Edwardian style wide brimmed hat

[Porkshanks]

I love those little bowlers and tiny top hats and such that many women have been posting... they are so cute, but I don't like doing 'cute' in my own style, so I created this hat from scratch.  It is based on a hat I've seen in a few pictures of Edwardian era people, although I did alter the design a good amount.  For one, I made it in a bonnet shape, with a larger fore-brim.  I also made the brass gear decoration by hand, and it has a nice circular-sanded finish.  The gogs are orignally from the late 1930s, which I removed the crappy "foam" buffers from.  I might at some point make my own buffers for them, but this is good for now!



This is all hand sewed, like most of the stuff I've been making lately.  I have a machine, but this it tends to try to 'devour' this type of material, or at least wreck the finish.  The 20" wide brim is kept stiff via a loop of metal wire running around the inside of the rim.



me in hat:



Molly 'Porkshanks'

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear Porkshanks,

    What an elegant hat!

     Vienna

[Bracer]

Curses! Its a ladies hat! I am such a fan of hats, owning them in mass quantities of ...well, I forget, but I know it's double figures. Anyway, I saw this one and was utterly disappointed that it is a ladies hat. But that won't stop me from wearing one!
Would a mens version be available?

[batty]

lovely work!

[danger]

What a beautiful hat! I love the gear on the side of it, nice~

[Porkshanks]

thanks everyone 

Bracer said, "Would a mens version be available?"

well Bracer, I guess I could be talked into building a men's version if someone was persuasive enough.  I just made this for myself and don't want to get into the business of millinery (although I do love hats), although I imagine since this is already just a feminized version of a men's hat, I bet you could find a pattern somewhere.  I think building your own would be way cool!

I would be glad to give tips on how to make something in this style if anyone is interested... or rather I will try to explain in detail how I made this one.  Its actually rather uncomplicated, simply time consuming since I hand sewed it all.

Molly 'Porkshanks'

[Bracer]

Well that would be most kind. I already have a hat that is similar to yours, so now I just need to stick on that cog. (I'm not too sure about the material)
And I don't know about the goggles either. But even so, I would very much like to know how to make one. I shall post pictures of my current hat   ...if I get around to it.

On a side note, my brother has a round to it. Or rather, a circuler peice of wood with "Tuit" enscribed upon it. He got it at a key-ring stall in a market.

[MrsGodmother]

The gear is quite fetching, as is the hat overall!  Did you have any trouble with the lace catching on the gear?  Do the goggles throw it off balance at all?  Weight distribution proves troublesome for me when working with hats.  That, and I never know quite what to do with my hair.

Cheers!
Mrs. Godmother 

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear Mrs. Godmother,

    What is your hairstyle?  I alter mine with different hats, depending on how I need to secure some of them to my head.

     Vienna

[Dusza Beben]

Beautiful, simply beautiful.


And I like the hat too.   

I've never made one from scratch, but I've modified quite a few. The hand stitching is most impressive.

DB

[Porkshanks]

Bracer, I will try to put together some instructions and tips in a couple of days, I regret I am currently engaged working on costumery for wednesday.

Mrs Godmother, thank you!  No, I filed the edges of the gear with a metal file and that rounded them enough that they seem okay in their current configuration.  The goggles do add some weight, which for me is an issue because I am recovering from an accident that left me with extensive neck/shoulder problems.  I originally had some smashing looking swiss motorcycle goggles on this hat, but I had to replace them with these stripped down ones because the swiss ones plus the weight of the hat was considerable and started to make my neck cramp something fierce!

The distribution seems okay, although the weight of the hat is far more than the goggles, so it would take something large to upset things.  I think the wideness of the brim makes a good balance easy on a hat such as this.  For this hat, I just put my pony tail into a top knot under the hat.  I also change my 'do' according to hat style.  But then... I occasionally wear a purple knit scarf like a turban so perhaps my haberdashery exploits should be taken with a heaping side-order of salt?

Dusza, thank you dear sir, for the generous comment.

Molly 'Porkshanks'

[MrsGodmother]

     Dear Mrs. Godmother,

    What is your hairstyle?  I alter mine with different hats, depending on how I need to secure some of them to my head.

     Vienna

My hair is currently about mid back length and I'm rather useless when it comes to hairstyling.  If it's up in a standard bun, I cannot wear most hats at all, and it looks rather silly down loose with a hat.  I can do a single plait pretty easily, but that's not ideal either.

Mrs Godmother, thank you!  No, I filed the edges of the gear with a metal file and that rounded them enough that they seem okay in their current configuration.  The goggles do add some weight, which for me is an issue because I am recovering from an accident that left me with extensive neck/shoulder problems.  I originally had some smashing looking swiss motorcycle goggles on this hat, but I had to replace them with these stripped down ones because the swiss ones plus the weight of the hat was considerable and started to make my neck cramp something fierce!

The distribution seems okay, although the weight of the hat is far more than the goggles, so it would take something large to upset things.  I think the wideness of the brim makes a good balance easy on a hat such as this.  For this hat, I just put my pony tail into a top knot under the hat.  I also change my 'do' according to hat style.  But then... I occasionally wear a purple knit scarf like a turban so perhaps my haberdashery exploits should be taken with a heaping side-order of salt?

Good work with the filing!  I have a bit too much hair to fit comfortably under most hats.  Oh well.  I hope you recover fully from your accident.  Neck injuries are very unpleasant and undermine extravagant hatwearing! 

Mrs. Godmother

[Porkshanks]

well, I've been having very good luck with this hat!  I've been wearing it for most of a week and so far my neck pain isn't increasing at all.  In fact, I'm almost starting to feel like its getting better?  *knock on wood*  Maybe it has to do with the particular balance of this hat working just the right muscles to strengthen things?  I really don't know, but I will say its a fun hat to wear!  And it doesn't try to fly off my head as much as I feared it would, although I do tie it under my chin just in case.

Molly 'Porkshanks'

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear Mrs. Godmother,

     Have you tried a French roll?  Its rather flatter than a bun, but still lets me put my hats on and have an updo look.

     Vienna