All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 6

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 6 

This is one of those blogs where I have to think hard how to put in order as often I work on different parts at the same time. 

Sew Vail to Brim

 

I took another piece of Net to use for the Front Vail. I didn’t double it this time as I wanted to be able to see where I was going.

The Length of the Vail was from the Brim of the Hat to roughly chest Height and the Width went all across the Front. I Folded the Top of the Net to make it easier to Sew on to the Brim.

Add Copper Cogs

 

I now began to add the Copper Cogs to the Design. I spread them out around the Hat and Sewed in Place.

Sew Chain

 

I wanted to add some Chain around the Cogs to make it look like they were actually doing something. I started by Tacking the Chain to the Copper Cog nearest the Brim on the opposite side to the Badge.

This would hold at least one part of the Chain in place whilst I worked out what to do with the rest.

Pin and Wind

 

This was probably the most complex part of the whole project. I put in and took out so many Pins whilst working on the Design I am surprised it didn’t end up looking like a Sieve.

I worked from the Brim Cog around to the Back. I had something else in mind for the Front

Sew Chain to Badge

 

I pulled the Front Vail up and proceeded to run the Chain in a large Loop under it and across to the Badge on the other Side.

The idea was use this Chain like a Strap if the Hat ever blew off. I Sewed the Loose End to the Badge.

Sew Vail to Back

With the Chain all done I could finally Sew the Fan Vail to the Back of the Hat.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 5

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 5

Back to Preparations. As one part is so short I have lumped it together. Feathers and Net Preparation.

Forage Feathers

 

I needed some Feathers to add to my hat so I went on a Forage around town picking up all the Pidgeon Feathers I could find. It seemed that I had a great many but once I had sorted them I found very few were suitable as they were damaged.

I had also forgotten that Feathers from opposite Wings would lean different ways and since I only wanted one direction that diminished the collection further.

Feather and Ink

 

Here is a trick I learnt from lovely Laura. I wanted Black Feathers so I used a Permanent Black Marker Pen to Colour them in. I also had the foresight to put paper underneath so I didn’t mark the table.

Double and Secure

 

I Cut a Length of Net. I wanted it slightly Thicker so I Doubled it over and Secured it with some Thread.

Right Fold

 

I took roughly a Fingers Width of Net from the Right Hand Side and Folded it Back on itself towards the Middle. I then Secured it with a few Stitches.

Second Fold

 

I moved across to the Right and Duplicated the Process. I now had my second Fold. I kept doing this till I reached the End and Trimmed any Net left over.

Completed Fold

 

I then proceeded to repeat this technique on the other side only this time I was Folding to the Left. Once finished I spread out the Folds a little.

This particular piece of Folded Net is to go on the Back of the Hat.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 4

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 4

An easy blog this week if a bit wordy.

Add Glue

 

If you remember I said previously that when putting on the base layer a lot of Glue residue had come through. I have managed to cover most of it with the Cogs.

However there was still a considerable amount on the Brim. Therefore I am going to cover it with Ribbon. So I added Glue to the Brim bit by bit.

Cut and Curve

 

Adding the Ribbon was not as simple as it seems. Straight Lines have a tendency not to like going around Curves. The part of the Ribbon on top of the Brim was Fine but I have to Cut and Curve the Underneath bit by bit.

Add Badge

 

Now I do have to confess that I did not make the Badge. I’m not that clever! It was something that I got off my friend Laura.

I wanted to change the Shape of the Hat which isn’t an easy thing to do without making a mess of it. I wanted it to look more like a Ladies Riding Hat of Yesteryear. I had the idea of Sewing the Brim to one Side (after Laura had talked me out of both sides saying Steampunk is not symmetrical).

I bent up the Brim, held it and put through a few tacking stitches to hold it in place. I then positioned the Badge and Sewed that in Place. A little bit of Trimming on the Ribbon and it was all done.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 3

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 3

This is a nice quick blog. Adding Cogs.

Add Cut out Cogs

 

I started to Glue the Cut out Cogs to the Hat. I had made quite a few of them now and of different Sizes. For some reason the Base Covering had left a lot of Glue Residue. I wanted to Cover as much of this as possible.

Add Cogs other Side

 

Once I had added a Bottom Layer of Cogs one Side I turned the Hat around and carried on adding.

Add Metal Centre

 

The Black Cog Shapes were only the Silhouette. To give them a proper Cog look I Glued a Metal Washer to the Centre of Each Cog Shape.

Front Right

 

After doing the Bottom Layer I started to fill in the Gaps with more Cogs. 

Front Left

 

When I was satisfied with one Side I moved on to the other. 

Top Cogs

I had used up all the Cogs I had made so I had to make some more before I could add to the Top. I also had to add a few more to the Back of the Hat.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 2

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 2

Since there was a great deal of Preparation I am going to try and get it in some sort of order. Ideally one blog on Preparation and the next one on what I did with it.

Chalk Circles

 

I started with my usual find something Round and Chalk a Circle around it.

Cut out Circles

 

I Drew and Cut out 4 Circles to begin with. This is because I needed to work out what I needed to do.

Half Moon

 

First of all I decided to Fold the Circle into a Half Moon Shape.

Cheese Triangle

 

I then Folded the Half Moon into what I thought looked rather like the Cheese Triangles you buy in shops. I Snipped off the Corners either side of the Pin at an Angle.

Double Snip

I unfolded the Cheese Triangle and got the Shape above. It was a start.

Middle Snip

 

I Refolded into the Triangle Shape. This time I Snipped out a Triangle in the Middle. I then opened it up and Refolded along the opposite Fold. Then I Snipped another Triangle out.

(Please note that the pictures may show slightly different stages due to some photographs not coming out properly.)

Original Cog

 

I had now done all the Snipping out. However I wasn’t entirely happy with it. I decided to try another tack.

Square Cut

 

This time instead of Snipping at an Angle I made a Square Cut.

Square Snip

 

I then went on to the next part and Snipped a Square-ish Shape out of the Middle.

Cog Corrections

 

This time I got what I wanted. A lovely crisp Cog Shape. Looking at the above photograph you can see all the different attempts that it took me to get it Perfect.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

Why do I do these things to myself? The Belt was pretty easy compared to what I have to do next.

Steampunk Hat Base

 

I had several Ideas regarding how to make the Hat including using card and Foam. However I decided it was far too much to accomplish in the given time just to get the Base.

I therefore went on a Hat Hunting expedition and found what apparently is called a Pork Pie Hat for £1 in a charity shop.

Pool of Glue

 

Once again I raided Laura’s for both decorations and advice. The latter I promptly ignored. She thought the material was fine as it was saying it looked like leather even though it was plastic she made me laugh by calling it ‘Pleather’.

However I couldn’t abide it as it was so remembering she said that Steampunk was an expression of oneself I decided that I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t cover it. Sorry Laura but you cannot alter a habit of 40 years that easily.

Cotton Cover

So after filling the Top part of the Hat with Glue I covered it with Black Cotton material and smoothed it down. I wanted to keep the Top Shape if I could.

Glue Beneath

 

It took a while for the Top to dry but once it had I spread the rest of the Hat with Glue. I then Covered it as best I could.

Fold Under

 

When selecting the material I cut a large piece so there would be enough to Fold Under the Hat.

Beneath Covered

 

The Front of the Hat was now Covered.

Wrap around

In order to do the Sides of the Hat I had to pull the material taut and do a little bit of Folding. I cut off the Excess and smoothed it down. I now had a fully Covered Hat Base.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Belt Up Part 3

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Belt Up Part 3

On to the Final Stage of Embellishing the Belt. If you ever want to confuse a Bicycle shopkeeper go and ask them for a Bicycle Chain and then try it on for size.

In Spirit

 

Another Tip from Lovely Laura of https://www.alyssa-rose.co.uk/ It is not often you want to take Oil off a Bicycle Chain but if you do use White Spirit or Turps. After leaving it overnight then wiping it down with some baby wipes it came out a brilliant Silver Colour.

Superglue Chain

 

I knew what kind of Pattern I was going for and if you look at the Photograph above you can see that I am placing the Chain Over one Hole and Under the next.

Be careful when using Superglue. Don’t do what I did and Squeeze the tube too hard and end up Gluing your fingers together. It might be worth having some Nail Varnish Remover on standby.

Chain Glued

 

I carried on Supergluing the Chain along the Belt. I didn’t go right to the end otherwise it wouldn’t have gone through the Buckle.

Copper Wire

 

Now I can do many things but Reverse the pull of Gravity isn’t one of them. The Belt was now extremely Heavy and I wasn’t sure that the Superglue alone would hold it.

Therefore I pushed Copper Wire through the Holes and Tied around the Chain for extra Strength.

Inner Belt

 

As you can see from the above photograph the Copper Wire is holding the Chain in place at both the Top and the Bottom.

Steel and Copper Complete

 

The Belt is now complete. There is even a little bit of the Chain dangling where you can Hook something on. Since the weather is warm I am going to hang a Fan from it.