Le Petit Chapeau - Handmade Millinery

09/01/2026

September is here and soon cooler weather will come. I love this vintage wool check made into a 1930s reproduction that looks as good today as nearly 100 years ago.

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08/30/2026

For this final race day hat archive post I wanted to share a favourite. This heart made of a feather happened by accident which was the best kind of accident. It's simplicity and joy it had made sure that it didn't stay long in the studio. These feelings are what a hat should make you feel when wearing it.

08/25/2026

In my research for my blog about the history of hats I come across swoon worthy hats that go into the "one day" file. I want to remake these for two reasons. One is to understand how these hats were made and two, because I think they are so beautiful that they need to be near me.

08/20/2026

Another Favourite Race Day hat from the archives. The dark shadow you can see through the sinamay straw is another hand sewn ribbon pansy. Hats need to look good from all angles.

08/17/2026

Why This Detail Matters

There are details in a hat that are never meant to be noticed, but they are still important to the finished piece.

Inside my fascinators, felt is used to secure the crin, flowers, and other components to the headband and keep everything neatly in place. Because the area it covers is often an irregular shape, the felt has to be carefully cut by hand to fit.

Rather than leaving a straight, potentially uneven edge, I pink the felt by hand. The small zigzag edge creates a smoother, more elegant finish and helps the felt sit neatly within the space without drawing attention to itself.

You probably won't notice this detail when the fascinator is being worn, and that's really the point. Good millinery is often about the little things that quietly make the finished hat look considered and beautifully made.

08/14/2026

Details matter. The decisions when I make a hat are in the hundreds and I am always looking for the final result to look effortless, the structure to be hidden. For all angles to be beautiful and comfort be upper most in the final placements of everything. The simple flowers nestled into the nooks created by the straw and then facing opposite directions creates a composition which is unusual but satisfying.

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08/13/2026

Making a new western style hat in fur felt for a customer.
Taking out the blocking pins for the brim. Marking the head line and center front and center back.
Pinning in the fabric sweat instead of a leather one, as requested by the customer. Sewing the sweat in and sewing the fold over edge.

08/09/2026

08/08/2026

From the archive of Race day hats. I LOVE this one. a double brim statement hat. Tall, commanding and unique. The lucky person who bought this hat looked stunning and had a wonderful time at the Queens' Plate Race (now the King's Plate Race) back over 10 years ago!

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08/07/2026

My hands are showing a lifetime of hand work and I really don't mind. Eventually this project will be part of the century of hats project. Check out the first 4 blogs on my website in the blog.
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