Lucent Visor meets Nani Iro & a giveaway
Green is my favourite colour, Nani Iro fabric is always amazing and every-time I make a Lucent Visor I feel like a sewing rock star! Can you tell I’m rather pleased with my new visor?
I’m also pleased that Pattern Fantastique are offering my readers the chance to win an electronic copy of the Lucent Visor pattern and the notions required to make the visor. Full giveaway details are at the bottom of this post.
I have to say that photographing this visor was no easy feat. An overcast day highlights the full beauty of the fabric and gives you a great idea of the shade on offer but hello… is there anyone under there?
A sunny day sees the visor in it’s natural environment doing exactly what’s it’s suppose to, but the sunshine brings with it serious shadows and reflections in my sunglasses!
The Lucent Visor comes in three brim sizes (this is the largest size) and the hat band is custom fitted to the wearer. The pattern accommodates heads sizes from kids to 62cm.
I added a little more width to the hat band than the pattern suggested as I found it a tight squeeze inserting the elastic on my last version. I think I might have gone a little overboard as the elastic is loose in it’s fabric casing and in my opinion it doesn’t look as professional as it could. A good reminder to… ‘just leave it alone Anna’.
The pattern calls for buckram (medium-weight fusible cotton interfacing), plastic millinery wire and jewellery crimps or ferrules (available from online millinery supply stores like The House of Adorn) to close the wire. You’ll also need a pair of pliers on hand too. I know this all sounds a little intimidating, but trust me it’s not. And did I mentioned you feel like a sewing rock star when it’s finished?
My three tips for sewing the Lucent Visor are:
- Don’t apply the binding too tight… remember the the plastic millinery wire needs to be threaded through it!
- I like to use washi tape (a small amount of masking tape would work equally as well) to create the loop in the plastic millinery wire that allows for a smooth end when threading through the binding. Jewellery crimps are your other option, but for some reason, crimps and I just don’t get along.
- When closing the wire, you can use either jewellery crimps (pictured below on left) or ferrules (on right). The instructions include information on applying both types of closures. If you are using a ferrule, which is my preferred method:
- Cut the wire to the length required
- Insert one end of the wire halfway into the ferrule and compress with pliers
- Insert the other end of the wire into the open end of the ferrule and clamp at a right angle from your last compression. Clamping at different angles makes the join much stronger.
And now for the giveaway details…
Thanks to Pattern Fantastique, I have three Lucent Visor packs to giveaway. Each pack contains a pdf copy of the pattern and the notions required (but not the fabric) to make the visor.
To enter the draw: Go to Pattern Fantastique’s Lucent Visor Pinterest Board, pin your favourite visor and then tell me, in the comments section below, the first thing that pops into your head when you think about sewing a visor. Is it the fabric you would use, the fear of the unknown, the locations you’ll wear the visor, the thrill of using pliers while sewing…?
The fine print: The giveaway is open internationally and closes at 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Friday 5th February 2016. Winners will be chosen randomly, contacted by email and announced here on the blog.
Pattern: Pattern Fantastique’s Lucent Visor
Size: Custom fit hat band… with the option of three brim sizes. I sewed the largest brim size.
Fabric: Nani Iro Linen/Cotton blend from Tessuti and Kelani
Alterations: I unnecessarily widened the hat band. Don’t do as I do… follow the pattern!
Accessories: NA
Locations: Port Melbourne & Lake Wendouree (Ballarat)
This one is my favourite!! I love the colour! I’ve been wanting to make one of these for ages, it’s getting the supplies that keeps putting me off. So needless to say, I’d LOVE to win them! The first things that pops into my head is the engineering aspect – sewing something solid in 3D is just so awesomely cool 🙂
Well, I’ve got to go for this one as I have long admired your sun visors, and today’s is no exception. Love the tropical green. The first thing I would think of, especially of the Japanese blue fabric one I pinned, would be ‘relief’. I suffer from migraine, sometimes the sun in my eyes can set it off, or make it worse. I would finally be in charge of making my own shade! I have tried in the past but not with huge success.
I have loved this pattern ever since I first saw it on House of Pinheiro. Your hats look gorgeous. My favourite thing about these is the excellent shade they provide while also looking fabulous.
Love the look of this visor. I would use it a lot walking the dog at the beach!! Would be hard to decide on a fabric though 😁
This is fabulous – I’ve never considered making one before but I will now!!
I love the fabric you used!
I’ve been eyeing this pattern for a while — thinking of making one for my mom’s birthday in May, because she loves hiking and nature photography. (and of course, I’d have to make one for myself as a wearable muslin first 😉 )
Yay! Finally a hat that won’t give me sweaty head syndrome! Love the nano iro. A tip for photographing hats is to use the flash to get some light on your face. Works really well in bright sunshine.
I love this! The first thing that pops into my head is working with new tools and mediums which gets me out of my comfort zone!
Love this version as well as Pattern Fantastics blue one by the beach.
The first thing that pops in my head when I think visor is my grandmother and watching her play tennis as a child.
I can see myself in one at my sons cricket matches.
No more hat hair! Love it! Your fabric choices are wonderful.
The first thing I think of is playing tennis! I’m a terrible tennis player but it seems like an appropriate activity for visor use. I on the other hand would be more likely to wear this out and about. What a cool accessory.
I love the green fabric you chose! So tropical and cheeky. The first thing I think of when dreaming of a visor is: hair! Visors are perfect for curly-headed girls like us because they shield us from the sun without that dreaded hat-hair!! Hoorah!
As a ginger it has to be the your green version! I love this visor, really wanna give it a go.
First thing I think is ‘yay, no more sun in my eyes’ followed by oooh that looks a bit tricky to make but fun!
I love your colour choice with the green!
Aah you look so pretty! It’s a great hat, don’t count me in the comp – just wanted to say hi! Xx
The Nani Iro looks fabulous! Been wanting to try this out for ages – the first thing that pops into my head when I think about sewing a visor is tennis. I recently bought a new tennis racquet so a new visor would be the perfect complement!
Love this visor and the chance to have a go at making it myself! A great make for those of us that just can’t do hats but need some sun protection.
You!! The first thing that pops into my head when I think of this visor is you, Blogless Anna.
Love the visor-reminds me of glamorous 1950s fashions! Would love to make one!
I can’t believe I’m the first to say it, but I think of Kylie Minogue! 😅
But you wear it better Anna!
Love both your visors – and the first thing I think of is visors are the best for not having flat hair!!! Oh and keeping the sun off your face 🙂
I’d love to win this! I’ve been dying to try making one since I first saw yours pop up on your blog. The first thing that pops into my mind is: tricky! But I like to challenge myself.
What a wonderful visor! I have been admiring your versions on Instagram. The first thing I think of is new skills and the chance to revisit those I learnt in a millinery course. I also think of comfort. I resented bought a visor but it is slightly too tight.
For me, the thing that pops first into my head is travel, and all the warm and sunny places I might go while wearing my visor! (Also, just to say I’ve just found your blog recently and love your style, Anna – lots of sewing inspiration!)
I love them all, but I think the Japanese print is my favourite. My first thought is that I could make one to match every top that I make this summer. I so hope I win!
For me it’s the knowledge that I won’t find the components easily. I’d love to make a visor- I’d actually get loads of wear out of one too.
Well actually I was wondering how hot the crown of my head would get uncovered… but sewing wise – the thrill of using up pretty bits of fabric that are probably too small to make much else except a small bag. Great stashbuster!
I’m going to attempt the visor after long, long, long admiring yours. PRers tell me buckram’s not machine washable, though. How do wash the visor? Thanks!
Sorry, I’ve only just seen your comment. Good question, and one that I don’t feel experienced to answer as I haven’t washed either of mine. Buckram is made from cotton, so I would question why it isn’t washable. Maybe send an email to Pattern Fantastique (the designer) and ask them. I’m sure Nita-Jane’s mentioned washing her visors before. Let me know how you go.