Actually, hardly any product fits our story better than a ball of yarn. Because long before HAE had a whole collection of beanies, neckwarmers, headbands and outdoor products, it all started quite small: with bought yarn, handmade hats and CHF 50 in start-up capital.
Today we produce our own yarn. In original Walliserdeutsch we call it äs Chlunschi. It consists of 50% merino wool and 50% polyacrylic, is made in Northern Italy (around 2 hours from our office) and is not coincidentally exactly as thick as it is.
Because one Chlunschi is enough for exactly one classic HAE headband.
The right amount of yarn, the right yarn thickness and a material mix that is comfortable to wear while retaining its shape.
The most important things about äs Chlunschi at a glance
| Feature | äs Chlunschi |
|---|---|
| Material | 50% merino wool / 50% polyacrylic |
| Weight | 50 g per ball of yarn |
| Origin | Wool from Northern Italy / made in Europe |
| Suitable for | Crochet and knitting |
| Typical projects | Headbands, beanies, neckwarmers, scarves and your own DIY projects |
| HAE rule of thumb | 1 Chlunschi = 1 classic headband |
| Suitable for beginners? | Yes – especially for manageable projects like a headband |
It all started with CHF 50 and a few balls of yarn
When I started HAE over 20 years ago, there was no business plan, no large collection and certainly no own yarn production.
I had CHF 50 in start-up capital. From that, I bought yarn and started making hats. It was really that simple.
What started from the passion for snowboarding, the mountains and our community grew bigger over time. But the handmade products and especially the yarn remained a part of HAE.
“When I hold a Chlunschi in my hand today, it is special to me. HAE started with CHF 50, bought yarn and handmade hats. Today we produce our own yarn and can decide ourselves what quality, blend and yarn thickness we want to have.”
Why we eventually wanted our own yarn
For many years we bought our yarn from various suppliers in the region. That worked relatively well at the time.
But when you develop products for years and work with them yourself, you eventually notice what you would like to have certain things differently.
The yarn should be soft, but not lose its shape. It should be comfortable directly on the skin. It should provide enough warmth for headbands and beanies without becoming unnecessarily heavy.
And above all, we wanted a very specific yarn thickness.
So eventually it became clear: If we want exactly the yarn that works for our products, we have to develop it ourselves.
In Northern Italy we finally found the quality and the possibilities that suited our ideas.
This resulted in our own HAE yarn: äs Chlunschi.
50% merino and 50% polyacrylic – why exactly this mix?
We could have of course also made a yarn from 100% merino. But it was not about writing as exclusive-sounding material specifications on a label as possible.
It was about how the finished product works.
What does the merino wool bring?
Merino wool is significantly finer than classic virgin wool and therefore feels comfortable on the skin. It can absorb moisture and transport it further and takes on odors comparatively slowly.
Especially with products like headbands, hats or neckwarmers, which are worn directly on the head and neck, these are properties we like.
Why is polyacrylic added?
Polyacrylic brings above all shape stability and durability to the material mix. At the same time, the quality we use is comfortably soft.
For us, the two materials therefore complement each other very well: merino for the comfortable wearing experience and natural properties, polyacrylic for shape and everyday suitability.
The result is our 50/50 mix, which we have been using for our Chlunschi for years.
One Chlunschi, one headband
When developing our yarn, not only the material was important to us.
Almost just as important was the thickness of the yarn.
A Chlunschi weighs 50 grams and is designed so that you can crochet exactly one classic HAE headband with it.
For us, that is quite practical:
- You already know before the project how much yarn you need.
- The yarn thickness matches the desired thickness of the headband.
- The finished product will neither be unnecessarily heavy nor too thin.
- You have a manageable project that is also well doable for beginners.
“The yarn thickness was almost just as important to me as the material quality. A Chlunschi should in the end not simply be some amount of yarn. Exactly one really good headband should be able to be made from it – with the thickness, fit and wearing experience that we imagine.”
Crochet is back in fashion – perhaps precisely because our everyday life has become so digital
When we started with hand-crocheted products, we probably would not have bet on crochet being back in fashion with a completely new generation years later.
But that is exactly what is happening.
Current trend data shows a clear return to analog and creative hobbies. In the Creativity Trend Report 2026 by Michaels, search queries for analog hobbies like knitting, crochet, embroidery, journaling and painting increased by 136% within six months. Pinterest also sees strong growth in various DIY and crochet topics.
For us, that is actually quite understandable.
We spend a large part of our day in front of screens. In contrast, with crochet, something is created stitch by stitch that you really hold in your hands at the end.
It does not have to be perfect.
On the contrary.
Precisely because you made it yourself, it becomes your own piece.
Source: Michaels Creativity Trend Report 2026
From Chlunschi to the complete HAE Handmade Box
Of course, you do not have to start with a single ball of yarn.
Over the years, a whole HAE Handmade Collection has developed around our yarn.
In it you will find projects for different difficulty levels: from the classic headband for beginners to beanies and neckwarmers and more elaborate variants.
Our Handmade Sets contain the materials you need for the respective project: the right yarn, an instruction tailored to the product (in German), crochet hook, sewing material and depending on the set also the HAE patch for your finished product.
If you already know exactly what you want to make or simply want to combine different colors, our yarn is also available individually or as an äs Chlunschi-Set.
And that is where it gets exciting: You do not necessarily have to crochet an HAE product with HAE yarn.
Scarf, hat, headband, weather blanket or your own project – in the end, you decide what the Chlunschi becomes.
A Chlunschi in the classroom
We find it especially nice that our yarn is now not only used at home.
Schools also order Chlunschini again and again for crochet projects with their classes.
A headband is particularly well suited for this: The project is manageable, the result can actually be worn and with a Chlunschi the required amount of yarn can be planned very easily.
“I have already crocheted headbands with a class once, or if I think about it, even twice. They were always very well received and the children had a lot of fun with it!
In between, I also looked for alternative yarn, but I must say that I simply find your yarn the best for this project. That is why I was very happy to come back to you.”
Such feedback makes us especially happy.
Not only because someone likes our yarn.
But because out of a ball of yarn suddenly becomes a joint project where children make something themselves and can then actually take their finished headband home with them.
What Chlunschi means to me personally
When I look back at the last 20 years of HAE, our products have changed quite a bit.
From a few handmade hats, a whole collection has developed. We work with different materials, develop technical headwear, produce in various European facilities and today we deal with things that I would not have thought about at all at the beginning.
And yet, there is still a ball of yarn at HAE.
“Somehow, Chlunschi closes a circle for me. HAE started with bought yarn and CHF 50. Today we have our own yarn, whose material and thickness are exactly tailored to our products. And when then a whole class crochets headbands from it, I think that is pretty cool.”
Perhaps that is why our current motto also fits no other part of our collection so literally:
THE BEST DAYS ARE HANDMADE.
Frequently asked questions about yarn and crochet
What yarn is suitable for crocheting a headband?
For a headband, a soft yarn is suitable that lies comfortably directly on the skin, provides enough warmth and retains its shape. HAE yarn “äs Chlunschi” therefore combines 50% fine merino wool with 50% polyacrylic.
How much yarn do I need for a crocheted headband?
For a classic HAE headband, one Chlunschi with 50 grams of yarn is enough. For wider headbands, other crochet patterns or individual designs, the actual yarn requirement may differ.
Is merino wool good for crochet?
Yes. Merino wool is soft, can regulate moisture and takes on odors comparatively slowly. Therefore, it is especially well suited for products that are worn directly on the skin, for example hats, headbands or neckwarmers.
Why is HAE yarn not made of 100% merino?
With our Chlunschi, we combine 50% merino wool with 50% polyacrylic. Merino provides a comfortable wearing experience and its natural functional properties. Polyacrylic improves shape stability and durability. For our crochet products, exactly this combination has proven itself.
What can I crochet from a Chlunschi?
A Chlunschi is especially well suited for smaller projects like a headband. But you can also use the yarn for beanies, neckwarmers, scarves or your own crochet and knitting projects. For larger products, you will need several balls accordingly.
Is crochet suitable for beginners?
Yes. Especially a classic headband is a good beginner project because the shape is manageable and basic crochet techniques can be learned with it. In the HAE Handmade Collection, we therefore also distinguish between projects for beginners and advanced users.
Which crochet projects are suitable for school classes?
A headband is well suited as a school project because the project has a clear beginning and a visible end result. With our HAE yarn, the material quantity can also be planned easily: For a classic headband, one Chlunschi is used. Several classes have already implemented such headband projects with our yarn.
Where is HAE yarn made?
The yarn quality used for “äs Chlunschi” is selected in Northern Italy and produced in Europe. HAE deliberately chose its own yarn quality so that the material mix and yarn thickness match the own crochet products.
Is HAE yarn also available as a set?
Yes. In addition to individual Chlunschini, there is the äs Chlunschi-Set with several colors. Anyone who wants to crochet a concrete product directly will find in our Handmade Collection additionally complete crochet sets with instructions and required accessories.
The best days are handmade
Perhaps crochet is so popular again precisely because something remains at the end.
A few hours without a screen. A new stitch that you have learned. A headband that does not look exactly like every other one. Or a school project that one still remembers later.
You can buy a finished product.
Or you can make it yourself.
Both have their place.
But the feeling of having made something with your own hands is hard to replace.
THE BEST DAYS ARE HANDMADE.
