summer sun hats

I am hunting down a vintage boater to wear to weddings this Summer. In the meantime, here is a quick project to transform the summer staple. These boaters started life with a boring black ribbon… this very simple project will bring out some old school charm.

Photography Amanda Thomas

You will need:

• Straw boater
• Glue gun or all purpose glue
• 1 metre of 1 inch width canvas ribbon
• 1 metre of 1/2 inch width canvas ribbon
• scissors

How to do it:

1. Make sure the boater is free of any old ribbon. Starting halfway round the side of the hat, fix the 1 inch width canvas ribbon around the hat with a glue gun.
2. Repeat with the 1/2 inch width ribbon making sure it finishes at the same point as the wider ribbon. To cover the join take a 15 cm of the wider ribbon, fold the ends in to the middle and secure with the glue gun. 
3. Take 5 cm of the thinner ribbon and glue the end centrally perpendicular to the underside of this fold of wide ribbon, pinch the wide ribbon as you wind the thinner ribbon around once to give the impression of a bow. Secure the thinner ribbon with the glue gun on the underside. Trim any excess ribbon
4. Place it over the join and glue into position.

Remember...the glue gun is VERY hot, handle with care and ask for assistance!