the more it just feels like an extension of myself. The way it fits perfectly to my head is unlike any other beanie I’ve ever owned, I sometimes even forget it’s up there!
I’ve realized this hat only gets better with time and is versatile like no other. My favorite memories while wearing it range from days spent in the mountains to cutting hair at the barber shop I work at and some hearty urban exploring. It’s meant for every adventure.
If I haven’t said enough yet, my friends really like it too 🙂
Cannot commend this product enough! Intricately woven sheep wool that metaphorically resembles that of Mozart’s symphonies or Van Gohg’s paintings. I’ve had mine for almost two years now, and it’s never let me down! It keeps me warm when cold, dry when wet, and unique in a world full of followers. Choose to screw the system, stand out, stand taller, stand firm. Choose the North Cap!
The Southlander has a great shape, it is not too thick, yet still warm. Mine is still a bit tight, but I expect it to expand the more I use it. Would have liked it to be a bit longer because I like to have it over my ears, while now it is just partly covering. True to color on website (I have Olive color).
This was a gift, and absolutely loved the feel and look of it. Would definitely get more in other colors.
This has become my go-to beanie. Super comfy, keeps my head warm (obviously) and as a photographer, it’s great for making my subjects pop and stand out in the photos.