Top Hats for a Mad Tea Party

Have you heard about the Mad Tea Party being held on 27 June and hosted by A Fanciful Twist? Go here to sign up your blog to be part of the fun.

To get us in the mood, I've gathered together some top hats any Mad Hatter would be happy to wear. Just click on each pic to check out these crafty milliners.

In January 1797, a certain John Hetherington appeared in the streets of London. The hat maker walked along the thoroughfare wearing a top hat in the shape of a stovepipe. Within a short time, a large crowd had gathered around him. There was such chaos that an 'officer of the law' grabbed Hetherington by the collar and summonsed him before the court. He was accused of disturbing public order. The officer, who dealt with the scandal, described the offence as follows: Hetherington had such a tall and shiny construction on his head that it must have terrified nervous people. The sight of this construction was so overstated that various women fainted, children began to cry and dogs started to bark. One child broke his arm among all the jostling. Hetherington was fined 50 Pounds, an absolute fortune in those days. And a law was passed forbidding anybody to wear the top hat in public on the grounds it scared timid people!

Or if you’d like to whip up one of your own, have a look at these pdf patterns for a crocheted and a knitted number.

Top hats make arresting decorating statements. How lovely to lay about in bed gazing up at your own Mad Hatter chandelier - seen on Poppy Talk and available from Lampa.

Add to the look with this quirky top hatted deer lamp at Minas Art.

But be careful. Top hat wearing is contagious. Look at this group gathering that I chanced upon at my house this morning.

ps The print giveaway here will be drawn on 3 June so leave a comment on any post to be in the draw.