I agree with the other blogger who said the pattern, as written, is too tall. I shortened the front to 3 1/2 inches and the back to 4 5/8 inches. This changed the top circumference to 26 1/2 inches. Right or wrong, I thought it was important to keep the angle of the slope of the crown. I made an oval for the crown top. Since I am not a real milliner, I decided not to try to do a wire frame (not sure how) so I did a buckram frame with wired edges, see picture 1. I mulled the sides, (mulling is covering with a thin layer of padding such as baby flannel) since the material was going to be laid against the sides, but not the top. I did a french lining- which you can see below in picture 2. These are great because you can adjust them for the head size! (this is just a strip of material the same as the circumference of the bottom, by 3 inches wide- with a ribbon drawstring). Then I tacked some Crim on the top to start shaping the folds. See picture 3. However….
I started to pin the silk and velvet in the shape of the turban I see in the picture, but I was disappointed in the results. I have a big head, and with big 1912 hair, it was too much! However, I wanted a crown that would fit the big hair and was period correct, as this one is. You can see in period photos or on vintage hats from the period how big these crowns were. I note that they usually had a lining like the one I made to actually keep them on top of the hair so they don’t drop to the eyebrows. Long story short, I wanted the big crown, but I also wanted a brim.
I had a straw hat I bought at a thrift store- I think it was a fad at some point to decorate these big crown flat straw hats with flowers and hang them on the wall. The crown was actually big enough to cover the top of the buckram crown. So, I cut the crown off the brim so I could mount them both on the mad March hat. See picture 4.
The rest of the pictures show the result. The size of the crown looks right for the period photos. By the way, I have never seen the single side tie (scarf?) in a period illustration, but my sister has a vintage hat from this time that had this addition, so I added it to mine.
I look forward to seeing other versions, especially those of you who may be better at making the turban shape!
Mary in Utah
Elegant; ladies would be proud to stroll wearing this.
very charming. Thank you for including all the pictures of the work in progress
Very pretty hat! Thank you for the pictures. I’m going to have to tackle a hat this year.
Mary…. where in Utah are you? I am from Utah also, Layton area.
West Jordan! Glad there is another Utahn doing this.
Yes, me too!
It would be ideal to have a group of us here and get together to trade project ideas.
Your version of the Ladies Spring Hat is very attractive and might even be an improvement on the original (with your pretty brim and sash).
I like your mock-up, which seems a wonderful way to make the hat minus the wire armature.