UK milliner Jane Fryers is well known for her use of traditional millinery techniques on a mixture of recycled fabrics and unusual modern materials. She has collaborated with Guy Morse-Brown Hat Blocks to create a special series of upcycling tutorials for us.  In this project, Jane demonstrates how to make a stylish saucer hat from an everyday placemat.

Stitched strip placemats are not hard to find. Normally made out of woven synthetic straw like materials, they are available from most stores that sell home goods and tableware. You may already have some lying around the house but, if not, they shouldn’t cost much to buy.

“I’ve had my eye on tablemats that resemble pedal straw for a while,” Jane told us. “When I saw these Christmas mats with a hint of sparkle, I thought they’d be perfect for a seasonal hat for all those December parties. The berries were on last year’s crackers and I think I probably made Christmas stockings with the green craft felt.”

While Jane’s placemat hat is holiday-themed, complete with felt holly and berries, you could use any colour placemat and get really creative with trimmings to come up with totally different looks.

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