hat confection

[jennylafleur]

My bit of 18th century frosting!


*sigh* I love hats. They offer a chance to have fun and bring a bit of fantesy to a costume. I was inspried by Polonaiseville, my uber-foofy Pimpernel revamp plans and a darling hat seen at Vaux a few years ago. I love this over-the top tilted hat. It's a style I've seen frequently in engravings in the 1770s, becoming more tilted and feathered as the hair gets higher. Yes I will need "pouf" hair with this. Darn. :P


The Frosting began it's journey as a plain straw hat, bought at a market fair at Mount Vernon. I zig-zagged millery wire along the edge of and a couple of inches inside the underside brim. (I later covered the wire with coral velvet ribbon).


I pulled out my favorite wide lace (thank you LA garment district) and after starching it I pleated it onto the brim. I pleated, pressed and pinned right onto the straw. A little steam never hurt a straw brim in my experiance.


Once the lace was stitched down, I started pleating a length of baby pink silk taffeta. I just eyeballed the pleats, pressing each one to set it. I marked a line about 1.25" from the bottom and eased the fabric onto the hat, lining up my marked line with the base of the crown.


Once that was basted on the hat, I ran a gathering stitch along the top of the silk and gathered it to from a pouf. I stuffed the pouf with a bit of netting (so it wouldn't collapse on itslf over time) and covered the hole with a self fabric covered button.


How to keep the darn thing on! I don't know if this will be the best solution once I have big "pouf" hair but it works for now. I orginally tried just one tie but it needed a second top one for more security. I think some high hair and a hat pin will also be required if it's at all windy but we'll see.


The real frosting: feathers, cockades and ribbons - oh my! It needs more feathers (I'll wait and see what I can find at Fort Fred this year) and ribbons (nice of MJ Trim to have a sale this week!) but so far I'm pleased.

Is it too much? *wicked grin*

And since I am having way too much fun with my millenary wire and have too way many ideas in my head to stop at just one hat this week, I started work on another. This time to go with a blue print dress I'm making for that Fort Fred outing. Only a sneak peak for now - I need the silk organza just I ordered to come in before I can do more with it...

Comments

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

Pretty!

[demode.livejournal.com]

Okay, this? FABULOUS. I want one. NOW.

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Love it! This is fabulous!

[isiswardrobe.livejournal.com]

Absolutely gorgeous! I want it! :-)

[hohenstein.livejournal.com]

The hat sounds fun & fabulous. Thanks for including the tutorial-I hadn't thought of sewing millinery wire in that way.

a.

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

Pink and fab!

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

What a darling confection! Too fabulous.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Pretty!!! I want three!

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

Squee!! Its so froofy and pink and perfect! You better watch it at Costume Con. ;P

[anielmom.livejournal.com]

Oooh, frosting indeed! It looks like one of those tasty little cakes in M.A.!

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

What fun fluffy hats!

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Oh. Wow. I feel like I'm eating cotton candy.
Too much? No.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

very nice :D it's so girlie and pretty, i think i could eat it! (the feathers might get stuck in my throat though!!!)

[vanityfairy.livejournal.com]

I WANT CANDY!
Ok, screw the candy, I just really want the hat! =)
Scrumcheous!

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

That is the most delicious confection I have ever seen!!

[dormous.livejournal.com]

Yuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm!

[elegant-musings.livejournal.com]

*falls over* That is one gorgeous hat, lady! I love how light and fluffy it looks--like a French macaroon. ;) Beautiful work--I'm so impressed with your hat making talent!!! :)

[hohenstein.livejournal.com]

How much fabric did it take to do the hat? I'm a sucker for buying silk remnants & hats may be a fun way to use them up. I'm also thinking about purses & reticules, but hats are more fun.

A.

[sadievale.livejournal.com]

Awesome-ness, I can't wait to see this in person!! It's totally lovely & so fun: will look so fabulous!

[tayloropolis.livejournal.com]

Yummy! It's like a delicious, wearable cake!

[(Anonymous)]

wow! that turned out gorgeous! how fun to wear something so yummy! can't wait to see the other one when it's finished. :)

[sydneyflapper.livejournal.com]

Just the name suggested it was going to be a pretty piece of yum, and it certainly is. Gorgeous!

[suededsilk.livejournal.com]

Of course it's too much. And it needs more feathers. :D

Seriously, that has "18th century frosting" written all over it!

[ghost-ofa-rose.livejournal.com]

I just stumbled on your lj while browsing and I wanted to say that I love your work! Your gowns are stunning! And so is this hat. Thank you for showing how you made it. I'm definitely going to try this one day as I recently got infected with an 18th century obsession and need hats to go with the gowns. Do you mind if I friend you?

[spearfangus.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! Beautiful! I love to see tutorials and the process behind the project! Your hat is absolutely gorgeous!