Jennifer Marsh – Australia

Category: Modern

Description

This entry interprets the fusion theme by the use of new techniques and materials, such as thermoplastics (fosshape) being used to block with and modern techniques of making a percher hat and headband for a modern look. Modern materials such as hot glue and poly braid were also used along with some traditional hand sewing. Flowers interpret the fusion theme with a modern look and modern techniques (fusing 2 different fabrics together using head bond with some machine sewing involved to wire the edges and to secure the poly braid).

Materials

• Fosshape
• wool fabric
• ostrich quills
• poly braid ribbon
• upholstery leather
• braid used for flower centres
• millinery hard (wire)
• wire & florist wire
• metal headband
• heat bond
• hat elastics
• clear craft glue
• hot glue gun
• small metal comb

Techniques

• This percher hat was blocked using fosshape which was steamed into place and then ironed onto the block.
• It was then covered with wool fabric (outter ring) and inner piece was covered with upholstery leather.
• The large flowers were made by fusing the wool fabric and upholstery leather together with heat bond. the edges were wired my machine sewing florist wire and edged with poly braid ribbon that was also machine sewn.
• The flower centres were made using braid and florist wire.
• Two quills were used and shaped by hand once wired by wrapping the wire securely to the underside of the quill with sewing thread. The quills were shaped by hand and securely wrapped with poly braid and the ends glued in place. The quills were hand stitched in place to add a feature to the headpiece and also to create additional support.
• The back of the percher was blocked separately and covered with fabric.
• Wire spokes were made and wrapped with thread and glued inside the back of headpiece to create support and hot glued into place. The wire supports were attached to a metal headband and wrapped into place with cotton thread.
• Two hat elastics were twisted and attached to the bottoms of both side of the headband to ensure the headpiece was secure.
• In addition a small metal comb was sewn in under the top of the headband to stop the percher slipping.
• The back was hand stitched to the front of the headpiece.