Georgian Straw Hat

I made a Georgian ensemble about a year ago. It was complete with corset, petticoats and all, minus a hat. So about 5 months ago I finally made a hat to go with it. I took two straw hats and taking the crown from one and the brim from the other combined them into one.

I then took the spare crown and sewed it inside the other crown so that the hat would sit with the right angle.

Then came time to steam and shape the hat.

I basically just reshaped the brim so that it went up in the back instead of down.

I then took scrapes from my dress, some random flowers and feathers I had laying around and trimmed it.

Overall I like what came out. It looks quite pretty when I pile my hair up and perch it cockily on top.

1950's tilt topper

So I made a 1950's tilt hat today using an old vinyl record. I used boiling water to heat and shape the hat.

But before I share the hat I want to exclaim over some great patterns and vintage notions that I got for really cheap at an estate sale. I was got several boxes of patterns and a box of belt buckles and a bunch of hat buckram. 

So many patterns!

There were so many patterns from the 80's and 90's that I am not sure what I will do with, but there was a number of patterns from the 50's and 60's that I really love.

It shall take me quite a while to sort through and organize these patterns.

There were massive belts buckles and small belt buckles.

 I am looking forwards to using these and making belts. Belts and hats are two of my favorite accessories.

So, on to the hat. I made it with from a vinyl record as the base.

 I boiled hot water and dumped that over it to soften it up. I then shaped the hat with my fingers. I covered the record title with a giant flower and gave it a finishing touch with some greenery and netting.

Overall I like the effect and want to wear this with a little 1950's looking black dress. I shall try to take pictures when I get the outfit around.

That's all for now.

hats reshaping

I tried my hand on hat reshaping the other day. I had an old dirty wool felt hat that I wanted to reshape. So I did a bit of reading on the subject and set about to work my magic.

Here is the hat in the state that I got it.

So first I brushed and cleaned it well.

Next I got all of my equipment together and prepared to set to work. I got out I ton of different kitchen utensil because I was not sure which ones I would use. I ended up only using on of the ladles and a soup spoon.

I boiled the hotpot and taped the button down so that it would continue to boil. I then steamed the hat.

I then started to shape the hat while I steamed it regularly.

I used the ladle and spoons to round out the crown.

I then shaped the crown using the soup spoon.

I then finished shaping the crown.

Continuing to steam it I shaped the brim. 

And here is the finished hat. I have added a black cockade and band. But, I did not take a picture of that.

So there you go, how to reshape a wool hat.