They can be made elaborate for dressy occasions, using sequins, beads, flowers or feathers; or very plain for casual wear, using velvet bows, etc.
Material Required
It takes 28" of veiling - either fine face veiling or coarse chicken wire - to make an even all around whimsey.
Blocking Veils And Whimseys
Method For Veiling
Lap and join veiling ends, one over the other, and sew with a fine running stitch. Then gather around one side of veiling, pull thread tight and fasten thread. Pin gathered end to top of head block with a push-pin and gently pull veiling toward bottom of block to smooth out gathers. Pass quickly through steam to shape veiling to block
Method For Chicken Wire
The same procedure is used for chicken wire, except for joining the ends. Lap chicken wire over 1" and match diagonal squares. Tie-tack each diagonal square instead of a running stitch. Have seam, in back. Trimming is optional.
Method For Draped Whimsey:
If you want a whimsey with a short back, do not join veiling ends. Gather one side of veiling and pin to block. Carefully drape veiling around block, pulling ends up in back on each side to within about 2" of top, and sew together Carefully steam front of veil to fit block. Arrange trimming on top of veil and use small velvet bows to finish off ends of veiling you have draped up to top of block.
Attaching Veils:
Usually it is wise to block all veils a little, using steam sparingly. Blocking gives the veil that rounded, professional look and makes it stand away from the face. Almost all short face veils require 2/3 yd. of veiling. After you have shaped the veil, pin center of veil to hat. Put the hat on, and gather ends of veil up to sides or back of hat on a slant. Then tack veiling to hat.
Many veils are attached to the underside of hat. To do this, block veil on head block; lift veil off block and carefully pin veil around inside of headsize. Put hat on, and gather veil ends up to a becoming angle. Sew veil to inside of headsize; or the front of the veil can be sewn to inside of headsize and the ends gathered up and attached to the top-sides of the hat.
After veil is on the hat, crush a piece of tissue paper and place it under veil in front, pushing veil out, and quickly pass through steam.
There are few set rules for draping veils, and putting a veil on a hat requires real artistic ability, patience and practice.
When putting away your hats with veils, place a crushed piece of tissue paper under veil. This helps veil hold its shape.
Lay pattern on crinoline. Trace with pencil around pattern on crinoline and cut out. Glue crinoline to wrong side of (sized) velvet and cut out. Velvet edges are not turned under, they are left raw.
Two rows of beads are sewn around all edges of medallion and center is heavily beaded.
Block veiling on block; arrange medallion on veil and pin. Take veil off block and tack medallion to veil on underside. Finish with a bow in back.
