My own hat...

This whole hat-making venture started because I was looking for a hat to wear with my own steampunk outfit... so obviously I couldn't forget to decorate a hat for myself in between all of the rest I've been posting! My costume is made of tweed (the same tweed I used in the Phoebe and Penelope) and a burgundy brocade, so I thought I'd tie in the hat by using the same fabrics in the hatband. Then I basically just went to town and included all of the components I liked from previous hats. Just about the only thing I couldn't get to fit in with the design was the peacock feathers (you'll see those on future hats), but just about everything else made it in! I won't bother writing up a fabulous description for this one, but it's got an antique copper keyhole, a clock face, several gears, a button, brass flowers, wire swirls, two ostrich plumes, and a tiny key dangling from one of the swirls that I think turned out to be really cute.

Penelope and Phoebe

I really like the steampunk aesthetic, so I decided to branch out from the original orange/brown/gold color scheme I'd used for my first two steampunk hats, Ernestine and Emmeline. I have some great tweed that I knew would set off my feathers nicely, and going through my collection of acrylic jewels I thought that green and purple would be appropriate colors to start. I'm especially enjoying the curled feathers on the Phoebe (just run the spine of the feather over a butter knife), since I think they add some extra dimension to the hat, and peacock feathers are always fun to work with.

Penelope

Combining a classic tweed with the exotic allure of peacock feathers, the Penelope is steampunk with an edge. A forest green grosgrain ribbon is backed with a band of tweed in shades of burgundy and brown, and an emerald-colored acrylic jewel glitters from within an intricate brass filigree wrap to form the centerpiece of this lovely hat. Two coppery gears, a whimsical clock face in brass and ivory, and a tiny brass key provide steampunk accents without being stereotypically mechanical. Swirls of brass wire draw the eye upwards, where mottled guinea hen feathers and a single vibrant peacock eye add color and dimension. When people see you wearing the Penelope, they're sure to be green with envy!






Phoebe


If the Penelope is exotic steampunk, the Phoebe is steampunk turned slightly eccentric. Think of her as a librarian by day, with a secret identity only you can unravel. Traditional tweed is backed with iridescent violet dupioni silk for a touch of luxury, while a clear amethyst-colored acrylic jewel is set off to perfection by a wrap of brass filigree. Utilitarian gears in antique silver and bronze are softened by tiny brass flowers set with glass pearls, and a brass button adds to the eclectic mix. Brass wire swirls echo the stylish curl of the mottled guinea hen feathers that  provide a flirty twist-- literally!-- to this subtle-yet-fascinating hat.

The First Eight Hats

Ernestine:

Inspired by steampunk fashion, the Ernestine juxtaposes luxurious fabrics with antiqued brass, utilitarian

gears with delicate

filigree, and takes it over the top with a lush panel of overlapping pheasant plumage. The Ernestine features burnt orange dupioni silk and a brown/gold brocade, a pad of pheasant feathers in browns and creams,

and a topaz acrylic jewel

set in brass filigree. Metal gears and tiny brass flowers set with pearls are hand-sewn to accent the central embellishment, along with tiny rhinestones in two shades of topaz.

Emmeline:

Slightly more whimsical than her older sister Ernestine, the Emmeline is offbeat, quirky, and full of an airy unconcern for all things conventional. A fluffy golden ostrich plume is grounded by an eclectic collection of clock faces, keyholes, and brass flowers set with pearls, while a single coppery gear is a nod to the traditional steampunk aesthetic. Burnt orange dupioni silk and chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon are set off by six tiny topaz rhinestones, and fanciful brass curlicues finish off the look.

Ikebana:

Elegant in its simplicity, the Ikebana embodies the qualities that are the hallmark of the traditional Japanese form of flower arranging. A single band of olive-green brocade is wrapped with narrow brown satin ribbon, and surmounted by two perfect silk orchid blossoms. Delicate gold thread forms vertical stripes that meet at the top of the crown in a starburst pattern visible only from above. The orchid stems have been wrapped in matching olive-green satin ribbon, and the petals are painted in acrylic to prevent creases and maintain their delicate pefection.

Jacqueline:

Quintessentially Parisian, the Jacqueline would be equally at home nibbling macarons at Hermés or attending the races at Ascot across the Channel. No matter what's in vogue, black and white are always the fashion. The Jacqueline features bold black-and-white striped ribbon, set off by a fashionably drooping white ostrich plume and three black goose biots, curled to perfection. A ruby-red

acrylic jewel is wrapped in brass filigree and accented with two tiny pearls, and placed in the center of a dramatic bow. No matter what the event, you're sure to be the best-dressed person there in this chapeau!

Lady Anne:

Cool and aristocratic in shades of gray and lilac, the Lady Anne is threaded with silver, studded with pearls, and fit to adorn nobility. Silver thread is hand-stitched in a quilted pattern over the entire crown, and accented with individually sewn glass pearls at each juncture. A wide band of lilac dupioni silk is highlighted with a double row of satin ribbon in lilac and gray, while an amethyst acrylic jewel is wrapped in silver filigree and accented with more pearls and tiny rhinestones in lavender. The hat is surmounted by a matching gray ostrich plume.

Tiffany:

With hot pink brocade and black feathers, what else can this hat be called but "Tiffany"? Shocking pink brocade practically glows against the black felt hat, and is patterned with exotic blooms in electric blue, orange, and gold. The swirling chrysanthemum pattern in the brocade is echoed by the golden wire swirls that surround the central jet-black acrylic jewel, and the intertwined black spiral goose biot feathers. It can be tough to make hot pink look elegant, but the Tiffany manages it!

Twilight I (Edward):

Inspired by Twilight, the Edward is dark and brooding, with a hint of sparkle under the surface. Black, black, and more black is accented with glints of blood-red and silver, while leather and chains keep this beautiful hat from being overly feminine. Black burnout velvet with sparkling threads woven throughout covers the crown, topped with a hat band made of supple black leather. A narrow red satin ribbon adds a touch of color, while red teardrop crystals dangle like drops of blood from silver chains fastened by antique silver buttons. A jet-black acrylic jewel is set in silver filigree with two tiny red rhinestones, and curling black feathers add a finishing touch.

Twilight II (Bella):

The feminine counterpart to the Edward, the Bella is just as dark and dreamy, but softened by lace and fluffy ostrich plumes. She still has the sparkle, covered in burnout velvet with metallic threads, and it's only enhanced by layers of heavy black venise lace that recalls the shape of Gothic windows. Antique silver buttons stretch silver chains across a black ostrich plume, which rises above a jet-black acrylic jewel wrapped in silver filigree. Blood-red teardrop crystals, tiny rhinestones, and narrow satin ribbon provide accents of color to this gorgeous hat.