Two Easy-to-Make Hats

Here are two easy to make hats: a starched lace hat and a crownless brim hat. Both are attractive and will be a pleasure to wear.

Starched lace hat

Material Required:

Buckram Frame
2 yds. 5" lace applique
1 yd. velvet tubing

Method Used

Fit lace to frame, clipping where necessary. Pin lace all around brim edge. When lace is perfectly fitted to frame, sew lace where it has been clipped using an overcast stitch. Be careful not to sew through frame.

Remove lace from frame and dip into liquid starch (direction for making starch below). Squeeze starch through lace thoroughly. Wring out extra starch. Lace should be damp with starch, but leave none in spaces. Place lace back on frame and stretch lace to fit frame. Pin lace around edge of brim. Allow lace to dry on frame, then remove lace from frame. Slip wire through velvet tubing. Fit around brim edge, join wire. Pull velvet tubing tight over wire and sew ends together. Pin tubing to facing and carefully slip stitch to lace.

Finish with ribbon band inside crown, pulling ends of ribbon through lace in back for trim.

Directions For Making Starch

Dissolve 1/4 cup starch in 1/2 cup cold water. Boil 1 1/4 cups of water, remove from flame, and then slowly stir the starch mixture into boiling water --stirring constantly. Place back on flame until it thickens. As soon as starch is cool enough to handle, dip lace into starch.

Crownless Brim hat made of chicken wire net

Material Required:

3 yds chicken wire (wide width)
4 1/2 yds. velvet tubing
2 bunches lilacs
1 velvet head size clip
1 pkg. glue on rhinestones
3 yds. 1" satin back velvet ribbon
Sizing and narrow head band ribbon

Method Used

Cut chicken wire into two 11/2 yard lengths. Match diamond openings in net - for brim. Pin chicken wire with push pins to flat side of brim block edge, lapping ends of net over. Match diamond openings and tie-tack. Steam net while pulling into headsize. Smooth out all wrinkles and pin net around headsize. When net on brim is dry, size net with a light coat of sizing and let dry on block.

Wiring Brim

Put 3 wires on under side of brim. Run wire through velvet tubing - measure wires to fit brim, starting 1" from brim edge. Join wires with wire joiners, and join and finish ends of velvet tubing. Remove net brim from block - pin net to headsize clip, and sew to clip. Cut off some of the excess net around headsize. Then, pin velvet-covered wires on net facing about 2" apart, and slip stitch wires to facing.

Trimming And Finishing

Measure top of head from side to side and from back to front. Cut 2 pieces of velvet ribbon and sew ribbon to velvet head band. One piece from back to front, and one piece from side to side. Tack velvet pieces together on top of crown, and finish with a small cluster of lilacs.

Arrange sprays of lilacs on brim top, pulling some of the buds through openings in net to facing side and tack. Draw several strips of velvet ribbon on brim and finish with velvet bows. Sew head band around headsize to finish raw edge of net. Glue rhinestones on lilac flowers and buds.

Either of these two hats will enhance the beauty of the clothes you wear.

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