Tatted Hatpins

[squeeky]

Well, I committed a serious faux pas at my stepbrother's wedding. His aunt opened up her multi-million dollar home for the event and had her garden completely redone so they could have a garden wedding. Since it was going to be in the garden, I bought a hat to wear to protect me from the sun. I didn't have a hatpin so I used a hairpin. Big Mistake! Okay, so I didn't have a hatpin. And the hairpin was very nice, much nicer than any hat pin there.

Before I make this mistake again, does anyone know where I could find a pattern for a hatpin end that isn't too difficult (i'm an upper level beginner)? I've thought about using the earring jackets pattern then creating a center to go on the pin part. Heck, I'm not even sure what I could use to make a hatpin - maybe a lapel stick pin?

Should the opportunity arise again, I'd like to wear my hat like a proper lady.

[gahorsley]

aw squeeky, naybe you should have just worn an Atlanta Braves cap and been done with it! have you thought about buying a real hatpin (I see them in antique stores all the time) and redoing that? then you would have the actual length you need, rather than using a short lapel pin?

[PattyD]

Regarding hatpins, they work best if they are pretty long, like 4-6 inches and thicker is better than thinner.

[Beverly]

Not sure where you're at but the craft stores, like Michael's and Joanne's, still sell the hat pin sticks in the jewelry section. You can tat whatever you'd like and use some E6000 glue to attach it to the top after stiffening.

[MercyPres]

Totus Mel has been very generous with instructions on her blog on attaching motifs to a hairpin without glue. If you find a hat pin with a blank, maybe that technique would work on it as well. I haven't had very good luck glueing to metal. Is there a special glue that works better than the superglue I tried?

Mercy

[Lynn]

Squeeky, when I attended my niece's garden wedding, I too wore a hat. But I did not use either a hatpin or a hairpin. I just jammed the hat on my head and it stayed there. Of course, there was very little breeze and we were in Ohio. Please let us see what you come up with for your hatpin. My next garden wedding is probably going to be in the Atlanta area; if my son actually marries the young lady he's been courting for two years!

[Josie Passell]

I would love to see your finished hatpin. Perhaps this is something that people who like to sell their work could do, find an outlet that sells wedding hats and make matching hatpins for them. I was at a wedding last Saturday and at least one lady lost her hat.

[Judy]

If you don't find an old one to use or modify, I have this off the wall idea. How about taking a good look at a tatting needle? or some other specialty needle? One of the larger ones would be sturdy enough, and you have this built in "eye" that you could use to tie in on to augment any glue.

[carolivy]

If you don't find an old one to use or modify, I have this off the wall idea. How about taking a good look at a tatting needle? or some other specialty needle? One of the larger ones would be sturdy enough, and you have this built in "eye" that you could use to tie in on to augment any glue.

What a great idea Judy!

[squeeky]

I would love to see your finished hatpin. Perhaps this is something that people who like to sell their work could do, find an outlet that sells wedding hats and make matching hatpins for them. I was at a wedding last Saturday and at least one lady lost her hat.

That woulda been me without the hairpin. I wish I could have worn a Braves cap, since they're doing so well, but too many red sox and NY fans there... bad enough that even in Rhode Island I still have to put up with the GaTech vs. UGA rivalry. hahaha

The tatting needle idea sounds great! I've never used one and the only one I have is very old (like over 80 yrs old), but it seems pretty sturdy. I'll have to check out the hobby stores and see what they have.

One of the elderly "Aunties" who came to the wedding was the first to comment on my "hair/hat pin" - if I could make one nice enough, I'd send one to her. She wasn't being flippant or rude, she just said it was a pretty hairpin and an interesting way to use it. It was someone else who started the snarky snide stuff. They will NOT get a hatpin!