Monday, September 8, 2008

Well... I've always LIKED hats....

People always asked me why I made hats, and that's the best answer I could come up with.

It's actually quite true. See...? There I am up there - all of about 19 years old and wearing a HAT! (The dress and hat were made for a project when I was studying Fashion Design. I always included a hat in any outfit I made).

I've loved hats since I was a small child....

All of this waffle is just to fill space where there ought to be a picture of a hat I wanted to finish today...and didn't. I didn't want to put up another one of these (below) because you've already seen them.
BUT....I wanted to let you know that I'll be giving away a FREE PATTERN for these hats (multi-sized and multi-brim width). Leave a comment and you'll be in the draw for it. We'll draw it on the day we put the finished pattern up on the website. Hopefully that will be early next week!

Right now we're working on the cover.

80 comments:

Michelle said...

i love the outfit...you look gorgeous...
also love a giveaway i must say.
your hats look fabulous!!!

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

Yes please. The hats look amazing as is that photo. Lovely.

Michelle said...

That short-brimmed pink and chocolate hat in the background? Love it.

Also love the first photo!

Lisa said...

I have never made a hat! but would like to try. You look beautiful in all your 19 year old finery! Look at you!!!

Just Susan said...

I would love to know how to make your lovely hats. My 11 year old daughter would especially like one. She's a singer/actor type who likes to wear different things from her classmates. She has worn my crochet beanies long enough - time for a change. She also loves to sew and we are forever looking at patterns at the stores. I think as a teenager she will be making a lot of her own clothes. Thanks for the giveaway, love your site. ~Susan

Anonymous said...

Hi Nikki - a hat lover too and a necessity now in summer (left my favourite Mimco one on a train last year!)
Kerry

Anonymous said...

That is such a beautiful photo of you, Nikki. And the hat is awesome!
I have yet to meet a hat which really suits me, but I'm sure one day I will. I would love to make hats for my kids though :)

Jo (sparkly green knickers) said...

Weren't you so sweet!

I have such alabaster skin that hats are a necessity for me. Can't wait to check out your new pattern.

Anonymous said...

Oh look at you in that first photo! So wistful! Love the hat and the dress.
You already know that I am absolutely HANGING OUT to make some hats! Because it is summer coming up you know, and I don't have much else to do ...

Bird Bath said...

I would love to give hat making a go - not many hats fit my larger-than-average head. With summer approaching, it would be nice to make a hat for oneself.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Love your hats - such a practical accessory that is over overlooked. It is hard to find a decent hat so making your own is a great idea! Can't wait to see the finished pattern. Love the pic of you in all your finery!

Blakely said...

I have always loved hats. When I was younger my aunt would make me hats. Your hats look great.

BarbaraG said...

You look like the cover of a Victorian Romance novel - So lovely. I think your hats are such fun - Love to try my hand at one!

Laura Zarrin said...

The photo of you is beautiful!! I love those hats and would love to win a pattern.

Sarah said...

I just found your blog last week and have been mighty impressed with your talents. I've never made a hat - but desperately need a replacement for my 10 year old mountaineering hat. My fingers are crossed!
xx

Giddy for Paisley said...

That is a great picture, you look amazing in it. I love hats too, and now I am always putting them on my newborn son in hopes that he will like wearing hats as he gets older :)

Anonymous said...

hi nikki, I would love to make some hats for my boys for summer, and maybe one or two for myself. do you still have the dress tucked away somewhere?????????????

trash said...

You don't have to bother with a prize draw - just send that pattern on over b/c I have tried to make just that hat! It was crubbish, I really need a pattern

Bellgirl said...

Lovely pic! I was once looking for a pic of myself to put on an academic website and I couldn't find one without something on my head- Mickey Mouse ears, fright-wigs and lots and lots of hats. In fact I'm wearing a beret right now!- it's quite cold in my office. I'm looking forward to your hat patterns!

Christie said...

That is such a great pic of you!

I am a hat lover from way back too & my daughter (20 months) loves for add a hat to whatever she is wearing!

Vireya said...

Great timing - hat weather is about to start, and those look cute! I'm imagining a wardrobe of them, to go with each summer dress...

denise said...

I have loved hats for oh so long, having lived 50+ years, I have tried a few, but never made one I was happy with wearing. I would LOVE to try these!!
BTW I just found your site and it is so inspiring, I will have to dust off my sewing machine and get stitching.
Denise

Kelly said...

What a lovely pic!! Your hats look wonderful. I would love to have a go at these for myself and also my kids.

Nikki said...

Well... didn't we ALL look fabulous at 19? The absence of wrinkles and the glow of youth.... I can't even remember what it was like!!

The dress and hat were among the student work I sold for a song in 1988 or 89....if anyone happened to be the person who bought them (from a shop on Fitzroy St St Kilda called Leviathan) I'd love to hear about it!!!

Janice said...

Wow, what a fabulous giveaway. I love your haots!!

Beth said...

I also love hats. They always make me feel like Audrey Hepburn at Ascot.

Vicki said...

Wow, what a great outfit! I have yet to find a hat that suits me. But I need them with my fair skin. Please put me in the draw :)

Anonymous said...

I love the picture! Just beautiful!
I also love the hats!

Anonymous said...

That photo is gorgeous: dress, hat and especially your facial expression ( Do I detect a broken heart?)

Cass said...

I can't wait for the pattern. Will there be a child sized one as well, although my kids have big heads so maybe that won't matter

Zaneta said...

Hi Nikki,

I am so looking forward to this pattern. Keira loves the hat you made her she call "Rosie's Hat".

ZanetaX

Anonymous said...

A girl can never have too many hats! The pattern looks brill, can't wait to try it.

mayaluna said...

Nikki,
I love that 19 year old girl...what a romantic ensemble you created...wow!
I'm so overwhelmed with everything that you do...I just spent far too long on your website and am so blown away by your gifts and your generosity. Using one of your patterns would be such a fun way to get to know you and your style better...and ever since I cut my hair from my waist to my ears...I've been a hat girl.

Anonymous said...

I love all your patterns and can't wait to get a copy of the hat pattern as well!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, I think I do need to have a go at making these hats...you can't have too many projects on the go

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Your hats are so colorful!

Nic said...

Hi Nikki,

I was a freckle faced 19 year old back in '88. I don't think i could have pulled off that look as well as you.
But i do love wearing hats in Summer. Yours look lovely and i would love to give them a go.

Regards Nic

Anonymous said...

Another pattern to drool over! I am already addicted to your bag patterns... summer IS around the corner, and we must be Sunsmart....Is that enough justification for a new hat addiction!?

Maria D.

Anonymous said...

the hats look fabulous Nikki and so do those heart shape zip pullers!! love them :)

Gay McDonell said...

Hi Nikki - Cool hats - thanks for letting us know about Z and S fabrics - great prices!

KathyB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KathyB said...

Great hats Nikki, can't wait to get the pattern and start my summer look for myself and my granddaughter!!

Jen said...

How lovely! I'd love to learn how to sew a hat!

smileykylie said...

Hey Niki, Love the hats and love a giveaway too! Luv :)Kylie

Anonymous said...

just finished my first nikki bag and would love to try a hat!
Lynda

Anonymous said...

I like hats too! Walking around the neighborhood yard sale I saw so many gorgeous hats from 20's up to 60's. I will tell you...What a great time to dress up. One thing I would not miss is the time that you had to spend making yourself up! I heard stories of people waking up at 5 am. Gals that NEVER let their husbands see them without the "look". GEzz.
Nostalgia is good though.

Anne said...

Fabulous hat and gown you made at the tender age of 19!

Love, love, love the collection of print hats. I would make a pile of them, too, with a wonderful pattern! acarp@swbell.net

Anonymous said...

Great hats! I could really use a cute, handmade hat...all I have right now is a boring baseball cap. Ack!

Anonymous said...

I tried making a hat for my 18m old recently- it didn't turn out so well. I always have trouble finding hats that fit- cos I have a big head. So I'd love to get a great pattern. It would change my summer to wear a hat that I actually love.
regan

Anonymous said...

Pick me! Pick me!
I love a freebie, and I love hats.

Anonymous said...

Love, love the hat! I have just seen the joel dewberry one and adore the colours...

Selina said...

That is a fantastic hat. I'd love a pattern!

Jen said...

Awesome hats!! I'd love to be part of the drawing! Great blog too =)

Kathy said...

What great hats! Thanks for sharing, and for the drawing. I can't wait to see who wins! Good luck in selling them! I am sure they will do great.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE hats! Can't wait to see (hopefully WIN) this wonderful pattern!

Little Munchkins said...

This is excellent timing. I was looking for a hat at the shops today. Maybe I can sew one myself!

Meg said...

I came over here from Thornberry. I just love the hat! I've never made one before, but this could be the hat that changes that!

Serena said...

I love the photo of you--the outfit is gorgeous! The hat pattern is great, too!

diana said...

I love a good hat too!!!!

Eternal Sunshine said...

I've never tried to make a hat - I think this one is adorable.

Colonel Klink said...

Oooooh! Ooooh! Pick me! Pick me! I love the hats! I would love to make one!

Katie said...

My fingers, legs, eyes and boobs are crossed that I win!!! I love this pattern.

Nikki said...

Quick update...

We're still a few days off finishing this - tweaking instructions after testing - so there's still time to put your name in for the draw.

Thanks everyone for your interest and lovely comments!!!
xxn

Anonymous said...

I love the hat pattern. Will definitely have to get one. Can the pattern be sized to fit kids. I have so much trouble finding a nice hat for them that doesn't have thomas or bratz on it.

Wendy said...

Love the hat. Just visited from Thornberry - I really like her version. It looks like a great pattern!

Nikki said...

Oh - and I'll be following up with kids sizes when we finalise this one!! STAY TUNED!

If your child has a largish head (56cm plus) you might be able to use the adult patterns. There's an overlap between the largest kids size and thae smallest adult size.

Michelle said...

Bags and Hats! What more could three red haired, brown eyed girls want. Yes, calling on my Irish/Welsh heritage here. Inside, outside playing with the chooks, dress ups, shopping, you can never have to many hats and bags to choose from. Makes everday a great day!

bec said...

i like the idea of hats. i.e. covering bad hair days.

anyway, your hats are beautiful!

Larissa said...

Hey Nikki, I just ordered a whole heap of stuff off your bag site, loved everything on there and it took me two days to decide/narrow down my decision about what to buy. Cant wait till I fly to Auz on Fri and can see what is waiting in the parcel that will be there for me once I get to my holiday destination (cunning plan to get it sent to Auz so I didn't have to wait so long) Oh and by the way the hats are looking great too, so count me in :)

Janellybelly said...

Late to the party! What a fab pattern, Just saw a gorgeous one made up on the Thornberry blog.
Janelle xx

méri said...

I can't believe I was missing your giveaway, Nikki!
Just me! I love your hats!!!!

Janet Joehlin said...

Love the hats. I need to search your purses out. If you haven't given the hat pattern away in your drawing then please add me!! I am new to this too.

Astrid said...

I love the outfit, it's just amazing! Love the hat too - so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Anonymous said...

I love those hats and am constantly looking for something cute to keep the sun from my face- I'm more pale than the palest shade of base that most makeup lines offer.
I would love to be able to try this pattern out.

Anonymous said...

Val of taraglen says

looks like a hot summer. Definitely
need new hats. Look forward to new
patterns. Well done Nikki.

Sarah said...

Thank you, Nikki, for making a hat pattern...just for me. You, did, didn't you?? How did you know that my favorite hat blew off my head while I was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in SF, CA on foot? How did you know that it was irreplaceable and I would have to make my own to replace it?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Nicola said...

oh, i love hats, too, and would love to give this beautiful pattern a try!

Katherine said...

Fanastic! I love hats too and would be thrilled to win your pattern giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I have always loved hats too. I sew all kinds of things but never a hat. Your new hat pattern is my inspiration.

Anonymous said...

HI Niki
You've finally finished the hats, hooray! I look forward to the children's version too so I can throw away the dodgy versions I have been doing for my boys. (they don't care as long as it has pirates or crocodiles on the fabric but of course I do) I see bags of yours everywhere at the moment, must be a spring thing.
Jo Foley