Inspiration

The inspiration? A friend’s well-worn garden hat? The ripple of a child’s hat brim? The patina of a leather sofa?

Sewing hats began for me with a Vogue pattern and Italian menswear wool. I have always loved working with fine materials. My reasoning went along the lines of, “Why put in the effort unless you have high quality luxurious fabric in your hands?”

Imagine my surprise in the gift of leather from a discarded sofa. Some of the leather was ripped or dull and worn, but most was supple and a rich cognac colour. I felt that the simple lines and easy seams of a bucket hat would be a do-able first leather project. Experimentation on my Bernina sewing machine with a needle designed for denim jeans resulted in the basic hat. Finishing touches came after much contemplation, a trip to a leather workshop, and internet research. I used a chisel and waxed linen thread in a contrasting colour to overcast the brim. An online video informed the braid that embellishes the crown.

I enjoyed the challenge of creating my first leather hat and transforming something old to new. I have named this hat Woodstock.