Millinery

I'm now over a month into my Millinery Internship and I've learnt a huge amount already, not just specific techniques either as now I can actually sew and use an iron (ha!). The more complex processes I am now capable of include blocking materials such as Pinok pok, Sinamay and Buckram which is followed by drying, stiffening (glue like substance applied with a paint brush), ironing and then removing the hat from the block. With the basic form taking shape, I've then learnt to sew in wire to strengthen and a Petersham around the rough edge inside for aesthetic reasons which is accompanied by elastic. I've found it very enjoyable to learn these new skills though at times it can be rather tricky and sometimes painful, the tougher material of Buckram being the culprit for most of the pain!

Of course once the basic hat shape is complete it's time to add to it! I've learnt about a much wider scale of materials than I'd usually consider and how to attach them, such as spray mounting silk and sewing feathers. The use of feathers is my favourite, as you may be aware, so I'll find that knowledge particularly valuable as well as learning what else can look best on certain hats/colours. Headbands are something I've also started making which are relatively simple in comparison, so using these skills I designed and created my own for my flatmate's birthday at the beginning of the month with happy results all round! Also note the buffalo farm..

Here in the last photos is Sharon and I and after picking me up from my millinery we took a trip to Kingston to see 'Starglider', a Roy Brown exhibition about masks, sci-fi and human ritual. It was decided that night that I would write articles for online publication 5th Character of which Sharon is Editor in Chief and you can read my first three here: Starglider, Worlds of Wonder, D is for Donut. 

There will be much more to come considering the millinery and 5th Character but for now I decided to post a photo of how my hair.. I wish it would stay like the bottom photo more often. 

Images by KLV

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