Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Downton Abbey style hat in 20 minutes!

I was invited to a Downton Abbey party last night and of course,
I waited until the last minute to fancy up my hat! I wanted to add a flower but didn't have one. I've seen tutorials on handmade layered flowers before and luckily, I had all the supplies needed at hand.
Easy Peasy!
About 20 minutes later my hat was all dressed up
and ready for the party!


We watched one of the episodes on my friends huge theater screen - seriously, it was like being at the movies! And we drank tea...well...it may not have been tea in our cups...heehee!




I know there are a bazillion tutorials out there on how to make flowers but I'd like to show you how I made this one and also the hat band.


Supplies:
Hat - Mine is black felt with a small bow on the side.
Synthetic sheer fabric - Mine is a thrifted sheer curtain with embroidered designs on it.
Eyelash yarn
Scissors
Candle and a match to light it
Corsage pins
Stapler - Yes, I cheated...no sewing here....I was in a hurry after all! (Sewing it would probably be a better option if you have time.)

Step 1 - Cut a strip of fabric that is long enough to fit around the hat. I made the strip wide enough that it could have some gathers once applied to the hat. Also cut several circles in various sizes - I used seven for my flower. The circles do not need to be perfectly round. They do need to be slightly larger than you want the finished flower because they will shrink when heated over the candle.



Step 2 - Heat the edges of the strip and the circles over the lit candle. Be careful not to hold the fabric too closely or too long over the flame as it does melt quickly and will make holes. (My flower ended up with a couple of holes but they're tiny and I thought it added to the vintage look.)


Once done melting the edges, each layer of the flower should look like this.



Step 3 - To give each flower layer more character, carefully heat and melt it throughout the center area.



Once done they should look something like this. (There's the tiny hole I mentioned before.)



Step 4 - Cut five strips of the eyelash yarn about two or three inches wider than the largest flower layer.



Step 5 - Place four yarn strips between two of the largest flower layers.



Step 6 - Staple at the center making sure to catch the yarn.



Step 7 - Add the remaining flower layers. Crunch up the remaining piece of yarn and place at the center of the layers. Holding everything in place, staple through all the layers to secure.




Step 8 - Overlap the ends of the fabric strip and staple to secure.



Step 9 - Place the band around the hat. I tucked it under the bow.



Step 10 - Make some pleats in the fabric and secure in a few places on the hat with corsage pins.


Step 11 - Use three corsage pins to secure the flower into place over the stapled area of the band.



A couple more views of the hat.




My handmade polymer clay cameo necklace was the
perfect piece of jewelry to finish off my outfit.



You can find my step by step tutorial on how to make
your own polymer clay cameo here.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

  
Sharing with:
Vintage Gwen: Show & Share , Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday, I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Link Party, French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday , Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday, Not Just a Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got

14 comments:

  1. Oh I want to come to the next party. We just started watching Downton Abbbey and I made the hubby watch all of season one over the weekend!!
    This is a great flower Miss Kathy!

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  2. Fab flower, looks perfect on the hat! Sounds like you had great fun!

    Hugs, Estelle xx

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  3. ADORABLE!!!!
    love that hat, and thanks for how to n making flower.
    I have just not had great luck with burning those edges...but a circle instead of one petal at a time might be easier...and maybe I had wrong kind of fabric.

    anyway. thanks, and too cute.

    barb

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  4. PS Are you coming in with the girls this weekend??

    hugs
    b

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  5. Well, my dear, you looked quite the height of fashion! And I thank you for showing us how to make the flower! I was right there with you, as I've done these before, until you got to the step where you placed the centers over the flame. I love how they crinkle! So you've taught me something new... thanks so much!!

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  6. Love Downton Abbey too! Thanks for the flower tutorial-
    Linda

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  7. I make this type of flower all the time and use it on everything! Love how it turned out for you. We found you via I Gotta Create - Wildly Original Link Party

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  8. Super cute hat! It sounds like you had a fun time. I like how you crinkled the center of the flower, that was a new twist. I haven't seen Downton Abbey...maybe someday!

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  9. I love Downton Abbey. Your flower did indeed add that Downton touch I must say. Found you at Feathered Nest Friday linky party. I'm your newest follower.
    Kay
    Gallery Fifty Eight

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  10. What a fun party that must have been? Love how your hat come out. I've made the flowers before but never thought of stapling them. duh.....Great idea!!! The lacy fabric around the brim is Gorgeous too.
    Hugs Lynn

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  11. Absolutely ovely!
    Your tutorial is quite clear!
    Thank you for share
    Silvia

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  12. Absolutely adorable! My flowers have looked so flat and I think your trick to heat the center is the trick. Heating up my candle now! Thanks for sharing this beautiful DIY.

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  13. I really love to make flowers. This one is beautiful, I am going to try it. It looks simple enough Thanks for sharing it.

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I look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!

Have a great day!
Kathy