By popular request, flowers.
The pieced lining. Click for larger versions.
I debated with myself about whether or not it was OK to piece the lining, and then I figured that it was what I had, so I would make do. It was a hot mess, all freehand, and I was convinced of total failure until I started stitching the lining down just over the millinery wire. Then the shape began to pull tightly and behave better. If I were to do this again, and if I were to make recommendations to another hat fiend, here’s are two changes I’d suggest:
1. Make an actual tidy pattern of your hat circle on a large piece of paper (newspaper, wrapping paper, whatever).
2. Trim and tidy edges so you are piecing straight, radial lines and not curves or tangents; better yet, buy a new remnant and don’t piece. I was too afraid of ‘wasting’ my scraps, so I pieced on the tangent. It’s OK, but I could have made this a bit easier for myself.
Happy birthday, Mr S!
Beyond those minor points, this is easy; piecing and fitting on the fly got a little wonky. Also, though your mileage may vary, 4:00 AM may not be the best time to start new projects. Wait till 5:00, when your coffee has kicked in.
We had real, not printed fabric, flowers in the house on Tuesday, which was Mr S’s birthday. I chose peonies because they looked so Dutch, though you cannot see the little variegated petals here.
Kitty wishes to know if you are getting all your leafy greens, because he is.
Flowers for dessert.
Kitty Calash 
Mwahahaha! Kitty (the four-footed one) is very fortunate that KC (the stay up all night decorating a hat one) doesn’t come after him with those gardening shears!! The hat looks beautiful, and the only one to see the hot mess will be you as you take it off at the end of a long day! So piece away, says I! True, it’s always better to plan out a pattern ahead of time, but in my house that kind of planning only happens when I am starting a project 6 months in advance…
Happy stitching,
Nancy N
Thanks!
Kitty is very spoiled; he’s really a diva cat, and Mr S’s darling.
And no, I hardly ever plan anything…and when I do, I still overtaken by events!
KC
First, as i looked at the photo of the lining on your new (yes?) black straw hat and before I began reading this entry, I thought, “How cool is that?! She pieced the lining and everything! Far out and HUZZAH!” So, yes, I agree, it’s what “they” would’ve done back then, AND it looks great! Second, um, am I missing something? Flowers? For Mr. S,? On his birthday? Really?! Not what even I would want, but, hey, whatever floats his boat. And lastly, should Mr. Kitty be eating said flowers? I’d be afraid they might be toxic…you know, as some other plants are. In any event, I trust your pretty kitty is still alive ‘n kicking!
carolina
http://www.historiccookery.com
Mr S likes flowers, among other things. Kitty got shooed right after this was taken. He is very alive indeed, and the flowers were promptly removed from tooth range and replaced with tuna. Kitty is very spoiled indeed, and kicking, too!
Thank you for taking the time to get a photo of the lining…it’s a lovely print; I can see why you wouldn’t want to waste even a little bit!
The arrangement of real flowers is also lovely (as is Mr Diva Kitty, the scoundrel!); happy belated birthday to Mr S!
If the Boston event in August is open to the public, I would love to attend…could you share the details?
August 10, at the Old State House, exact time and daily schedule TBD. Open to the public, and free!
Fabulous – thanks! 🙂 I also found the event site you linked in yesterday’s entry…on my first skim-through, I thought it was a link to a costume site (which I would check out later.)
Hoping to see you and your lovely ensemble and entourage there!
Unofrtunately, I wasn’t able to make it due to having minor surgery…I hope the event went well, and I look forward to reading your account of it!
No worries, the event has been moved but my ability to update here somewhat constrained by the site…oh, process! More to come, and soon, I hope! KC
On Sun, Aug 11, 2013 at 6:44 PM, Kitty Calash