More work in progress

More work with ‘sinamay’ ! This is something I’m improvising with, as picked up a ‘lace cushion’ in a local charity shop, as I thought it was the right size for a statement hat brim, and a new hat block this size would cost over £150. It’s the first time I’ve tried something this big, the diameter is around 50cm, and also using this particular technique.

Sinamay is a woven fabric, made from the stalks of the abaca tree, a banana palm native to the Phillippines. It has a lot of stretch, and when applying water or steam, it can be moulded into shapes. This brim has been made from a bias strip, made into a tube, folded in half. A wire is inserted in the fold, then the excess fabric is stretched and dampened until it lays flat. It has been quite a time consuming process to get everything laying flat. It’s too big to dry in my hostess trolley, so I’m leaving it overnight. Fingers crossed it works, as it might be the best charity shop bargain ever.