All posts tagged: hats

Trying my hand at hatmaking

I’ve always intended to try a bit of millinery, or at least hat alteration, so last week I finally took the plunge. I decided to start with something really simple, a 1872 summer hat from the Met’s collection: You can’t really get any simpler than that, right? I thought it would go nicely with the frills of my 1871 pink extravaganza afternoon ensemble. So I trotted off to an op shop and bought myself a decent straw hat. It looked like this: Unfortunately I forgot to double-check my inspiration picture, so I got one with a wide braid instead of a narrow. No matter, I could still make it work. First thing: take off that hideous raffia ribbon! Then I picked apart the braid at the bottom of the crown. My inspiration hat has such a shallow crown that I could save the whole original brim and use it for another hat, and make the tiny brim of my inspiration hat from the bottom of the crown. Then I started sewing, turning my loose braid …

Cat in a Hat(box)

Published by The Dreamstress

I found a vintage leather hatbox at an opshop a few weeks ago. I practically squealed with excitement. Vintage hat boxes are rarer than hen’s teeth, and when you do find them, they are pricey – generally between $45 and $60. This one? $7!!!! I brought the hatbox home and set it down, and Felicity immediately became very excited and decided to investigate it. She was fascinated, but cautious. She placed her feet ever so delicately inside it! It must have smelled of interesting things…other people’s houses, and journeys, and leather, and maybe even another pet. She finally climbed all the way in, and I tried to persuade her to pose. Maybe next time! She decided it was fun to pretend that camera sounds were scary, and that was the end of my cat and hatbox photos session.

Vintage patterns part 2

Published by The Dreamstress

Here are the rest of my vintage patterns. Most I inherited from Grandma or was given by Auntie Artie. Now I just need the time to sew some of them up, though I have to say, I’m loving some of the commissions I’m working on right now!