Rat Tail Braid Hat

Hats made of rat tail braid can be worn the year around. Rat tail satin braid can be had in many beautiful shades, as well as black and white. It costs about seven cents a yard.

Material Required:

Brimless buckram frame.
1 Yd. velvet tubing.
18 Yds. rat tail braid (all in one piece).
Pin for trim.
Lining and headband.

Method Used:

Open velvet tubing and remove padding. Bind edge of frame with tubing (Ill. #1). Start braid in center back, 1 /4" above velvet binding, and sew braid to frame, using a small stitch in braid and a long stitch on underside of frame. Follow exact line of frame, bending and curving braid to fit frame, sewing row after row close together (Ill. #2). Do not cut braid until top of crown is reached, then clip small hole in buckram and pull end of braid through and sew braid end securely on underside of frame. Cut off any excess braid on underside.

Trimming:

Block veil and attach to hat. Arrange pin on left side of hat. Finish hat with lining and headband.

Rat Tail Braid Bag

Material Required

1 /4 Yd. buckram.
1 /4 Yd. cotton flannel.
1/2 Yd. taffeta lining, or corded silk.
30 Yds. rat tail braid.
Frame wire.

Making Bag Foundation:

Lay pattern on buckram and mark around pattern on buckram with a pencil. Cut out pieces. Lap sides 1/4" - one over the other - and sew flat (Ill. #1). Sew a wire around top and bottom of bag, and sew a wire around bottom bag piece (use a buttonhole stitch when sewing on wire). Then fit bottom piece to bottom of bag and overcast together, sewing over wires (Ill. #2).

Padding Bag Foundation:

Use bag pattern to cut out flannel padding but allow 1/2" all around pattern when cutting out flannel. Lap flannel at sides of bag (Ill. #3) and turn over 1/4" at top and bottom of bag. Then sew bottom piece of padding on, bringing it up 1/4" on bag and sewing.

Covering And Lining Bag:

Use bag pattern to cut out taffeta to cover outside of bag and for lining. Allow 1/2" all around pattern when cutting out taffeta. Pin and fit taffeta to bag. Baste side seams and machine stitch. Then fit in bottom piece, baste and stitch. Slip taffeta over outside of bag with seams next to bag padding. Turn taffeta over top of bag and sew to bag. Make bag lining the same, after braid has been sewn on outside of bag, slip lining into bag and sew around bag top using a slip stitch.

Applying Rat Tail Braid:

Starting at one side of bag, sew row after row of rat tail braid from top to bottom, following shape of bag (Ill. #4). When sewing on braid, take a tiny stitch through braid on right side, but allow 1/2" stitch on inside of bag. Make handle and closing tabs and sew to bag center (Ill. #5). Sew a large snap on inside of tab for closing. Handle is made of straight rows of rat tail braid. Follow lines of bottom of bag when sewing braid to bag bottom.

Corde Bag Pattern

Straw Ornament Hat And Bag

Material Required:

Sheet •wadding.
1/2 Yd. buckram,
1 Bolt 1/8" straw braid.
Frame wire.
1/3 Yd. straw cloth.
1/3 Yd. lining.
3/4 Yd. narrow headband ribbon.

Straw Ornaments:

Follow directions on Page 49 to make ornaments. Make 11 large ornaments and 6 small ornaments. Make 22 solid straw circles.

To Make Hat:

Lay hat pattern on buckram, mark around pattern and cut out buckram. Wire all around edge of frame, using a buttonhole stitch to sew wire. As you wire, remember to keep rounding frame to fit head. Cover frame with straw cloth (Ill. #1). Then pin a small straw ornament flat on each end of frame. Then on right side place another small straw ornament and sew. Then sew flat a large straw ornament on each side of two standing-up straw ornaments for trim. (Ill. #2). Line hat and sew ribbon band around underside of hat. Sew solid circles between ornaments.

To Make Bag Foundation:

Lay bag pattern on buckram and mark around pattern. Cut out all pieces. Lap and join handle piece and wire edge of each side of this piece with frame wire, using a buttonhole stitch (Ill. #1). Wire each buckram side piece (ELI. #2) and sew to handle piece, using an overcast stitch (Ill. #3). Then cover side pieces and handle piece with sheet wadding (Ill. #4).

Covering Bag Foundation:

Cut straw cloth using same bag pattern but allowing 1/2" on all pieces for seams, Baste together and machine stitch. Trim seams, slip over foundation and pin in place. Turn material over on handle and sides and sew to foundation (Ill. #5). Sew two rows of braid around top of sides and two rows all around each side- of handle piece (Ill. #6).

Applying Straw Ornaments:

Mark middle of bag bottom and place a straw circle in middle with a large straw ornament on each side of circle, then another straw circle on each side with another large straw ornament on each side, and again a straw circle on each side and a small straw ornament on each side. Sew all ornaments on bag using heavy thread (Ill. #7).

Lining Bag:

Cut lining exactly like pattern, baste together and machine stitch. Slip lining into bag, turning raw edges under, and slip stitch around sides and each side of handle.
To Make Bag Closing:

Sew a large ornament on each side of small ornament with a small stitch back and forth, just to catch ornaments together. Then sew large end of ornaments in center on each side of bag opening. Sew a large snap on inside of ornaments, and snap ornaments together.

How To Make Loom

Material Required:

Wood board 10" x 10".
58 Small-headed nails - 3/4" long.

Use Measurements(Ill 2) For Pattern Making Loom:

Lay pattern on board and mark around pattern, also marking dots on each side of pattern. Drive nails into each side of pattern on these dots. Use nails with small heads. (Ill. #1.)

How To Make Straw Ornaments On Loom

Weave braid on loom and pin braid ends at start and finish of ornament (ILL. #2). Sew through center of ornament while it is still on the loom (ILL. #3) and draw thread tight. Fasten thread and take ornament off loom (ILL. #4). Starting at small end of ornament, sew through top of each loop all around to the* other side of ornament (ILL. #5). Pull thread tight and fasten thread. Pin each ornament down on board and steam press. When ornaments are thoroughly dry, apply straw sizing and let dry.

Small circles (the size of a quarter) are made by rolling braid into a flat circle and sewing through braid as you roll it into a flat, solid circle.

Each large ornament requires 3-1/2 yards of braid. Each small ornament requires 2-1/2 yards of braid.

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