A headband is my favourite solution on days when the wind wants to have its way with my hair and a hood won’t fit over a hat. I’ve put two versions side by side here: Helbepärg – crocheted with a textured pattern, and Helbevoog – a knitted, turban-style headband with a cable. Both are soft and stretchy, and so easy to wear every day that you forget you’ve got them on.
These two headbands actually came about in very different ways. Helbepärg was like a brisk spring morning, going from idea to finished piece in a couple of days, with the pattern spinning in my head and the yarn flying through my fingers. Helbevoog, on the other hand, took time because I wanted the line of the cable to be perfect and the edges to keep their shape even after a whole day behind the taxi wheel or with the wind blowing at me in Vormsi harbour. In the end, both became things I’m happy to wear even when there isn’t a camera around.
Helbepärg is the one you put on and don’t have to fiddle with afterwards. The textured surface keeps the headband in place, and the edges are soft and don’t start pulling behind the ears. It’s my ‘grab it and go’ headband: always ready, always reliable. The yarn is pleasantly fluffy with just the right amount of firmness, so it doesn’t stretch out or go limp by evening.
Helbevoog is a completely different character. It has a turban-like shape, with the cable running diagonally and creating a soft line around the face, especially nice with hair worn loose or in a bun. When I wear it in the car, I almost feel as if I’m in an old Hollywood film: soft light, warm wool and a little mystery. A few customers have even asked where I bought that ‘shop headband’. I smile and say, ‘Not from a shop. Maimu helped with the crochet.’
Maimu, of course, comments every time that ‘Tiina, you could put all of these in one basket and add them to the shop’. And Bim? He tests the materials before I start working with them. If the cat grabs hold of the ball of yarn and starts purring, I know something good will come of it. ‘The cat certificate’ – no honest maker underestimates that!
One evening I was sitting at the kitchen table, yarn everywhere and a cup of coffee beside me. Big flakes of snow were falling outside the window. I thought about how many different patterns I’ve tried over the years, and how every pattern has a mood of its own. Helbepärg’s texture demands a steady rhythm and attention, while Helbevoog’s cable lets the imagination wander. Just like life: one gives structure, the other gives room to breathe.
Seen side by side, the two are like sisters. One straight-laced and systematic, the other slightly bohemian. But both keep you warm, both are made with love and without rushing. A crochet hook and knitting needles are like extensions of my thoughts in my hands, making visible what I can’t always put into words. A headband is a simple thing, but there is always a little piece of soul inside it.
‘Child, that texture holds beautifully. It won’t slip anywhere!’ – Maimu
‘Warm head, purr. That cable fits as if it was made for it.’ – Bim
If you’re looking for a gift for yourself or a friend, a headband is a surprisingly good choice. It’s a small thing, but practical and personal. And if you put it in a gift parcel with a little note saying ‘made in Tiina Butiik’s little workshop’, you know you’re giving something that was genuinely made, not manufactured.
Every Helbepärg and Helbevoog is a little different, whether in the rhythm of the stitches or the shade of the yarn. And that is exactly what makes them real handmade pieces. If you’d like to see more photos, you’ll find them on the product pages below.