A Very Merry Unbirthday to You: Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter by Kathilyn Creations

The Mad Hatter was a fun project. I used Jonny Depp's character as my inspiration for this outfit. The coat itself was the starting point. I found silk velvet in various shades of amber and lined it with black and white diamond shaped satin. The buttonholes are not there just for decoration but can be used to close the long coat. Cuffs and pockets are lined with the same satin.

Wig: Josh Wig in Auburn Nights from Bbeauty Dolls.

For the waistcoat I used the same diamond pattern satin with gold buttons wanting to keep the mad hatter's look cohesive. Though the character's outfit didn't seem to match it did appear to have some similarities.

His shirt was done in a pale pink cotton with lace on the sleeves. The bow tie was a process not to sew but to find the fabric. The right scale and colors were paramount.

The Victorian boots were found at bbeautydolls.com. Faux buttons with hidden hook and loop tape, for closure, were just what I needed. Pants were made full but shorter so they can tuck into his shoes.

Boots: Victorian Button Boots in Brown from Bbeauty Dolls.

He is most recognized for his hat and spool bandolier so they needed special attention. I wanted to replicate the costume as much as possible so the search was on for the wooden spools. Embroidery floss was used instead of thread as it showed better. A chain crisscrossed through each and every spool. It had to be the right length to hang over the coat properly.

For his hat I was able to source an embossed velvet material. It has all the colors that I needed in it. Oversized hat pins and peach silk chiffon were used for the scarf. The hat needed to look well worn, almost beaten. The hunt for all the materials was tedious, but fun.

I hope to see you for the next part of this story.

Every piece is handmade and one of a kind. Shop the collection at Kathilyn Creations on Etsy.