Kimono

Sarah Gross

England

• Jinsin Saucer Hat Project by Catherine Ellen
• Windowpane Sinamay Hat Brim Project by Laura Del Villaggio

I have been intrigued to follow the Jinsin Saucer Hat tutorial and thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

Originally, I felt the technique resembled fans, so I started to research Japanese art and fans. I came across an image of a 1940s textile design on the V&A website which I absolutely loved.

The colours of the design were very bright including turquoise and fuchsia, together with the wave pattern it reminded me of a Jinsin I had seen at a suppliers.

When I had made my basic saucer, I felt it needed to be wider. I remembered the Windowpane Sinamay Brim tutorial and thought that could add interest to my piece. The natural windowpane sinamay was reminiscent of Japanese screens and would compliment the Japanese theme.

With my basic shape finalised I started to think about the decoration.

I made various fan shapes, but I felt they just did not work! Looking back through the research in my sketchbook, The original textiles design had a ribbon like pattern. I started to experiment with the Jinsin making strips and curves and loved the effect so decided to use these, along with cherry blossom and bows, to finish my entry.

The hat has a headband of Jinsin and hat elastic for the wearer to secure in place.

I have entitled my entry 'Kimono' after the Japanese textile design that inspired me.

Having never worked with Jinsin before, this project has been inspirational to me and I will most definitely use it in my designs in future.

• Jinsin
• Windowpane Sinamay
• Sprung wire
• Sinamay
• Vintage velvet ribbon
• Artificial cherry blossom
• Oasis spray in rose gold
• Vintage braid
• Hat elastic

• Cutting Jinsin
• Pleating Jinsin
• Securing Jinsin in place
• Making sinamay bias trim
• Cutting bias window pane sinamay
• Blocking bias windowpane brim
• Hand stitching sprung millinery wire/eding/brim