The Sulis Hat is the latest offering from Pattern Fantastqiue and in short, it’s the hat of my dreams.  It provides excellent sun coverage, is uber stylish and even has optional ties you can add on windy days.

The Sulis Hat has a simpler to construct than the Lucent Visor and there are less notions to source.  Finding the right buckram, the fusible cotton interfacing used to stiffen the brim, is probably your biggest challenge, but the instructions give you lots of guidance.  Just for the record, this buckram is on the lighter side and the brim has become floppier over-time.

I sewed my bestie Sharon a Sulis Hat too and I used a Birch product called Shape & Create – Fusible Interfacing Buckram which I purchased from Spotlight.  This is a seriously firm buckram and with two layers, you interface both the upper and lower brim, it resulted in a very stiff brim.  In fact, the brim was so stiff it didn’t have the required flexibility to be able to attach the facing and I had to improvise when adding a lining… and let’s just say, there was a lot of hand stitching.  Luckily, Sharon is totally worth it.

I like to think of this as an almost free make.  The denim was leftover from my Falda Jacket, the lining was leftover linen from my Sadie Tunic and buckram and threads were already in my stash.

I used standard Gütermann thread for the six rows of top stitching on the brim, but next time I’m going use top stitching thread for some added interest.

Did you note the little loops on the inside?  These are strategically placed to add ties to on windy days.  Genius!

These photos were taken on a scorching hot day in the Wimmera in January and the flies were super interested in my Sulis Hat.  See below for one of the MANY out-takes.

Pattern:  Pattern Fantastique’s Sulis Hat (pdf & printed)
Size:  Medium
Fabric:  Denim outer was leftover from my Falda Jacket and the lining was leftover linen from my Sadie Tunic
Alterations:  None
Outfit:  Me-made Aeolian Dress (unblogged but on Instagram) and necklaces from Elk
Photo Location:  Random paddock in the Wimmera