Midnight Velvet Cloche

From The Midvale Cottage Post I noticed that they had a relatively easy-looking free pattern for a cloche. This pattern was actually from the 1920s, so I was pretty excited to get started right away. I was planning on making it to wear to the theater, but time was against me.

Left over from my Vintage to Old School skirt project I had just about enough velvet from the hem, so I decided to test my sewing skills by making another hat - my first cloche. 

On the inside it's a mess, as the pattern calls for felt rather than velvet, the latter of which needs to be hemmed and generally treated well. But on the outside, it's serviceable. I'm about 70% happy with the results as I feel it could have been nicer with felt and slightly smaller to fit my head better, but for my first cloche it's an achievement!

I used corduroy for the top of the hat, as my velvet supply had run out by that point. S'cuse my terrible victory rolls - I have neither a 20s bob or hair thick enough for victory rolls. :)

I decided to forget the brim as it was busy and thick enough with just the massive bow.

Elizabeth Rose Bonnet

I made this bonnet recently with the supplies I bought in Maine. It's made of a straw hat base (18"), dove grey velvet, white cotton on the inside, three kinds of lace, grosgrain ribbon, and four white roses. This is the first hat I've made, so I'm satisfied for my first attempt!
 
I was going for more of a simple, elegant design in monotone colours, to match the name of the Queen of England. My mum said that I should have added more roses on the back, but I think it looks okay the way it is; I wanted it to be quite sparse anyway. Actually, it turned out quite different from the design I quickly sketched on holiday, but seeing as this was my first bonnet, I'm rather glad, as the other design seemed quite complicated to make.

I'm really pleased with how nicely the grey and white go together, as that was a last-minute decision. Also, the lace on the front looks very impressive worn. As for what I would change if I were to make this again, I think that the puckering on the crown of the bonnet looks rather odd - I had a lot of difficulty getting that to sit right, and in the end it still looks quite strange...

Whilst making this, sewing the lace to the brim, I listened to Jeeves and Wooster on the TV and drank rose tea - a really relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon! I'm really enjoying sewing at the moment, so I'm thinking of making items in grey and white to match, to add a classic element to my lolita wardrobe; perhaps a grey cape and a grey A-line skirt with roses...