Alley Kat Hat Co

[RJR]

Hi David, it is Winchester, 100x Beaver in Dark Moss. It has been pounced down, and lured a few times. Getting the naked shot, it ain't easy. But that is "work bench". I do have a BLUEMAX, work station light, they have all the spectrum, of daylight. But there is that one hour window, morning or evening to try outside..... you made me realize something though, and thank you. I need to specify what I'm showing. I appreciate the words!!

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Yes,describing what you're doing is really helpful.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Cindy said something about naked shots....can't quite recall...you Jim?

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[DJH]

Tim, for my part, you are a Vendor on the FL and this is your thread. Personally, I wish the hatters/vendors here on the FL would participate a little more. I like to see works in progress, new offerings, and hear insights from the world of the hatter.

I say keep it up.

Agree with this 100% it's great to see more insight on the hat making process and get ideas as well.

Tim & Cynthia, thanks for the info on the felt. The Dark Moss is one of the best Winchester felts - I'm lucky to have a couple, a lightweight and a western from two of our fine hatmakers.


Cheers! David

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

This is incomplete work, but I'll show it for the reason, we had a chat about blocks on another thread. This block is marked 7-1/2. The first time I used it, I blocked this body and realized it was super big. Newbie, I set it all to the side, and go at it again, different block, new body. So I recently unblocked this body, I gave it a good long cold water soak, and I reblocked it last week. I took some time to pounce more, the original pounce; one that I never pounced far enough to begin with.
So yesterday I pounced it well, and lured the crown, ONLY. I formed the brim break and sized the opening. The band block for 7-7/8 LO fit, lile it was a mate to the block. Work still need be done to the brim. But I rounded it off at 2-3/4 inch. I'll get back in this hat next week, I think it is a keeper. It has a taper, it has a great look, and I'll ask your opinion on this. 100x beaver. Still needs brim pounce, and a mildly cupped, flanging. So the story is, as we talked in that forum, that you need to measure your block, and be 1/4 inch bigger in circumference, than your intended size. So this marked 7-1/2 should have been measuring 1/4 inch more then the size marked. But again, it is a 7-7/8 LO and was likely a 7-3/4 LO before I capped it. I was a newbie and thought I just needed to cap a 7-1/2 so I could make myself a 7-5/8. We were a bit off, to the way big side. So, again any feed back, cool. I'll show it when I flange it and pick a ribbon. I only threw that together to show you all .

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[LuvMyMan]

This is incomplete work, but I'll show it for the reason, we had a chat about blocks on another thread. This block is marked 7-1/2. The first time I used it, I blocked this body and realized it was super big. Newbie, I set it all to the side, and go at it again, different block, new body. So I recently unblocked this body, I gave it a good long cold water soak, and I reblocked it last week. I took some time to pounce more, the original pounce; one that I never pounced far enough to begin with.
So yesterday I pounced it well, and lured the crown, ONLY. I formed the brim break and sized the opening. The band block for 7-7/8 LO fit, lile it was a mate to the block. Work still need be done to the brim. But I rounded it off at 2-3/4 inch. I'll get back in this hat next week, I think it is a keeper. It has a taper, it has a great look, and I'll ask your opinion on this. 100x beaver. Still needs brim pounce, and a mildly cupped, flanging. So the story is, as we talked in that forum, that you need to measure your block, and be 1/4 inch bigger in circumference, than your intended size. So this marked 7-1/2 should have been measuring 1/4 inch more then the size marked. But again, it is a 7-7/8 LO and was likely a 7-3/4 LO before I capped it. I was a newbie and thought I just needed to cap a 7-1/2 so I could make myself a 7-5/8. We were a bit off, to the way big side. So, again any feed back, cool. I'll show it when I flange it and pick a ribbon. I only threw that together to show you all .

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Wow I knew there was a LOT of work going into making a hat....mind blowing!

 

[LuvMyMan]

This is incomplete work, but I'll show it for the reason, we had a chat about blocks on another thread. This block is marked 7-1/2. The first time I used it, I blocked this body and realized it was super big. Newbie, I set it all to the side, and go at it again, different block, new body. So I recently unblocked this body, I gave it a good long cold water soak, and I reblocked it last week. I took some time to pounce more, the original pounce; one that I never pounced far enough to begin with.
So yesterday I pounced it well, and lured the crown, ONLY. I formed the brim break and sized the opening. The band block for 7-7/8 LO fit, lile it was a mate to the block. Work still need be done to the brim. But I rounded it off at 2-3/4 inch. I'll get back in this hat next week, I think it is a keeper. It has a taper, it has a great look, and I'll ask your opinion on this. 100x beaver. Still needs brim pounce, and a mildly cupped, flanging. So the story is, as we talked in that forum, that you need to measure your block, and be 1/4 inch bigger in circumference, than your intended size. So this marked 7-1/2 should have been measuring 1/4 inch more then the size marked. But again, it is a 7-7/8 LO and was likely a 7-3/4 LO before I capped it. I was a newbie and thought I just needed to cap a 7-1/2 so I could make myself a 7-5/8. We were a bit off, to the way big side. So, again any feed back, cool. I'll show it when I flange it and pick a ribbon. I only threw that together to show you all .

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Oh and this looks great already as it is!

 

[Windsock8e]

This is incomplete work, but I'll show it for the reason, we had a chat about blocks on another thread. This block is marked 7-1/2. The first time I used it, I blocked this body and realized it was super big. Newbie, I set it all to the side, and go at it again, different block, new body. So I recently unblocked this body, I gave it a good long cold water soak, and I reblocked it last week. I took some time to pounce more, the original pounce; one that I never pounced far enough to begin with.
So yesterday I pounced it well, and lured the crown, ONLY. I formed the brim break and sized the opening. The band block for 7-7/8 LO fit, lile it was a mate to the block. Work still need be done to the brim. But I rounded it off at 2-3/4 inch. I'll get back in this hat next week, I think it is a keeper. It has a taper, it has a great look, and I'll ask your opinion on this. 100x beaver. Still needs brim pounce, and a mildly cupped, flanging. So the story is, as we talked in that forum, that you need to measure your block, and be 1/4 inch bigger in circumference, than your intended size. So this marked 7-1/2 should have been measuring 1/4 inch more then the size marked. But again, it is a 7-7/8 LO and was likely a 7-3/4 LO before I capped it. I was a newbie and thought I just needed to cap a 7-1/2 so I could make myself a 7-5/8. We were a bit off, to the way big side. So, again any feed back, cool. I'll show it when I flange it and pick a ribbon. I only threw that together to show you all .

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Thank you for this, very very helpful. I may have found a block, so will go 1/4" up from my size and trying to grab band block. Also following IG "breadcrumbs". Looking forward to flange.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Thank you for this, very very helpful. I may have found a block, so will go 1/4" up from my size and trying to grab band block. Also following IG "breadcrumbs". Looking forward to flange.

You can ask me a question, any day of the week, I'm working every day, but I take some breaks as needed. It is no skin off my back, to help you.

Another block issue......I have a 7-1/8 #59 block. Marked 7-1/8, it produces a heavy 7-1/4, getting back to base measurement. Here, I really needed a choice of 2 band blocks, which I have, in this case. I needed to neck in, close it down 1 size, in the opening, for that build. Acceptable, and it works fine, But I'd rather not do it that way, for my own reason. Get to Mark, @ hattersupply, band blocks are very reasonably priced. You'll be glad you did. And remember your cloth tape is your best friend.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

You can ask me a question, any day of the week, I'm working every day, but I take some breaks as needed. It is no skin off my back, to help you.

Another block issue......I have a 7-1/8 #59 block. Marked 7-1/8, it produces a heavy 7-1/4, getting back to base measurement. Here, I really needed a choice of 2 band blocks, which I have, in this case. I needed to neck in, close it down 1 size, in the opening, for that build. Acceptable, and it works fine, But I'd rather not do it that way, for my own reason. Get to Mark, @ hattersupply, band blocks are very reasonably priced. You'll be glad you did. And remember your cloth tape is your best friend.

And one of the likely first mistakes you'll make, flanging, is using a heavy woven cloth. You need something like cotton, bed sheet, so you don't leave marks, that you can't brush out.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Well, I have to buy myself a flange now, for this 7-7/8 lo.

But I think I'm going to put a bound pencil curl on this brim, until I have scraped up some funds, to order up one. Think I'll choose a size 8-1/8 to cover a range.

 

[bolthead]

Cindy, here's a few finished photos of Daniel's Torino. For those wondering......these are basically SOOC,(straight out of camera), other than adding my signature and a final crop.

This one was obviously edited in Photoshop to show the hovering hat.....lol

these new sweatband are the "Kat's Meow"!

how 'bout the color contrast in thread on this binding.....

 

[LuvMyMan]

Cindy, here's a few finished photos of Daniel's Torino. For those wondering......these are basically SOOC,(straight out of camera), other than adding my signature and a final crop.

This one was obviously edited in Photoshop to show the hovering hat.....lol

these new sweatband are the "Kat's Meow"!

how 'bout the color contrast in thread on this binding.....

WOW! That is super nice....thank you so much. These are beautiful photographs! Thank you for your effort of doing this for Tim and sharing it with me!

 

[bolthead]

WOW! That is super nice....thank you so much. These are beautiful photographs! Thank you for your effort of doing this for Tim and sharing it with me!

My pleasure.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Just got word this hat is on it's way here...OH LORD! I'll be pacing the floor waiting....Daniel will LOVE this one!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Nice work on that one Tim. I love the pinches and crease and the color is superb. Is that the Winchester "Moss" in beaver?

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Good morning Bob, yes, that is Winchester 100x Dark Moss. Thank you very much for the good words and likes. I appreciate everyone here, taking time to weigh in, on my work. I strive for perfection in everything I do.

 

[hatsRme]

A LOT of fantastic lids here!!
I need to stop in more often... Incredible work, Tim!! You are truly a perfectionist!!!

What color ribbon goes best with Winchester's "natural" in your opinion?

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Stepping back a few years. Lots of my work got lost, through photo bucket deletions. Did this fine Shark Gill, for Landman, when I first got started. All hidden stitches.

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[Cane Rod Maker]

Just a thought, anyone who might want back a guy, to get custom made blocks and flanges, from Mark at Hatter Supply? In exchange for hats, and hats, and more hats??
I'd love to have a block library and flanges, adorne my shop walls. I do use vintage blocks now, and always will, but I sure do have a wish list, and would love to have new clones of some special blocks and flanges. Just trying to survive, and make hats, sell hats, and be happy in my heart, doing so.
Just a wild thought today, as I begin my day.

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[Cane Rod Maker]

No....no blonde moment. A lot of bartering went on back in the days of old, just saying, a wish list for me, would be a block and flange library. I'm working toward that. Having several in key sizes, allows me lots of bodies, blocked, and drying, all builds for my business as I get into Internet sales.

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