Stitch and Bitch ~ Pixie Hats and the joys of Agoraphobia

Happy Tuesday me Loverlies !!!

Here we are at our very first Stitch and Bitch and I am going to show you how to make one of these :~

Nooooo not the loverly model ... he's mine and you can't have him!!! I shall however show you how we made the Pixie Top Hat.

What has this to do with Agoraphobia??? I hear you ask, well if youa re sitting comfortably then I will begin.

Being Agoraphobic is not fun when the big episodes start. There are those who won't leave thier home at all and then there are those like me who have good days and bad. My good days mean that with the right sort of head gear I can go out and about in town. On a bad day if I HAVE to go out I will wear my duffle coat which is a loverly velvety patchwork number with a HUGE hood which pulls right over my face meaning all I can see are my feet. Not very practical but with Himself at my side I can get through to see the Hodge who is awesome. On a good day I don't need the duffle coat instead I will wear my Pixie Top Hat, which gives me the feeling of being protected whilst not looking quite like a "Patchwork Palpetine" as Himself has named me *sighs* . It also means that in Summer I am not going to be so hot I pass out, which is also a sensible consideration when it comes to getting dressed.

So here we go :~ The Patchwork Pixie Top Hat

First off here is a picture of the pattern pieces you will need. They are very simple and not at all difficult to work out (trust me if I can figure it out so can you).

To measure the pattern pieces you must take the measurement around the head it needs to fit. from that you now have the circumferance of the circle for the top bit, the length of the side panel AND the inner circumferance of the brim. Not bad going for one little measurement huh!?!

Now the next thing you need to do is work out how tall you want your hat to be I work in 4 inch blocks and my hat is 8 inches tall (Not a size Queen .... much hehehe). so to make your side block take your head measurement and add the height you want plus 1 inch plus 1 inch for the length. "Oh no!!!" I hear you cry "but we don't know inches". Ok well for every measurement I give you multiply it by 2.5 and you have your centimetres. I prefer inches they are more accurate for sewing.

You have also your measurement for the top so cut yourself a circle with the same size round as the length of your side panel.

For the brim use your top panel and draw a half circle or a whole one if you have lots of fabric and make it 3 inches wide and draw the outside circle to make either a half circle or a full tyre shape.

Sewing up :~ First off cut yourself 2 pieces of  each of your pattern in calico or curtain lining or whatever you are using. For the brin you can fold the fabric in half if you are using a large piece or cut 4 semi circles and sew 2 of them together to make your brim circles.

Sew the side panel first giving yourself a 1/2 inch seam (1.5cm). Next attach the top and then the brim. each with a 1/2 inch seam. This is now your inner lining and it will look like this :~

If you are really clever you can get it to stand up like this :~

Next you get your other pattern pieces and start pining your patchwork fabrics on however you want. Take your time or don't its up to you. I tend to pop them all on and just sew them all up like crazy paving. It's far more fun that way. But you can be as fussy as you want to be.

Next you sew the patchworked pieces onto the pattern pieces however the have been pinned. Please remember to take out your pins, they really do hurt if you forget!

Then sew up the pattern pieces as you did the lining. If you have gotten this far and it looks like this on the outside :~

And this on the inside :~

You are an Utter Genius !!! and don't let anyone tell you otherwise !!!

All that is left for you to do now is pop the lining inside the outer hat and sew the brim and you are done!!

Now please please remember to get this the right way in first time, otherwise you will cry and you could shrink your hat depending on the fabric used!

Here is a pic to demonstrate how it should look with the lining about to be sewn in place :~

See the seams are together ... awwwww they likes each other !!!



Now all you have to do is pin the brim together but fold it in on itself and then sew it as close to the edge as you dare!!!


Once you have done that you have your hat and you too can look like this :~

Now if of course you are far too lazy to do this for yourself, you can of course get one from me here :~

Fallen Angel Studios

because round here they tend to breed !!!

I'm sure they are part Tribble !!!

Anywhoo away I go again ...

Have a great whatever it is you are doing (details are not a requirement :P)


xox Love and Light xox