Hat Makeover: Red Felt Cloche

This hat's story begins in 2008, still early times in my forays into millinery. The first classes I took were taught by Christine Thompson (of Christine's Millinery, check out her awesome stuff!) who also lives in the Blue Mountains. I took a class with her on drafting flat patterns in Rozelle or somewhere equally wacky, then discovered we both lived hours away from there, and about 20 minutes away from each other. The second course was at Christine's home studio (thank goodness!), and was on blocking felt. This was the hat I made in that class.

Since this was my first go at blocking, we stuck to a really simple cloche shape as I learned about the techniques. I was pretty excited about how nicely it matched my red coat!

Over time, however, I've gotten a little bored with it, and it also has a little hole in the felt at the front. You can't see the hole from a distance but up close you sure can.

At last year's International Millinery Forum I did a class on free-shaping felt hats with Watraud Reiner of Torb and Reiner. One of the other students had a felt hood with a hole right in the centre, and asked for advice for how to get around that issue. Waltraud took the felt, folded the fabric over the hole and worked from there. I felt like the class collectively dropped their jaws in amazement at the simpicity of this solution.

So after removing the binding from the edge, that's how I started too. Then I just played, folded, stretched, played and trimmed until I had this:

Here's a view of it flat, where you can see the back a bit and how the feather goes through to the other side.

A bit different huh? What do you think?

7 ways to make your crafting more ethical

Like many people, I'm getting pretty concerned about waste, the environment, and the bad things going on around the world. By handmaking things, we're already taking a step in the right direction. Anything we make ourselves is something we know wasn't made in a sweatshop somewhere.

Rhiannon and I are always looking for ways to improve our ethical practice. Here are some of the things we keep in mind while crafting.

Try to use your stash
Obvious steps first. Avoid buying unless you have to. Also, I find that searching through what I own stimulates my creativity and encourages me to think in different directions.

3 pumpkins from one old tea towel

Buy ethically
When you do need something your stash can't provide, think about the materials you are buying. Make sure you know exactly what amount you need so you don't buy wastefully. Consider that natural materials will potentially be compostable at the end of their useful life. They are also often much nicer. Organic is another thing to look out for.

Buying local is a lot harder to do with craft supplies than, say, food, but if an opportunity does come up - take it!

Also look into second hand. Some vintage shops have fabric scraps or trims, and most op shops do too. Also nice fabrics from clothes and linens can be rescued for other crafts. You will also find more unusual and interesting fabrics.

This petticoat was an op-shop sheet

Do crafts that work on different scales
Most of my stash is leftover from the days when my primary focus was clothes and costume. When I started making hats, I discovered how far the leftovers from clothes would go on small hats. Some pieces have made half a dozen hats. Playing around with tiny crafts, like Christmas ornaments, means even smaller bits of scrap are useful.

Lots of little scraps were used up on this guy

Use even the smallest scrap
I've been saving everything recently, including thread, and using it to stuff soft toys (in the centre, surrounded by real stuffing to keep it soft). Don't make soft toys? Maybe pincushions or little padded Christmas ornaments could help. Or if you are using natural materials, chuck them in the compost.

This whale is made from a leftover school project apron and partially stuffed with fabric scraps

Organise a Craft Swap
Maybe you aren't sure that you like that fabric or trim anymore, but you have some crafty friends. Get together over some cakes and exchange for something more your taste.

Maybe you don't need ALL these ribbons...

Use libraries and the internet
I love a new craft book as much as the next person. As fun as buying brand new craft books can be, most libraries will have a range of craft books that contain information and project ideas, and huge amounts of information, tutorials and patterns can be found on the internet. If you do buy, try to buy second hand.

Giving up a craft? Give your supplies away
Someone will want them! Op shops will take a lot of stuff, if you don't personally know anyone who'll take it. Ok I don't think I've ever actually given up a craft, but theoretically it might happen!

Compost monster likes ethical crafts

What steps do you take? We'd love to hear any more ideas.

Decorating Styrofoam Heads: Decoupage

Looking through some old photos I'd saved of inspirational hats, I was reminded of my plans to decorate the boring styrofoam heads.

I've found some good inspiration on the faithful internet, although not as much as I hoped for. Check out this awesome high school art project though:



I've also seen some great painted heads, and I plan to give that a try too.

Firstly, though, I tried decoupage. I don't think I've actually done decoupage before, but I watched my mum do some and I read up quickly online. This blog gave some good advice about foam heads in particular.

So first I used some coloured paper from my card-making supplies and quotes from an old "Bitch"-themed calendar.

Not bad for a first go. But a bit too much mixed dark and light that looks especially harsh because the paper was cut rather than ripped.

The face was definitely tricky to cover smoothly, but cutting the pieces smaller worked to make it more manageable.

I couldn't count how many times I almost threw out all those quotes. Happy to have found 25% of them a home.

Time for a round 2 to fix the problems of round 1. Ripping, and better matching of tone. Tone? I dunno. Maybe tone.

My card-making paper draw is full of old maps. Perfect.

Much better. Even makes the creepy faceless foam head look ok. The maps were very easy to work with too. Little bits of France, Ohio, Springwood, South East Australia and Brussels.

I'm tempted to do another map head. I like it that much. And have heaps of map left. Actually more than heaps. I could probably decoupage a room.

Lord of the Rings Napkins

Sarah gave me a book on making table and bed linen last Christmas. So for her birthday, I really wanted to make something from that book. I made her some napkins with a bound edge.

Sarah is a fan of many things, so there was lots to choose from for a theme, but I wanted to go down the Lord of the Rings road. She hosts nights of watching the movies and likes to have themed stuff then, so I knew these would be used.

Then I had to sift through my Lord of the Rings knowledge. I went with my personal preferences here, because I love the flags and banners and I also love the white horse of Rohan. It's just a great image. So I drew away, cut out a stencil and got to screen printing.

I added the copper details by hand to each one.

Four napkins in total. I was aiming for six but poor estimation of fabric held me back.

A bit of ribbon and care instructions, and they're ready to be wrapped.

One of the test prints turned out well, so I have one spare horse on fabric to make something of. Any ideas?

Secrets...

Lately it seems like everything I am making is a birthday present!

So it's preview photos only to keep me going until they are finished and given!

I'd better get on with it!