DIY Millinery

A Sumptuous Sinamay Hat by Barbara Holland

Its a joy and a pleasure to catch up with students to see how they are doing, and Barbara Holland has begun her journey of making elegant, sumptuous hat designs for clients.

Block/Hat Shape

Her striking purple sinamay hat sports an upturn brim and a sloping crown, which is a favourite of many ladies.  The silhouette shape itself adorns any garment and any ladies stance improves quite quickly as she enters any venue.

Trimmings

Barbara has trimmed her hat with a long bias sinamay band edged in matching pettersham  edge, arrowhead ostrich feathers in toning colour has been added and an antique broche to finish off.   In milliners terms less is more.  A hat ready for Ascot or any event.

Skills gained and materials used

Barbara has attended a few 2 day workshops, where she equipped herself with the basic millinery/hat making techniques to begin her journey into the millinery world.  For this hat the supplies of sinamay, feathers, pettersham can be obtained from Parkin Fabrics, the broche from any jewelry you may have laying around or from a second hand or charity store.  For Barbara’s design it would be an intermediate level, requiring basic sewing skills, patience and the love of being creative with your hands.

A Sinamay Loop Fascinator by Barbara Holland of Racey Ladies Hat Designs

For this fascinator Barbara has used black sinamay bias strip and trimmed it with silver bias through the center.  By adding diamanties to finish off and then attached to a silver alice band gives this fascinator an elegant and dainty look.  The black and silver colour theme looks stunning.

Skill, Techniques & Materials

Techniques used can be learned in a 1 day trimming course and the fascinator can be made in a matter of 3-4 hours once the technique has been acquired.  Fascinators at present are still very much in the lime light and can be made from sinamay as shown, feathers, fabrics, straw, felt.  Its fun to have a go and you may be surprised at what you create.  Barbara’s designs are just a few of what you can achieve at beginners level, whether you have basic sewing skills or not you can still learn on one of my workshops either as a one to one or group setting its a great way to make new friends, learn the art of millinery techniques, whilst having fun and meeting friendly people from across the globe.

Do you want to know how to make hats and fascinators?

Shoot me an email at bethune_m@yahoo.com or fill in my contact page and I’ll be happy to meet your needs.  You too can use your creative vision and get into hat making.

Barbara Holland of Racey Ladies Hat Designs

Until the next time, let me know what you think!

Creativity at work

Bethune