Hats and cats

I just noticed it’s been a month since I posted here, and that has largely been because I’ve pretty much hit a wall with regards to sewing. I’ve had to slow down, take it easy,  give myself a break, and whatever other cliche applies! When I really, really couldn’t bring myself to start a new project, I gave myself over to “fixing” some previous makes that, for one reason or another, I wasn’t wearing. That was good!

I’m working on two projects now, but slowly and without pressure. One is a serious pattern hack and the other is an attempt to copy something from a magazine picture. Both allow me a bit more creativity than simply cutting and sewing up patterns, which I’ve done madly over the last few months, having realized I needed a wardrobe, and fast!

In the meantime, I thought I’d share some hat ideas. A few months ago I bought an old hat pattern and have been quite joyfully anticipating making some large berets to match the coats I made last year.

Pretty cool hats, don’t you think? I have two store-bought berets that I wear. It’s a style I like. I haven’t even opened up the package yet.

Then yesterday I found another hat pattern at a thrift shop. They charged me double what the pattern originally cost, which somehow doesn’t seem quite right, does it?

I’m interested in the helmet, version 1. I opened the package, checked out all the pieces and read the instructions. There are too many instructions, some of which get complicated. The hat is composed of outer fabric, interfacing for all pieces, lining, and then an inner band which is somehow attached around the edge on the inside and at that point I couldn’t follow. I’m thinking of trying it in a stable knit. It might also look smashing in leather, don’t you think?

Some readers might remember that I sometimes sew head-covers for cancer patients who’ve lost their hair. I started with a padded scarf, which I don’t like at all. Then I tried a snood in two lengths. They did sell (in the hospital gift shop that I volunteer with), though very slowly. As Kate pointed out, snoods drape down and might not look as good on a bald head as on a head with hair. The helmet might work, I thought.

Also, last winter I stopped a woman strolling along the False Creek seawall, to ask her about the headcover she was wearing. It sort of looks like a toque, but is actually a twisted tube. I finally decided, in this fallow period, to give it a shot with a piece of leftover jersey from a top. I made a long tube, then folded it in half, wrong sides together, then twisted the inner layer half-way around and pinned it. I finished it off with a band. It’s interesting, but definitely not my style I think (I don’t look good in toques, or toque-like styles).

Here’s what the back looks like, and bear in mind it’s open, rather than sewn shut.

I might bring this in to the shop as a sample and see if there’s any interest.

There’s a really funny commercial on television here, for a website hosting company. It features a fictional entrepreneur who makes hats for cats. It’s really hilarious. I wonder if I should try to make some for my sweetie pie?

She’s been a holy terror lately. The last thing she did was bring in a live mouse to play with. That mouse is still, two weeks later, in the house! I spotted its little turds behind my fridge and stove as I did a kitchen cleaning. Holy Smoke sleeps part of every night in the kitchen and I know she’s preventing the mouse from moving around much, but what to do???