HATalk Competition Entry 2023

Patricia Stewart

Maker
Patricia Stewart

Country
England UK

Name of Hat
FlambÃ¨

Description

From the theme of the four Greek Elements I chose Fire!
After pondering on the subject and a little reading I found inspiration in a poem –

Fire and Ice
BY ROBERT FROST

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

So…
I tried to capture the essence of fire as it moves and dances, never still. Of course the colour red had to feature in the design. I sketched out the idea and found materials that I thought complimented the design.

The hat is a little vampish and needs to be worn by someone with a bit of devilishness about themselves!
The red swirls all bounce when you walk which gives it great movement too.

Thanks for reading and good luck everyone!

Materials:

Wooden Button Block
Red textured nappa leather
Buckram stiffened
Red Pipe Cleaners
Material For Linning
Red Silk to make Rose.
Pleated 6 inch wide Crin
Leather Needle
Sewing Needle
Threads red/cream
Hat Elastic
Cream Braid Trim
Thimble

Techniques:

I blocked the buckram and leather (at the same time) over the button.
Whilst it was drying I made the rose from the silk and burnt the edges and curlled the pipe cleaners around a quill.
The next day the block was removed and I attached the crin swirl and the rose in the center.
The pipe cleaner swirls were also sewn in place.
Lining made and inserted and sewn in place. Hat elastic was cut, twisted and attached then a cream trim was added to edge.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.