I just posted an article on this top hat with lots of detail photos of the hat and the original hat box.
You can find it here………..along with other Early 20th Century Men’s Hats
The Anatomy of a Collapsible Silk Top Hat
Category: News
Pleated Ribbon Leaves
I just added a downloadable print file and Instructions on how to make a pleater for the leaves and how to make the leaves on the pleater. You only have to fold 22 lines to make this pleater.
Fixed Feather Fans
I have a new 55 page PDF on making fixed feather fans including layout patterns. Many of them suitable for 19th C and early 20th C. Also I have a kit so that you can create the structure and all you need to do is add feathers and glue.
Sample pages
Large Wired Ribbon Flowers
I just added this article on how to make one of these large many petaled flowers with crimped wired ribbon.
Creating a Pelisse Step by Step
I just added a new article on how Laurie Tavan and I made this very green Pelisse with all the detailed decorations.
Feather Covered Muff
An article on the making of a reproduction of the feather muff below. It is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Steph and I made the muff to try two different techniques of adding feathers to fabric.
Laurie Tavan is modeling the finished feather covered muff.
Mid-19thC Bonnets and Hats
Fashion Plates for Late 1850-60s Bonnets and Hats.
Ribbon v.s. Standard Knife Pleater Boards
New article on using Pleater Boards and what you can and can’t do with them. I’ll be adding more but this is a good start on the basics.
1860s Pleated Ribbon Headdress
My newest pattern is for sale and on sale!
Right now and until Cyber Monday you can get the download on sale and the if you want the kit to make a pleater you can get the download free with a purchase of the 1/4″ inch ribbon pleater kit.
