Grieving and healing through Huntlie Rose’s hats
From hats to headbands, d’Entremont finds her creative passion
Tessa d’Entremont has found a way to grieve and heal through creating.
The Lower Wedgeport, Yarmouth County, woman’s story began a few years ago when she and her husband, Chad, decided to have a baby. For more than two years, the couple struggled with infertility, until d’Entremont finally became pregnant.
“After taking several rounds of fertility medications, we were so excited when it finally happened,” she says.
Due to complications, d’Entremont went into early labour and she delivered their first born: Huntlie Rose on Nov. 9, 2020. She was born alive but only spent a very short period of time with her parents.
“It was the best and worst day of our lives. I was then left on a maternity leave with no baby,” she says.
After being off work for some time, d’Entremont says her husband told her she should get a new hobby to help keep her mind occupied. She had always kept busy in the summer with gardening and outdoor activities, but in the winter, she always counted down the days until the spring.
But then she saw some people online making hats with knitting machines and she instantly knew she could make them, too. She initially hoped to make enough for her family and friends that wanted one, as well.
Next, in honour of Huntlie, d’Entremont ordered the little tags that read “Huntlie Rose” and felt that each person who wore these hats would all bring a little piece of Huntlie with them to all the places she would never be able to go.
This was the start of her business, Huntlie Rose Hats. She officially launched her Facebook page on Jan. 24, 2021, and created an Instagram page soon after.
Her focus was initially only making hats, sized infant to adult, but this year, also started making headbands for infants, toddlers and adults.
She initially made 25 hats for family and friends, but in the first week she received over 100 orders. Since that time, in only a year, d’Entremont says she has sold almost 600 hats or headbands.
"I have never been so proud of something I created, especially
with Huntlie’s name on the tag... It is very rewarding to make each item; I never expected this to get so big," she says.
“My husband always says, ‘I told you to get a hobby, not start a business’. But we are both so proud of what this little business has become."
There are so many people that order hats who simply just like the product. They don’t even know the story behind it, she says.
Overall, d’Entremont says she doesn’t consider herself a crafty person. She has made some homemade quilts in the past, and occasionally likes to re-do furniture. Her biggest enjoyment, however, is gardening and spending time at their shanty on Deep Cove (Tusket Islands).
Knitting is a different story. Years ago, d’Entremont says she used a knitting loom; however, she now makes all her hats with a knitting machine.
When watching the process, it seems very easy, but there is a knack to it, she says.
"My friends have tried to make hats with my machine, and they didn’t turn out! Its more than just cranking a machine, you are constantly
watching things like the tension," she explains.
In one year, d’Entremont has gone through five knitting machines. She says she was waiting for the “Cadillac version” of the knitting machines, which she now has. This is the Addi King knitting machine. They are in high demand and are made in Germany, she notes.
As for knowing what to knit next or what style to create, d’Entremont says she mostly goes with what colours are trending and the current style.
"I mostly get pattern ideas from you tube videos, but always tweak them to my liking. It’s a trial and error for them all," she says, noting that’s what makes it fun and challenging.
“I only post about onequarter of the things I make as I get so many personal requests or several orders for one particular hat or headband I’ve posted,” she says.
A lot of times clients just match their winter jackets for themselves or their kids. This year, however, the trending colour is forest green. She has sold over 50 hats or headbands in just that colour.
There are other patterns d’Entremont plans to eventually sell, but she just can’t keep up with orders on her current patterns. Her clients, she says, are very patient, as there are times they wait over a month for their order.
Besides, this is supposed to be a hobby for d’Entremont; however, it has become a part time job, along with being a nurse the rest of the time.
To source her supplies, d’Entremont says she gets 85 per cent of her yarn from Clarence’s in Saulnierville, wanting to support local as much as she can. They now refer to her as “The hat lady from Wedgeport”.
“They know when I go there, I’m likely going to be buying over 100 skeins of yarn at once. They often factor me in their bulk orders,” she says.
As for the Huntlie Rose tags, they are all ordered through Etsy from another small business in Ontario called “My little Work Bench” and the tags are all vegan leather.
In the future, d’Entremont hopes to open an Etsy Shop and add scarves and child headbands to her list of products.
As for advice for others who may be thinking of pouring their love and grief into a project, d’Entremont says life is so short. We always wait for next
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week or next year.
“If someone has an idea or a passion, do it now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and would you be sad you didn’t pursue something you’ve always wanted to if you knew tomorrow would be your last day?” she asks.
Sometimes, hobbies that keep you going each day when grieving, become the most rewarding small businesses, she says.
She also says to other couples who are trying to conceive to never give up and never to lose hope.
“This has been the most trying year of our lives and this small business has helped tremendously, but at the end of the day, I know there are still lots of people in similar situations like us,” she says.
Anyone wishing to view Huntlie Rose hats or make an order, can do so through both Facebook and Instagram under “Huntlie Rose.”