And so finally the hat is finished!
I bought all my materials from the wonderful Edinburgh Fabrics, they have such a huge selection it's really difficult to choose. Initially I was very keen to use turquoise or peacock blue but I found some black and silver lace that was just asking to come home with me and be part of this hat! After trying the lace over various fabrics I found that it looked best over a deep shiny pink ~ the blues looked very dull under the lace. The one I chose was crepe backed satin and it's lovely to feel and to work with.
The body of the hat is made from buckram shaped over a wood head block. Here are photos of the hat in progress ~ sewing the fabric to the brim and sewing the binding on.
I bought all my materials from the wonderful Edinburgh Fabrics, they have such a huge selection it's really difficult to choose. Initially I was very keen to use turquoise or peacock blue but I found some black and silver lace that was just asking to come home with me and be part of this hat! After trying the lace over various fabrics I found that it looked best over a deep shiny pink ~ the blues looked very dull under the lace. The one I chose was crepe backed satin and it's lovely to feel and to work with.
The body of the hat is made from buckram shaped over a wood head block. Here are photos of the hat in progress ~ sewing the fabric to the brim and sewing the binding on.
My college tutor was the well known Milliner Alex Muir. For me the process of making my first hat was fraught with difficulties but I finally managed it with the help and encouragement of Alex and much needle stabbing of my fingers and thumbs.
I stayed with the design shown the in the last blog post. With the theme of Dangerous Dames I thought that my dame would need to have her hands free at all times so would keep all her accoutrements in her hat band instead of carrying a handbag.
In her hat band are cigarettes which I made from silk; a matchbook made from card 'from The Gin Palace' with cardboard matches that I dabbed on one end with red nail varnish; a hand made address and phone numbers book - in which I added numbers such as 'Jim the Hat' and 'Fred the Fixer'; a small perfume vial (or is it??!!!); money; a nail file; a syringe (it used to be a pen!); a key; a long cigarette holder - I bought this for £1, painted and stamped it and made a silk cigarette for it, I poked some wool in the end and burnt it so it resembles ash.
Leaving the top partly open (perhaps to hide a weapon?) was a nice idea but firstly it would have been far too difficult to do properly, and secondly I didn't think it needed it in the end.
So here is the finished hat:
I stayed with the design shown the in the last blog post. With the theme of Dangerous Dames I thought that my dame would need to have her hands free at all times so would keep all her accoutrements in her hat band instead of carrying a handbag.
In her hat band are cigarettes which I made from silk; a matchbook made from card 'from The Gin Palace' with cardboard matches that I dabbed on one end with red nail varnish; a hand made address and phone numbers book - in which I added numbers such as 'Jim the Hat' and 'Fred the Fixer'; a small perfume vial (or is it??!!!); money; a nail file; a syringe (it used to be a pen!); a key; a long cigarette holder - I bought this for £1, painted and stamped it and made a silk cigarette for it, I poked some wool in the end and burnt it so it resembles ash.
Leaving the top partly open (perhaps to hide a weapon?) was a nice idea but firstly it would have been far too difficult to do properly, and secondly I didn't think it needed it in the end.
So here is the finished hat:
And here are a few photos of the hat being modeled by a college friend, the lovely Karen Smith, who is also wearing the corset I made last semester in Performance Costume, the corset is unlaced at the front for a touch of decadence but probably looks nicer laced up:
The hat and the corset will be on the catwalk at the Dundee College Fashion Show, Friday 31st May. Details on the college website if you are interested in going........ and no, I will not be modeling!
