HATalk Competition Entry 2024

Raymond Hatfield

Maker
Raymond Hatfield

Country
USA

Name of Hat

Description

My idea to create a Sea Water theme creation, was seeing the beauty of this shell that I have treasured over the years as it was purchased over 40 years ago in Fiji.

Back when collecting artifacts on holidays was a normal procedure. Thankfully that has been discouraged and rightfully so.

Feeling the textures , the unique shape of this sea jewel has always intrigued me, so I thought “why not try creating the beauty of this treasure from the sea to a headpiece, that tries to capture some of its amazing features.”

If only I could capture the sounds of the seas from the tropical waters where this gem of a shell was found.

What material would best show off the textures? How to block it.? How would it be arranged to capture the best angle?

How to try and compliment the blocked shape and texture in some way to show its years of barnacles and life.

All questions that challenged the creative drive to accomplish a piece of elegant headwear, and be as unique as its original shell form.

Techniques:

Not having the luxury of the technique of using pins as way of blocking, I developed a way of wrapping my dampened buckram, spraying water as I go, to cover and wrap the shell in its entirety.
Once I was happy with it covered I secured elastic ties to wrap around it tightly to try and capture the unique texture that I wanted to feature as part of the design and shape. The same with the Linen material.
Once the two blocked materials were sewn together I also sewed the white lining inside. Embellished with white lace and sequins.

Materials:

The base material that I blocked the shell in was a medium buckram that allowed me to wrap very tightly around the shell and also used some elastic ties to expose the texture and hold the unique shape.

Once dried, I removed the buckram carefully and then blocked it again with white Linen.

When both dried, I was able to cover the blocked buckram with the blocked linen perfectly. Sewing them together.

Embellishing the outside with lace and sequins, trying to capture the textured barnacles, also lined and sewed the inside that was visible, with a white satin.

Materials:

The base material that I blocked the shell in was a medium buckram that allowed me to wrap very tightly around the shell and also used some elastic ties to expose the texture and hold the unique shape.

Once dried, I removed the buckram carefully and then blocked it again with white Linen.

When both dried, I was able to cover the blocked buckram with the blocked linen perfectly. Sewing them together.

Embellishing the outside with lace and sequins, trying to capture the textured barnacles, also lined and sewed the inside that was visible, with a white satin.

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

HATalk Competition Entry 2024

Raymond Hatfield

Maker
Raymond Hatfield

Country
USA

Name of Hat

Description

My idea to create a Sea Water theme creation, was seeing the beauty of this shell that I have treasured over the years as it was purchased over 40 years ago in Fiji.

Back when collecting artifacts on holidays was a normal procedure. Thankfully that has been discouraged and rightfully so.

Feeling the textures , the unique shape of this sea jewel has always intrigued me, so I thought “why not try creating the beauty of this treasure from the sea to a headpiece, that tries to capture some of its amazing features.”

If only I could capture the sounds of the seas from the tropical waters where this gem of a shell was found.

What material would best show off the textures? How to block it.? How would it be arranged to capture the best angle?

How to try and compliment the blocked shape and texture in some way to show its years of barnacles and life.

All questions that challenged the creative drive to accomplish a piece of elegant headwear, and be as unique as its original shell form.

Techniques:

Not having the luxury of the technique of using pins as way of blocking, I developed a way of wrapping my dampened buckram, spraying water as I go, to cover and wrap the shell in its entirety.
Once I was happy with it covered I secured elastic ties to wrap around it tightly to try and capture the unique texture that I wanted to feature as part of the design and shape. The same with the Linen material.
Once the two blocked materials were sewn together I also sewed the white lining inside. Embellished with white lace and sequins.

Materials:

The base material that I blocked the shell in was a medium buckram that allowed me to wrap very tightly around the shell and also used some elastic ties to expose the texture and hold the unique shape.

Once dried, I removed the buckram carefully and then blocked it again with white Linen.

When both dried, I was able to cover the blocked buckram with the blocked linen perfectly. Sewing them together.

Embellishing the outside with lace and sequins, trying to capture the textured barnacles, also lined and sewed the inside that was visible, with a white satin.

Materials:

The base material that I blocked the shell in was a medium buckram that allowed me to wrap very tightly around the shell and also used some elastic ties to expose the texture and hold the unique shape.

Once dried, I removed the buckram carefully and then blocked it again with white Linen.

When both dried, I was able to cover the blocked buckram with the blocked linen perfectly. Sewing them together.

Embellishing the outside with lace and sequins, trying to capture the textured barnacles, also lined and sewed the inside that was visible, with a white satin.

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