CRAZY ABOUT HATS

              Why would anybody want to make hats?  

My Akha Hat

     I really can't answer that question, but here I am having the time of my life figuring out how to assemble some crazy hats.....


     If you are interested, join the brief comments and views of some of these creations.  




 My Akha Hat 
           
      In Laos and Thailand, I have been enchanted with the Akha hat style.  So, why not try to make my own version of their great hat?  My base fabric is a Guatemalan remnant from the Guatemalan Zigzag Coat that I have just finished and the beaded trims come from Yemen, Turkey, and Ethiopia.....The tassels on top are a treat from Thailand....  Quite cosmopolitan, wouldn't you say?

Look For the Guatemalan Fabric Strips Below

My Akha Vision

Guatemalan Huipil Remnant
Can you find the section used for My Akha Hat?

                              Guatemalan Glamour

Guatemalan Weaving with Ikat

     The woven fabric is a treasure with its tiny ikat designs mingling with the glorious colors of the Guatemalan highlands.  Those village women are master artisans in fiber creations.

     Several summers during the 1990's were spent visiting the many highland villages learning about the lives and techniques of these incredible artisans.

   Vogue pattern 9117 provided some helpful ideas to  illuminate the brilliant fabric.

Front 

     Note the graceful flow of the pleats with this woven fiber.   A touch of black ribbon embellishment is all that is necessary to complete the creation.

Back View

Button and Bauble

                                     The Fascinator Hat

     A silk taffeta blouse found at the Discovery Thrift Shop in Yakima was the perfect fabric for my Fascinator.  

Fabric Recycled from Cancer Thrift Shop

    Taking on this style of construction was a challenging undertaking for me.  In my sewing experience I had never worked with materials such as buckram, wire, glue....   My Vogue pattern 7464 was a great guide as I followed instructions step-by-step.  

The Fascinator from the 1930's

And, abracadabra, just like magic.....it came out looking great.  Was I ever delighted...!  

Fabric and Embellishment Options

The Brim  Covers Buckram

Adding the Crown 

Next Step: Close the Back

Completed

Fun!

Hip Hip Hoorah!


                         What fun to wear this Fascinator gem!

 The Yoyo Jewel


     Years ago I had made this style hat (as you observe in the Guatemalan fabric above) and have enjoyed its wearability.  The Vogue pattern 9117 seemed to be a great choice for this crinkly raspberry polyester. 


     In my stash I just happened to find the perfect embellishment items: ribbon trims, silk yoyos, and beads.

Yoyo Hat

The crown and brim decor were fun, but fitting the fullness of the brim fabric challenged me.  With a little sweat and pleating, I managed to incorporate the multitude of fabric onto the brim piece.
  

Getting Ready to Add Lining

The fun was adding the beaded decor to the yoyos and  finding a stylish placement for them on the crown and brim.  


A fun hat to make with rather quick results.    

Adding Yoyos and Beads

View of Crown with Yoyos

    The answer to my original question is that hats are bundles of fun to make and invite lots of creativity!  And, they don't take weeks to finish.

MAGIC: BLOUSE TRANSFORMATION TO A FASCINATOR HAT

Discovery Shop Blouse Ready to Transform!

Tea Hat 

Bow is in Back

Another View

     Inspiration struck me twice!   A beautiful silk taffeta blouse found at the Cancer Thrift Shop on Yakima Avenue and a fun Vogue pattern 7464 were my sources of energy.  Yes, a hat attack.






     Years ago I thought hat making was a silly waste of time.....but changes do happen as the years pass.  Probably the complexity of the hat construction as well as the need to buy and use strange materials like buckram, 18 gauge wire, elastic hat cording, craft glue, styrofoam balls scared me to pieces.  Never mind the fear, why not try something new....just play and have fun with the project. 
    
     With the silk taffeta blouse available, I delved into my stash to find touches of color to embellish the black and white check.  I knew that I would have to piece the main fabric due to the limited main pieces that I cut from the blouse. You can see many choices below.

Great Fabric Options from Stash

     Now the challenges begin.....




    Cutting the beautiful silk blouse apart, I realized that I would need to add additional length to almost every  hat construction piece.  And, every part of the hat was cut on the bias, making adding on more challenging.    Back to the stash to find the best choice of silks.  You see it in the photo -- a great raspberry dupioni.   


   Armed with fabric and the multitude of supplies, I was ready to start the brim.....
          Cut the buckram for the brim, hem it and insert the wire....
          Cut the brim fabric, join it, and baste it to the brim....
          Hem the brim edge, add the brim trim and gather.........etc

Buckram in Brim

     Each step took more time and energy than I had imagined and proceeded slowly.  I did like the results each step of the way.  And, it was wise to cut only the materials needed for the immediate activity.  
     And, I did have incredible luck with the placement of additional dupioni fabric.  The color pattern that evolved, totally unplanned, was absolutely fitting.  


      As a result of undertaking the Blouse to Hat project, I am definitely inspired to take on new challenges..... 

So Far So Good

       

Another View

A FIBER ARTIST'S INSPIRATION

Artist Self Portrait  

 

Spring Flowers Vest Detail

  The sweet softness of flannel is one my first childhood memories.  When I was old enough to hold scissors, I was amazed with the results of cutting little pieces of fabric, sewing them together and seeing a doll's jacket emerge.  Unbelievable!   Ever since then,  the touch, color, smell, diversity, and potential of fabric has been my companion and source of inspiration.


     Growing up in an agricultural community, I was fortunate to have an excellent 4-H sewing program guide my sewing interests as well as a most supportive mother.  An exchange program to Guatemala brought a dynamic change to my fiber concepts when I explored the equisite weaving and embroidery as well as the Peace Corps years working in the Atacama desert of Chile with the Aymara spinners and weavers.


     Living in Egypt for three years provided a convenient way to explore Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures and fabric.  My husband's economic development work in Yemen, China, Jordan, and Sudan opened the door to more cultures and textiles. 


     Returning to the states and during my years of teaching History and Spanish, I discovered that the textile fragments I had collected were a vibrant cultural resource in all classes.  During the teaching years I was invited to participate in cultural and textile study programs in Bolivia, Guatemala and Pakistan.


     Another incredible source of energy and creativity has been my friend and mentor, Ann Bowker.  I have so adored the beautiful wearables that she has made and have been thrilled to study techniques and style together.  


     Now I have time to be in my studio inspired by the beautiful Antonio Aguas Calientes weaving, embroidered designs of the Shidong and Dong of Guizhou, China, shibori fabric and ikat dyeing from many continents.   Design ideas and techniques fly through my head as I incorporate these fabrics into my own contemporary wearable garbs.  My goal is to honor the  incredible work of these passionate and talented artisans.

Shidong Artisan in Ceremonial Dress

Details of Shidong Outfit

Sharing Fiber Techniques

Difficult Lesson!

   Today these art garments have been displayed in community, college, and private art galleries as well as the Yakima Museum.   I also enjoy giving classes and cultural/textile oriented programs in our region.  




     Do I sell the pieces that I make?  Yes, I do sell my art garments. All the purchase money goes directly to non-profit organizations in our valley that provide educational opportunities for our people.

Yi Inspired Jacket and Vest

 Jacket Sleeve Detail

  

Sally's Shibori

 Front Detail/ Sally's Shibori

Japanese Inspired Shibori Jacket

Getting Started Creating the Dong Jacket

Jacket with Dong Embroidery
(Named for the Dong of SW China)

Dong Jacket 

 Vest of Rajasthan Cotton

Lining of Rajasthan Jacket

X-Press Yourself Jacket

 Sleeve of X-Press Yourself 

    

X-Press Yourself Jacket
(Viewers did the artwork) 

Plastique
Made from Plastic Bags

     Hope you enjoyed the fiber journey.