Me Made May week 5

The final week of Me Made May! I even actually made (and wore) something new!

This is a shirt - my favourite shirt pattern - that I started eons ago and never finished. Getting the idea to zhuzh it up a bit with a contrast running stitch got me inspired to get it done. 

Monday got cold again. Old cardigan in Knitpicks Gloss, corduroy wrap skirt that i never wore because it was teal, removed colour and over-dyed (might over-dye again to get a better red?)

I saw a cut top on Instagram recently and then realized it was near identical to this one I made out of old sheets three years ago (self-drafted, inspired by this dress), but with an extra flounce (now I'm tempted to add an extra flounce). Polka dot skirt is one i made in 2018 or so.

Me trying to dress like a capitalist for a peace mission. Same favourite shirt pattern (you can see this fabric in that post from 2013), this time in a really nice black pinstripe, and pencil skirt in a fine wool windowpane check.

I love this dress so much. Black cotton broderie with white collar. I have had it (and the shoes) since 2016 or 2017?

Yellow gingham circle skirt (to match the top from last week) and a black silk halter top that was another pandemic project (ugly print remnant bought at discount, colour removed, over-dyed). Note bike shorts and helmet! I cycle in all these outfits; I don't usually bother with shorts but this in particular was for a ride to a gallery about 30km outside of town.

Getting closer

More work on the straw hat bike helmet! 

I suddenly realized that my arbitrary deadline is drawing near. I had the idea that it would be part of my Shakespeare in the Park picnic outfit, and our tickets are for next week! This is why I need arbitrary deadlines, I guess.

Somehow I never took a photo of the shiny straw capeline I bought from Petersham but it looked exactly like their photo on Etsy:

Shiny Straw Capeline from Petersham’s

I’m sure they won’t mind me borrowing it, since I’m linking back to them (and you should buy one!)

Yesterday, I finally got around to shaping. Lots of steam from my kettle (I steamed the outside, then the inside, then just took the lid off the kettle and plopped the capeline on top), and I got this:

Partially shaped Capeline

It took a lot of work to make it fit around the helmet! I used pushpins (carefully pushed between the strands of straw, not through them) to hold in in place while shaping.

Next, I moved it all to the ironing board, to flatten out the brim, and get a crisp edge where brim meets crown, and heavily steamed the top and shaped it by hand to look more “hat-like” instead of just wonky. I weighted it with what was handy while it was cooling and drying:

Shaped!

Next will be applying a band and stitching in the lining. I’m a bit worried about the pull of the elastic causing problems with the straw. Maybe it needs a permanent hat stand when not in use? Hmmm...