Hokuto Sumeragi - Mad Hatter #55

the hat's bow

I've sewn the bow as I mentioned before:

1. cut two rectangles, one big and one small, from the satin and from the burgundy cotton;

2. paired each rectangle, big with big, small with small, using the cotton as interfacing, to give the bow more body;

3. sewed each rectangle in a tube, on the longer side, with a running stitch;

4. turned and pressed both tubes very well;

5. folded the big rectangles ends to the centre, overlapping them by 1,5cm in the centre;

6. made a box pleat in the centre and tacked it;

7. wrapped the smaller piece over the centre of the big piece, and sewed everything together. So the knot has that more natural shape, I made a pleated on each end to opposite sides, before I sewed the ends together.

Then I sewed the bow to the hat, over the hat band, so it's visible when the brim is up.

tacking the felt structure to the top

Time to start joining everything. So it stays stable and neat, I tacked the top of the felt structure to the top of the hat. Then I turned the hat over the structure, and tacked it to the bottom of the crown, with a slip stitch.

the structure, tacked to the hat

Then, I pressed the inner crown's edges inwards, by 1,5-2cm, and sewed it, with a slip stitch to the hat on top of the structure.

the inner lining in the burgundy cotton

I should have sewn together and tacked the inner lining to the structure, before attaching it to the hat. But I didn't, so I ended up adding a drop of UHU glue to each quarter, on the inside of the structure, and glued both together. This is just so the lining doesn't drop down.

the open "purse" bottom and inside of the hat

the finished hat

I just need to add two wig clips or combs to the sides, so the hat stays put in my head, and maybe a ribbon, so I can hold it like a purse, when in my hand.

+ It's finished! The first 99% finished piece in this costume, and I'm quite happy about it. The use of the hat's crown as a purse worked, and can easily carry my keys, wallet and cards, plus a few other small items, like a comb or lipstick. 1 down, 8 to go!

- Right now it's a bit unstable, I can't move my head very quick, but the wig clips or combs - I'll test which work best - should help keep it stable on my head.

THE CUNNING PLAN

Add and test the wig clips, wear the hat inside for a day, with a few items inside, to see how it feels.

Go sew one more button hole on the shirt!