Georgian Hat

Bergere Hat

Link for the hat:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Straw-Hat-Ladies-13-Molded-18th-Century-Reproduction/372174405170?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Materials:

Strip of Pink cotton
Strip of Lilac cotton
Just over a metre of Lilac cotton bias
Strip of Stiff Pink Lace
Artificial flowers
Feathers bought from
Strip of white lace

On the underside of the hat measure the circumference around the brim, measure from the brim to overlap the crown and cut a piece of fabric approximately twice this length. Make pleats approximately 2cm wide with a small pleat of approximately 1cm.

Pin, then sew this to the underside brim edge, try to incorporate the last pleat where the ends meet.

The pleats will be smaller inside the crown. Pin then sew in place through the hat crown.

Measure across the the inside of the crown, allowing the tape measure to follow the contours of the crown and up the sides. Run a gathering stitch around the edge.

Pin and sew in place. You can now sew around the brim of the hat and remove all the pins.

Pin bias around the brim and using a sewing machine, SLOWLY sew this on. Allow for an overlap.

Turn the bias to the underside of the edge and hand sew in place.

My first layer was pinked on the edge and using the same method, I pleated a strip of fabric wide enough to slightly go up the crown.

Using the stiff pink lace, I cut around the bottom flowers to break up the edge. Sew a gathering stitch across the top and gather to fit the crown. The raw edges were then sewn together

Using a scrap of lilac, I stretched it across the crown, then pinned and sewed it to the hat. It helps to use more than you need so you can give it a good pull.