Hat Making-Of

The pattern - the whole thing has about the size of an A4-sheet of paper

Notes

1) Many thanks to Amsel for the millinery book copy. It *was* greatly needed as this wa smy first try at millinery. All I knew was that I needed some buckram and wire.
2) The blurriness of some pictures is all my Home Geek's fault :p
3) Yeah, I love weird earrings

Making-Of

First I went looking for some inspiration picture that wouldn't look too complicated to make, and soon found one in La Mode Illustrée from the 10th of June 1883, hat for middle-aged lady. What's more, the hat looked very similar to the one worn in another inspiration image.

It all started with some stiff paper and tape, and I just kept on trying, cutting and altering shapes until I found myself with a pattern.

Then the pieces were edged with wire and sewn together.
The hat has been covered with brown plush and lined with green and black brocade. The fabric pieces have the same shape as the buckram ones. I covered the crown first...

Then the brim - I stitched the upper and lower brim together befoer pinning and sewing it to the hat frame, but I'm not 100% pleased with the result. Next time I'll do it some other way.

Stitching the upper brim to the hat frame and crown. I'm making the stitches perpendicular to the stitching line, so that they don't show afterwards.

Then it was on to the lining. I had no problem with putting it in before adding decoration, as the stitches holding the bflowers, ribbons, etc... wouldn't show on the brocade. I started with the crown, the sewed the upper and lower brim together and tacked them down, taking care that the stitches on the outside would disappear in the seam..

Tadam ! The hat frame is done, covered, and line. It looks a lillte naked without all the trimming, though...

No worry, it did not stay so ! It kind of looks like a sewing notions shop exploded on my head... (thank you Rebecca for the pictures !)