
Let me start off by saying, WOW!!! Carla sure did a fantastic job on her new book Sewn Hats. This book has 35 different hat projects that range in skill level from beginner to advanced. There is a hat in this book for everyone, in sizes ranging from baby to adult. The hat projects are arranged into 6 categories that cover most of your hat needs; Staying Cool, Keeping Warm, Going Vintage, Stepping Out, Working and Playing and Having Fun.

Carla and I got to know each other (via a lot of emails and some phone calls) when I was working on Jennifer Paganelli's two books, Girl's World and Happy Home. She was always so helpful and supportive, while I was trying to get to know the Sis Boom world. So when she approached me to be a contributor for this book, I jumped at the chance to be included with such a wonderful group of contributors and I knew that Carla would pull it all together so it would be a fun, easy to understand and useful book.

When I asked what type of hat she wanted me to make I knew it was the perfect project for me... Hello, the Jackie Pillbox Hat! I love making small fancy cocktail type hats with a vintage twist, so it was a match made in heaven. I looked through my stash and found a small remenant of a pink, grey and black tweed (perfect). Searched for a bit of black silk for the lining and topped it all off with a grosgrain ribbon bow. I kept the embellishments a bit on the conservative side, which is so not like me (have you seen my turqouise and red wedding hat), but thought that it worked with the theme and looked polished. But I think that you could really have fun with embellishments on this one; vintage buttons, ribbons, feathers, veiling or even a costume jewelry broach. Also, another way to keep this type of small hat on your head (in the book bobby pins are attached to small ribbon loops) would be to loop a narrow piece of elastic (close to your hair color) through the ribbon loops. This is my preferred way to wear cocktail hats, since bobby pins just slide out of my stick straight hair. If you can't find narrow elastic in the right color at your local fabric store, buy one of those skinny elastic headbands at the drugstore and use that.

This book is not to be missed (and take a look at all the below contributors)! Wiley Publishing is giving away a copy of this book to one lucky winner, so please leave a comment below to be entered for your chance to win. Let us know what type of hat you would like to make.
*** Update... Forgot to mention when the winner will be announced, oops. I will announce a winner of the book on 9/17. Please make sure I have a way to contact you.
Check out the rest of tour, here is a schedule of each stop:
9/4 - Scientificseamstress.blogspot.com
9/5 - Mod Kid Boutique
9/6 – FrenchGeneral.blogspot.com
9/10 – Pink Chalk Studio
9/11 - LuluBliss.com
9/13 – Green Bee Patterns
9/14 – Goosie Girl Boutique
9/17 – Melissa Lilac Lane
9/19 – OneGirlCircus.com
9/20 – Tie Dyed Diva Designs
9/21 – Figgys Patterns
9/25 – Craftiness is not Optional
9/26 – Bari J.
9/27 – Confessions of a Craft Addict
9/28 – SisBoom.com
10/1 – Sew Mama Sew
10/2 – Aesthetic Nest
10/3 – Blue Nickel Studios
10/4 – Betz White
10/8 – YummyGoods.com
10/10- Wiley Craft