none

Carolyn Kelly

Australia

• HATalk Issue 107: Make a Hand-Pleated Felt Cloche – Part 1 by Ani Stafford-Townsend

I love the hats of the 1930s to 50s and so my designs tend to be influenced by them. This hat is an afternoon/evening cocktail hat the has been designed to easily fit an 'updo' hairstyle underneath. It is lightweight and comfortable so as not to interfere with your partying. I saw the felt pleating article in Hattalk issue 107 and thought this would be the perfect complement to this design. This method keeps the hat simple and elegant with a feature that is out of the ordinary. The beading draws your eye to the pleats and helps to keep them stable.

• Wool felt hood
• 18g wire
• 25mm petersham ribbon
• Dance satin for lining
• Seed beads
• Sewing thread
• Hat elastic

• Dampening and steaming
• Stretching for hat shape over a block and for making pleats
• Stiffening
• Pinning pleats into shape till dry
• All of the making of this hat is hand sewn
• Hand stitched beading
• Wiring to reinforce shape