HATalk Competition Entry 2024
Amanda Wheal
Description
“Maelstrom” can mean a turbulent situation. This hat could be seen as an abstract representation of our modern day minds. A maelstrom of overthinking, multitasking, and emotions in our chaotic and frenzied lives. However I see this “maelstrom” in a more literal sense, and a positive view.
This “maelstrom” is a powerful whirlpool in the sea formed when 2 opposing currents meet an obstacle and collide. The natural forces involved, plus changing tides, can cause huge waves.
I wanted the wearer to feel like a force of nature. Empowered. To gain confidence and garner respect. After all, we humans are 60% water, and we cannot survive without it. So I thought the wearer could become one, and assimilate with the “maelstrom” headpiece. Hence the wired sinamay-covered vortex tail flowing downwards and effortlessly around the face.
As water is made of 3 atoms, I have used 3 colours for the design. 2 blues representing the hydrogens, and white representing the oxygen. The blues have silver lurex threads to represent the water’s direction of flow, and its reflective properties; with the lighter blue being the water closer to the surface forming the waves, and the darker blue (2 layers) being the deeper sea. The underside of the hat is plain navy sinamay (1 layer) and satin lining, as it’s darker at the bottom of the sea. It was a design choice to make the rolling waves with the grain, not on the bias, so that the lurex threads flow from point to point on each wave.
The white crashing wave tops and sea spray are plain white as the water is chaotic and without a specific direction. I cut off the rectangles from the edge of the veiling so that the sea spray could be as wispy and fine as possible.
Techniques:
- Blocking sinamay with iron heat, and steam from a damp tea towel, over a curved teardrop block.
- Creating additional wire frame covered in sinamay (same 3 layers as main body), to form the whirlpool tail.
- Wiring the circumference of the underside edge.
- Rolling edges of sinamay wave shapes.
- Cutting and shaping veiling to stand up and resemble sea spray.
- Making a satin lining to fit the curved shape, with a gathering stitch edge.
- Iron the Petersham ribbon into multiple curves to sew neatly around the edge of the underside to create the sweatband.
- Hand sew everything in place.
Materials:
Foam block; HHB558 Curved Teardrop (8″x6.5″ x 1″), with long ‘T’ pins to use whilst blocking
Sinamay; navy blue and light blue with silver lurex threads, white offcuts from a previous project, navy blue for the underside of the main body
White veiling
PVA stiffener
1.2mm wire
Black, round 1.5mm elastic
Navy satin fabric for lining
Navy 25mm Petersham ribbon for sweatband
Polyester sewing threads, with curved and straight needles
Materials:
Foam block; HHB558 Curved Teardrop (8″x6.5″ x 1″), with long ‘T’ pins to use whilst blocking
Sinamay; navy blue and light blue with silver lurex threads, white offcuts from a previous project, navy blue for the underside of the main body
White veiling
PVA stiffener
1.2mm wire
Black, round 1.5mm elastic
Navy satin fabric for lining
Navy 25mm Petersham ribbon for sweatband
Polyester sewing threads, with curved and straight needles
Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.
HATalk Competition Entry 2024
Amanda Wheal
Description
“Maelstrom” can mean a turbulent situation. This hat could be seen as an abstract representation of our modern day minds. A maelstrom of overthinking, multitasking, and emotions in our chaotic and frenzied lives. However I see this “maelstrom” in a more literal sense, and a positive view.
This “maelstrom” is a powerful whirlpool in the sea formed when 2 opposing currents meet an obstacle and collide. The natural forces involved, plus changing tides, can cause huge waves.
I wanted the wearer to feel like a force of nature. Empowered. To gain confidence and garner respect. After all, we humans are 60% water, and we cannot survive without it. So I thought the wearer could become one, and assimilate with the “maelstrom” headpiece. Hence the wired sinamay-covered vortex tail flowing downwards and effortlessly around the face.
As water is made of 3 atoms, I have used 3 colours for the design. 2 blues representing the hydrogens, and white representing the oxygen. The blues have silver lurex threads to represent the water’s direction of flow, and its reflective properties; with the lighter blue being the water closer to the surface forming the waves, and the darker blue (2 layers) being the deeper sea. The underside of the hat is plain navy sinamay (1 layer) and satin lining, as it’s darker at the bottom of the sea. It was a design choice to make the rolling waves with the grain, not on the bias, so that the lurex threads flow from point to point on each wave.
The white crashing wave tops and sea spray are plain white as the water is chaotic and without a specific direction. I cut off the rectangles from the edge of the veiling so that the sea spray could be as wispy and fine as possible.
Techniques:
- Blocking sinamay with iron heat, and steam from a damp tea towel, over a curved teardrop block.
- Creating additional wire frame covered in sinamay (same 3 layers as main body), to form the whirlpool tail.
- Wiring the circumference of the underside edge.
- Rolling edges of sinamay wave shapes.
- Cutting and shaping veiling to stand up and resemble sea spray.
- Making a satin lining to fit the curved shape, with a gathering stitch edge.
- Iron the Petersham ribbon into multiple curves to sew neatly around the edge of the underside to create the sweatband.
- Hand sew everything in place.
Materials:
Foam block; HHB558 Curved Teardrop (8″x6.5″ x 1″), with long ‘T’ pins to use whilst blocking
Sinamay; navy blue and light blue with silver lurex threads, white offcuts from a previous project, navy blue for the underside of the main body
White veiling
PVA stiffener
1.2mm wire
Black, round 1.5mm elastic
Navy satin fabric for lining
Navy 25mm Petersham ribbon for sweatband
Polyester sewing threads, with curved and straight needles
Materials:
Foam block; HHB558 Curved Teardrop (8″x6.5″ x 1″), with long ‘T’ pins to use whilst blocking
Sinamay; navy blue and light blue with silver lurex threads, white offcuts from a previous project, navy blue for the underside of the main body
White veiling
PVA stiffener
1.2mm wire
Black, round 1.5mm elastic
Navy satin fabric for lining
Navy 25mm Petersham ribbon for sweatband
Polyester sewing threads, with curved and straight needles
Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.