In this video I am showing my process when freshening and restoring a vintage hat. This particular Edna Wallace hat was only slightly dented and needed a minimum amount of work. I’ve looking into who Edna Wallace was and even found out her business address for my first every “location shoot”. If anyone has any more information on Edna Wallace please get in touch!
Read MorePetersham ribbon felt hat edge bind finish
In this video I am demonstrating how to finish off the edge of a wired felt hat by binding it in a curved petersham ribbon. Because I’m sewing on a felt hat, I have also shown how to wax thread. You can apply this technique to any kind of hat with a wired edge; such as straw or buckram. This is a finish I have seen on countless vintage hats and I find it rather lovely, and I hope you do to! → Tools & Materials 1 ← Thread Scissors Beeswax Plain paper (or newspaper) Iron → Tools & Materials […]
Read MoreWhat is silk organza and how is it different to cotton organdy?
In this video I am looking at the differences between silk organza and cotton organdie. Where does silk come from? Is it ethical? What is a plain weave fabric? And what makes organdy organdy? I’ll also talk about some ideas about how these fabrics can be used in a millinery context. → Sources: ← 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8yiVqoemig David Baddiel: On the Silk Road. 2. https://www.commonobjective.co/article/silk-and-sustainable-silk 3. https://www.shoplikeyougiveadamn.com/blogs/whats-wrong-with-peace-silk/bl-356#peacesilk 4. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silk-Road-trade-route 5. https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/organdy-fabric 6. https://textilelearner.net/organdie-finish-cotton/
Read MoreSinamay and Organza Fake DIY Feathers
In this video I am demonstrating a few options of how to make a non-bird alternative feather out of sinamay and organza. I’m also looking at how the concept of “uncanny valley” can apply to millinery trims. → Tools & Materials Sinamay Feather ←– Sinamay – Kitchen scissors – Tweezers – Millinery Wire 0.4mm & between 0.5-0.9mm – Wire cutters/pliers – Silk Paint for colouring the wire (or sharpies/alcohol markers) – Baking Paper – Iron – Needle & Thread – Bond-A-Web → Tools & Materials Organza Feather ← – Silk Organza– Fabric Scissors – Millinery Wire 0.4mm – Bond-A-Web – […]
Read MoreThe History of Feathers on Hats
In this video I am looking at the history of feather fashions from the mid 16th century to the present day. This is a very brief England/European-centric view, and of course I have left a lot out because I didn’t want the video to get too long! Even though I am not a qualified historian, I have done my best to conduct research responsibly from reputable sources. → Sources & Resources ← https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDew85yiDY https://www.cam.ac.uk/whenmenworefeathers https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/a-feather-in-your-cap-inside-the-symbolic-universe-of-renaissance-europe https://blog.hrp.org.uk/curators/it-belongs-in-a-museum-the-bristowe-hat/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/ghcc/research/luxury/activities/workshop1/readings/dangers_of_dress_martha_c_howell.pdf Rich Apparel: Clothing and the Law in Henry VIII’s England – Book by Maria Hayward 2009 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/fashion/19iht-acagplum.html https://nonfictioness.com/victorian/the-victorian-ostrich-feather-trade-boom-and-bust/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-dressed-the-history-of-fas-29000690/episode/murderous-millinery-29264125/https://escholarship.org/content/qt0xk4n68x/qt0xk4n68x.pdf https://blog.americanduchess.com/2012/03/v73-brief-history-of-feathers-on-hats.htmlhttps://theartofdress.org/2015/06/24/murderous-millinery-a-brief-look-at-the-fashion-for-feathered-hats-in-the-early-20th-century/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/migratory-bird-act-anniversary-keeping-feathers-off-hats-180969077/ https://fashioningfeathers.info/fashioning-feathers/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHyIOIstYRAhttps://research information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/87463034/Last_Plumassier_FINAL_August_2016.pdfHats: An Anthology […]
Read MoreDIY No Tool Couture Fabric Flowers
This video is all about making fabric flowers without the use of specialist flower making tools or equipment. I’m demonstrating 3 completely different techniques that can be modified in all sorts of different ways to achieve a plethora of looks. All you need is the correct fabrics and your hands. → Organza Rose ← – Silk organza – Matching thread – Flower petal patterns (5L, 4M, 4S) – Fabric scissors – Small scissors – Pliers – Tweezers – Pins – Needle – Cotton wool – Wire (0.4mm cotton covered) → Stamens for Cotton Organdie Poppy ← – Old photo frame […]
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