So now that you do basketry, and considering your bug situation...the obvious next step is a medieval beekeeper outfit, right?

Also I should add that you made a true summer hat--don't feel bad for the wrong time to harvest and short time you had to soak/prepare/cure the willow, things like this happened in the past all the time! If someone needed a new sun hat immediately during summer and they didn't have extra ready-to-weave reeds/willow/straw lying around, they'd do exactly what you did, probably with the same time constraints! Over time they would weave extra willow/bark/grass/whatever they could into the weave of the hat as it dried to help maintain its shading properties (so the wildflowers were on point too!). They usually wouldn't last long but they were almost more sentimental to the maker/wearer and were sometimes used as decoration after their working lifespan. You did an accidental historical reenactment!

Basket weaving can be super simple or incredibly complex, and your first attempt at a "hat-like object" turned out so well.

I can say, as a semi-professional basket maker for the past 30 years and posessor of my own willow withes (willow "sticks", usually used in fabrication) grove, you did a FANTASTIC job!

Okay but the addition of the bug net at the end was such a ✨vibe✨ It made me think of a widow using the stems of her husband's funeral flowers to weave a new hat...and she has like a bunch of woven hats 😂

Adding the flowers made me think about Anne of Green Gables putting flowers in her hat on the way to church

Adding the bandana and then adding the black veil was such a "slowly morphing into the village witch" progression and I love it 🙌✨️

I love when cats "help"!

Literally squealed out loud (thankfully, to my empty house): "IT'S NEW MORGAN DONNEEEEEER" 😂❤

The cat is willing to run the sticks through his teeth ! 😅

send this project to Rachel Maksey. She would love it to add to her bog/forest witch dream.

“Bottom first. Top towards me… SPREAD!!!”

Now that you've learned to weave baskets and hat-like objects, perhaps a hedge fence is in the future?

A lovely skill to learn! My grandmother was a snow bird during the winters. They usually went to Alabama. There she learned how to make trivets and baskets with lids using some extraordinarily loooong pine needles. I'm so glad that she passed them down to me! I bet you could make a hat from them. I just looked up the name . It's called Southern Longleaf Pine. The needles grow between 8 to 18 inches long. Pinus palustris.

“Ideal”… using what you have, has always been, and will always be, a useful skill!! I love this project! 🥰

Maybe try sewing the bug veil to the edge of the hat, and gathering it in around your neck, so the bugs can't land on the veil and still reach your face

Honestly the version of the hat with the spikes standing out would be great for keeping people at a distance in public Or maybe as a statement piece for some haute couture cat walk

We need a tutorial on how you prepped your hair to wear your straw hats and willow hats!

Did you keep the scraps of willow? Allowed to steep in water, it makes an excellent rooting stimulator for all your plant propagation experiments. MORE PLANTS FROM YOUR PLANTS!

Morgan is just out here living her best life and it just makes me so happy. I’m living vicariously through you Morgan!

Suddenly the nets and veils in from ye olde times make so much sense. Bugs. I can't imagine the annoyance of being very aware you can't itch the bug bite but knowing it's right on your neck. Or even your hand! (I absolutely can imagine, I am mosquito bait)

Being able to see the improvement from the first attempt to the second is so cool! And the flowers on it are so lovely. I hope your cottage is doing well, those videos were so inspirational for some of my home decorating.

I love the idea of incorporating a net with the hat so you have a one-step bug and sun defeating combo!

I love how madam cat helped with the willow stripping

This is reigniting my periodic urge to figure out how to extract fiber from our backyard yucca.

Instead of just bending them and breaking the spokes when you change directions, I’d try to twist them as you bend them. The twist will keep them from breaking and will make them curve sharper.

Much chaos and things going everywhere - with pointy sharp ends on the sticks - and I imagine sore hands from wrestling them into place - and suddenly - actual useful item! It's amazing to watch something being made this way and I very much enjoyed the process and thought the outcome was wonderful and especially looked good with the bug-net!

This right here is quality entertainment. Love how your adorable gremlin was helping you out when you were removing the bark.

Your approach to projects always makes me smile, even when you think its a 'fail'. Please keep doing these fun projects and finding the joy in each one!

5:10 Well if you have anything that needs rooting that’s a mass of auxin hormone stuffed bark you just peeled off.

The hat is so cute! Even when placed flat for practicality! Also, I do love using the "wrong" materials for practice projects because it allows me to go into it with curiosity of methods rather than stressing about perfection. When I was making my first wool skirt I actually bought two colours of the same wool, one in the colour I wanted to wear, and one in a colour I'd be ok to wear but not scared to make with. And it made it so much easier to do the first make. I could play with finishings and iron settings and whatever else and accept that if it looked a bit iffy, I didn't mind. In the end, it turned out fine and I wear both all the time, but there were definite improvements in the second one thanks to the first (particularly with ironing and waistband construction).

Basket weaving has been around for thousands of years, and pieces have survived. Every culture every generation has its unique patterns ❤ What you have done Morgan is show that a skill can become adaptable and used to make beautiful hats. Great job, and wonderful idea. You are amazing. Lol and I love the dance with an octupus statement...😂

*whispers* colored washi tape on the ends of the cross parts when you get to the brim so its harder to confuse them when tired. I found that helped with my coil weaving

I never had any interest in basket weaving before, but now I desperately want to try it!

Why don't I have 35 free minutes RIGHT NOW for Morgan Donner and *hat weaving*??!?!

I have literally been wandering around our property with baskets on the brain, lol. This was very helpful, I feel like I got some thoughts out of my head. I am glad you chanted your weaving directions aloud. It really helped my brain follow along. I was most confused by the cordage. I wish you had done a visual about adding a secondary strand into your cordage twisting because basically, my brain just spun around confusedly when you said just add it and twist and twist and twist. And you were able to let it go after a certain point. Why didn't it just all untwist? And how do you finish it off? I think I need to watch that again, lol. Very simple, much confused 😂

We had our week of summer early this year in May. Since then I have only been out once without a jacket! Scottish weather 🤷‍♀️

you can use the cordage water to make a headache tea.

I can't help thinking of "Sunday in the Park with George." You finished the hat and it's beautiful!! There is nothing you won't try, and that is just so inspiring!

Note to self: save sticks.

We're on a wavelength! Summer hats! I didn't weave mine, but I turned a damaged old cowboy style hat and turned it into a fun more vintage historical flat circle hat. So fun!

This woman can make anything look cute!!!!! Also I’m loving your hair ❤️❤️❤️

Morgan would thrive on Gilligans Island 😂😂😂😂

I loved this video so much. I learned I could make a basket hat- and am now inspired to try to make a lantern( using solar LEDs ) for the solstice!

I'm impressed! Love the hat! While I love the offer from the online thrift store I won't use it since I actually work at a thrift store. Today we had an antique sewing machine come through that I recognized from Abby's video on the history of sewing machines. We also get tons of baskets through too.

I bet a metal nutcracker would work for debarking the willow. 😊

Very cuuuute! Instead of cutting the ends of the spokes, i would have suggested bending them back and weaving them in to keep the shape.

The bug net look is like almost merry widow or something! Amazing! I'd hazard a guess and say the lighter hats could be made the same way, except with stalks of reeds, grass, or flax. Round here, we coppice willows just after first growth, usually early April, which gives them a funny bowl in the crown of the tree. Those twigs, I think, might be even better than these new tree shoots.

Lovely ! Please don't change, you are so creative.

This is interesting. It's awesome that you actually did it. My parents have a gigantic grass plant that constantly needs trimming. I keep wondering if those would make a good hat, but I've never gotten around to trying it. I should really take this as inspiration and just do it.

Much like how Morgan can make another hat two times better, my day is now two times better having enjoyed yet another crafting video provided by our dear Morgan. Thank you for another wondrous dopamine side quest.

I love how conversational your videos are. I really feels like you’re talking to me even though I’m sure it requires many takes to get that perfect casual flow.

New morgan donn- Me: *clicks asap to watch outside in the summer sun*

I learned how to make a full woven willow wreath many years ago. The principles are so addictive even sitting in grass is a possible wreath making location!

It's fun how you approach new projects. Thanks for the video!

Would a pair of metal nutcrackers work to strip the bark??

The nonchalant delivery of "have you ever tried to dance with an octopus" caught me entirely off guard 😆

Cute. I used to weave wreaths with the red willows that grow around here. Never thought of weaving a hat.

something about the gold rings in your hair seem like such a natural extension from the ornamental belt buckles of yours, especially with the ribbons in there. I don't quite know how to describe why but I see it and think "oh, cool, that makes sense"

I think the bark is what they used to make an extremely bitter aspirin. The native Americans taught them that although they probably had Willows and England by that time.

Please please could you do a tutuorial on your hair with your hoops attatched, it’s so cute! I love it! The willow hat was fantastical, I’ve only made one basket once and it was mind boggling. I can’t believe how easily you put that together! Well done! 🙌

The weaving is great, but I especially was in awe with your great hairdo's in this clip!

I love the snow white outfit but it really reminded me of minions

I love it! Even if it isn't ideal, if you ever retire it, it would make fantastic door decor!

If ever a second hat weaving video gets produced - I believe the common solution to "spokes" that splay too far apart is to counter-spiral them in the direction opposite of the weavers. I've seen this demonstrated across several videos on weaving hats using palm fronds.

The casual addressing us whilst balancing the reeds on your head 🤣🤣🤣

This makes me think of Ma Ingalls weaving straw hats in one of the Little House books.

When i first started crochet, i practiced and practiced just getting the stitches down; when i got the hang of it, i unraveled the whole thing! Your first attempt of the hat crown reminded me of that. I've now been crochetting for a few years (albiet slowly learning new things) and while i'm more confident, i still frog the start of a project a time or two until i get it just right

I am living for the clips of your cat "attacking" the willow. 😂😂😂😂

I just planted 2 kinds of willow for baskets. Yay!

The internet’s favourite art teacher

You never fail to surprise. What will she try next? We don't know, maybe making paper? Bobbin lace? Spinning? She's a mystery, so who knows? I just know that I'm so here for it!

I mean I dont like advertising that much but introducing thread up while threading up willow bark is pretty neat I gotta admit 😄

So cute!! I love the addition of the wildflowers too. The only natural materials that I've worked with are cane for a seat, & a small basket made from pine needles. Fun projects. 😊

This is so cute! Also,wearing your necklace as a headband was super cute too ❤

Yay for making cute, useful hats out of nature! Thank you for the joyful blend of useful skill and whimsy!

Having a ton of overconfidence after taking one class in a new skill is very relatable!

I probably would have attempted to make the whole hat out of the cordage. It seems far more forgiving. But probably more troublesome...

Hi Morgan, thanks for making me focus on the simple things in life. I'm filled to the brim (no pun intended) with stress of everyday tasks, sickness and unfortunately also a lot of loss (this past year has been "Four Funerals and A Wedding") etc. It' always a joy to watch your videos and they serve another purpose, than entertainment to a lot of people. AMSR Galore! ❤ PS. The peonies are gorgeous 😊

could also use the willow bark to treat headaches its the active ingredient in asprin (asa)

AND now, after watching your tutorial (I know it's not but.. it's so well explained) I too can make willow hats 😆😆

Seeing your own improvement is one of the most satisfying parts of making!

This is so cool! I'm home sick currently and am now thinking about things I have in my craft room that I could weave with

now I want to see the forest hermit witch costume to go with it :)

I imagine it is easier to strip the bark from the willow if a cat isn't dancing on your shoulder,.

Omg the finished product is adorable! Did you show it to your neighbor so they could see what the willow you collected turned into? It would be so rad to be neighbors with someone as creative as you and Mr. Donner. 💜

This is adorable! AND I AM GOING TO START WEARING NETTING OVER MY FACE! You smart woman, thank you. I have so many bites.

This is so cute and fun.

Oooh, what a fun video :D I've recently started (or at least trying to) weaving hats out of cattail/bulrush and it's been SUCH a fun process! It's soft and flexible when soaked, and you can make really neat, tightly woven hats. It's also pretty hard to find any sources or guides on this craft, so I've been having fun trying out loads of things, from harvesting to drying to weaving.

It's giving Anne Shirley vibes and I love that

Looove this. It turned out so cute! But can we please get a bandana updo tutorial? Your hat looks so good over that bandana and as a haver of long hair I can never wear hats unless my hair is down or in simple braids, and as much as I love the Anne of Green Gables look on myself, I would equally love to have other options. 💜

This is so cool, my mom has a wicker box that my grandpa made her for her sewing things and it's held for longer than I've been alive, handmade things are just different TM

It's winter where am I and nothing has made me yearn for the sun more than this!! This turned out super good and cute. Well done :D

I think the bug viel makes for a very cool look. Makes me want some net decorations on top to match though. Maybe a band to weave the flowers through?

As with everything you make: SO STINKIN' CUTE! Would love to see another hat style made. I wonder if the process is much different using straw?

Wonderful! Experience does help when you let it. I like the experiment with the willow. I have to admit I have never considered it. Most hats I have are straw or felt. I have stripped up palm fronds for weaving (After making Palm Sunday crosses). It is an enjoyable experience to try something new!❤

This was gorgeous to watch! I love your sense of adventure in trying new skills 🧡💛

I feel like version 2 of this hat would benefit from a collaboration with Sally Pointer! I'd love to see what the two of you came up with together.

Seeing you with the willow harvest brought an intense pang of nostalgia for the 1994 Wild Swans when Elise is gathering the nettles. True nostalgia. One of my defining childhood films, especially since it was on the same tape as the 1992 Snow Queen. I don't know which one shaped me more.

Your first start looks like a beautiful trivet!