Purple Files:  Men's Elizabethan Tall Hat
Recreated by La Signora Onorata Katerina da Brescia.
Inspiration: Dafydd needed a hat to complete his latest outfit.  One of the 'Cheap shops' had a flocked cardboard 'top hat' for $5. This was a cheap and easy way to get a base to form the hat on....
According to Janet Arnold, it appears that the material is formed on a base of buckram or cardboard, so this worked out well. I had some left over velveteen in the cupboard, as well as some silver trim (left over from LOR costume) and some black feathers (on sale for 50c), so all was set!

Method:
I pinned a 'circle' of velveteen to the hat to make folds. This was then tacked down with handsewing. I used a cotton tape (in stash) to hold down the folds.
More handsewing. A curved needle is the best way to do this!		 I then pinned a 'donut' of velveteen to the brim, handsewing the inner edge to the tape.
I did not want a seam edge on the brim edge, so I again folded the edges of the 'donut' under the brim and handsewed down the folds and along the inner brim ege to hold the material to the hat base. Amazingly, I had some petersham tape in my sewing cupboard. (had it for years). This not only provides a edge to hold the folds, but will also keep the material clean when being worn. It was handsewn in place. I used two bits of trim to sew over the joing and existing tape.
Dafydd's device is black, purple and silver (white), so I used these colours. The black feathers were the only new thing bought for this project. I go them on sale after the Melbourne cup (cost 50c). It still needed somtthing though. I rummaged through my  sewing cupboard and found some 'jewelry bits' for a brooch to add to the trim. This will also help keep the feathers in placce.

All intellectual content, photos and layout are copyright to La Signora Onorata Katerina da Brescia (K Carlisle), except those original renaissance artworks and extant articles whose copyright remains with the current owner and are for research purposes.
If you would like to use something from this site, please contact me, and cite this website reference.

©(c) K Carlisle. November, 2007

n: Dafydd needed a hat to complete his latest outfit.  One of the 'Cheap shops' had a flocked cardboard 'top hat' for $5. This was a cheap and easy way to get a base to form the hat on....
According to Janet Arnold, it appears that the material is formed on a base of buckram or cardboard, so this worked out well. I had some left over velveteen in the cupboard, as well as some silver trim (left over from LOR costume) and some black feathers (on sale for 50c), so all was set!

Method:
I pinned a 'circle' of velveteen to the hat to make folds. This was then tacked down with handsewing. I used a cotton tape (in stash) to hold down the folds.
More handsewing. A curved needle is the best way to do this!		 I then pinned a 'donut' of velveteen to the brim, handsewing the inner edge to the tape.
I did not want a seam edge on the brim edge, so I again folded the edges of the 'donut' under the brim and handsewed down the folds and along the inner brim ege to hold the material to the hat base. Amazingly, I had some petersham tape in my sewing cupboard. (had it for years). This not only provides a edge to hold the folds, but will also keep the material clean when being worn. It was handsewn in place. I used two bits of trim to sew over the joing and existing tape.
Dafydd's device is black, purple and silver (white), so I used these colours. The black feathers were the only new thing bought for this project. I go them on sale after the Melbourne cup (cost 50c). It still needed somtthing though. I rummaged through my  sewing cupboard and found some 'jewelry bits' for a brooch to add to the trim. This will also help keep the feathers in placce.

All intellectual content, photos and layout are copyright to La Signora Onorata Katerina da Brescia (K Carlisle), except those original renaissance artworks and extant articles whose copyright remains with the current owner and are for research purposes.
If you would like to use something from this site, please contact me, and cite this website reference.

©(c) K Carlisle. November, 2007