final version fantasy hat

IMAGE 1 (Overall hat size 10 inches front to back and 14 inches at widest) The main fabric of the hat has been oversewn by an eyelet pattern on the sewing machine. A number of these eyelets have then been oversewn by hand to represent barnacles, sea anemones etc.. in a range of colours and types of yarn. This view is of the side and rear right corner. The rear corner has been wired to turn up and a lace wing has been added on the outside corner. A reed fringe has then been added to the upturned corner.

IMAGE 2 Rear view.

The back edge has been overworked by a copper colour bronzed thread to emphaise the theme of defended edges in the design. It represents a series of defence groynes. It also has the practical effect of stiffening the back edge. This view also shows the wave shapes which are a feature of every plane of the hat. IMAGE 3 Left side view

This shows the detail of the lace wings, echoing the stitched pattern on the sides of the top fabric.

IMAGE 4 Front and left side view

The front knitted lace 'veil' has been knitted into a wave pattern at the front and falls forward to be stitched under the lace wings.

IMAGE 5 Front View

This shows the detail of the front knitted lace edging , falling forward to from a short veil to the hat. This represents the kind of foam which sometimes forms at the front edges of waves

IMAGE 6 Side left view.

This shows the left side lace wings which have been extended to form the outside edge of the tuned up back corner. The lace wings, especially with the upturned corner feature of this view, also serve to emphasise the wave effect of the whole design.

IMAGE 7 Underneath view

This shows the underneath view, fully lined and with the fascinator base attached along the folded central spine.

IMAGE 8 Top view of hat on flat surface

This is an opportunity to review the original design and the stitched elements used to translate it in the hat.

The original drawing was entitled Sea Defences Along the Wash. The design 'recipe' included long triangles, curves, waves and edges. The colouration of the drawing was not that associated with a typical sea blue but rather a merging of sea and land colours. Mud flats, rivers and sea merged into a series of green/brown/yellow colours with black lines and man made hard edges trying to confine the sea and protect the land. The front of the hat shows an unconfined wave shape which breaks into a foamy fringe. The back edge is confined by a corded groyne-like structure. The black lace side edges echo the long narrow black triangles of the original drawing.

The upturned back corner edge carries an echo of typical reed fringed river edges of this part of the world