1826 Hat

I finished this hat back in the spring. As usual, I didn't feel like doing hair so that I could get good hat pictures so I put it off until I wore it at Costume College. Then I forgot that I hadn't posted it so I still didn't post pictures. Now you can finally have pictures not only of the hat but of the full ensemble.



As a bonus, here's a picture of me with the finished hat and my mother-in-law with the mockup. Obviously brim shaping works a lot better when the brim is wired.



It's the Timely Tresses Sophia with the straight crown and brim 4. Brim 4 definitely feels like an afterthought. It's not mentioned anywhere in the instructions, and the headsize opening is elliptical while the tip is circular so the crown is a little funky. I didn't notice in the mockup and couldn't bring myself to tear it all back apart after I had assembled the buckram frame so I left it alone. With bows and flowers up against it, you don't notice, but it really should have an oval tip.

I doubled the buckram in the brim because that is a big brim, and it needed the extra stiffness. It's mulled with muslin and covered with ivory silk taffeta. The ribbons are moire rayon ribbons in a couple of widths of ivory and one width of green. The flowers are velvet forget-me-nots.

I varied a little from the fashion plate in trimming it because I was informed that the bow up near the top of the crown on the side looked stupid. I didn't disagree and decided to do something a little different. I also didn't have a nice wide piece of lace to drape over the edge of the brim so I was going to have to make a variance there anyway. I'm pleased with how it came out, and it sits well on the head. I did not need a hatpin or to tie the ribbons under my chin instead of at the waist like the fashion plate showed. Hats that stay put are the best. (I was not out in a stiff breeze. I'm sure it would need a little help in that situation.)

I'm generally quite pleased with the whole outfit. The flounces on the skirt gave it really good body, even for a wool with a lot of drape. The pelerine came out at just the right level of sheerness. The bonnet sits well. I look forward to wearing this one again.

I'd love to give credit to the photographer, but I don't remember who took these pictures. marianme? theladyrebecca? koshka_the_cat? mala_14? It could be any of them! Or even someone else I haven't thought of.