Straw Braid Hat

A two-piece straw braid, boater style hat made using a combination of machine and hand sewing.

 Intermediate level – sewing straw braid takes a bit of patience but if you don’t rush, you will soon get the hang of it.

Straw braid has been used in millinery for hundreds of years, for men and women’s hats. Straw plait was especially popular in the 19th and 20th century and was particularly used for summer hats. Straw plait, which we will use, comes in many styles and colours and is a versatile, hardwearing material. Hats can ‘say’ so much about a character depending on they are worn and decorated.

On this course you will make a lady’s two-piece hat using 7/8mm straw braid (not necessarily brown straw). It is a style of hat that can be adapted in many ways; you could use it for hats from 1890s to 1940s, varying the height and width of the crown and size of the brim.

Using a sewing machine you will shape a crown and then seperately a brim which you will then sew together. A wire will be sewn onto the edge of the brim which is then covered with petersham using handsewing after it has been stiffened.

Crin or elastic is sewn into the hat to keep the hat on the head.

Finally a lining is made and sewn into the crown.