Steampunk Victorian Garden Party Hat
This hat is for the totally feminine woman who loves to wear something very unique while attending a garden party. What you may not believe is that this hat frame is the exact hat frame that I designed for the lady Pirate hat. Please visit the last blog. The purpose of designing the hat pattern for more than one event was that I do not think that everyone will be making a series of pirate hats. Showing how versatile the pattern is, is what this garden hat is all about.
A garden party hat should represent a garden theme so I first chose colors that symbolize a garden very well and make a very feminine hat. To complete this hat I also made a neck piece to wear with it.
To cover the crown top and brim top, I layered two fabrics, pale mauve taffeta with forest green lace over it. To cover the vamp (center of the hat) and the under brim I used forest green velvet. To go over the vamp velvet, I used some mauve ribbon flower trim which really brought out the mauve under the green lace.
I wanted to feature flowers and feathers to look like a cottage garden, so I took a pink ostrich feather and stripped it so that only the top flu was left on the spine. I curled the part that remained and added a curled peacock feather to become the main feature. I lovely wired rhinestone butterfly joined the garden along with purchase lilies and crystal sprays. Finally I stripped several dark green coque feathers so that they would move when the wearer walked and resemble leaves.
This hat is all about femininity and I tied a fine netting bow with beaded ends in the same mauve shade at the back under the feather feature. Although it is difficult to see, there is another peacock feather behind the back of the ostrich feather.
To complete the garden I made two beautiful flowers using the same mauve taffeta and pale pink organza with light pink stamens in the centers. I place one flower on each side of the feather display.
Here you can see one of the flowers.
A close-up shows you the placement of the bow and how I added another ribbon flower over the center knot.
What makes this same hat pattern different than the pirate hat is simply the manipulation of the brim. The pattern is the exact same but the front of the brim is turned down slightly and the very back turned up just a little. The hat brim is larger than my other patterns because of turning it up for the pirate style, but it also works well for a garden hat.
I thought that making the neck piece to match would make this hat stand out even more and it does. Here you can see a cameo charm which I put together and added to the band I made in both colors. This flower is smaller than the flowers on the hat, and I love the size. It really says garden party.
Four ribbons tie in a bow and hang down the back. Tying makes this piece comfortable for any wearer.
There is no way that you could not feel like a beautiful woman while wearing this hat.
This garden hat is for sale and is a one-of-a-kind and will not be reproduced.
Pattern with photographed step by step tutorial to make your own is also available and costs $19.95.
Linda,
Another beautiful hat!!