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Alley Kat Hat Co

ChicagoWayVito

Practically Family
Messages
699
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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This is an interesting idea Tim. I would like to know more, how do you envision that this would work? Is it one to one? One block or one flange, gets one hat? Limitations or restrictions?
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
Well now, the Gran Torino was delivered today. I was in a rush to do things and Daniel has been in the hospital due to his health issues. SO, I took the hat for him to see it and to try it on for fit. Everything was as perfect as it could get. It looks so much better in person, holding it, being able to see how nice. And the leather sweatband....wow. That is some of the nicest feeling leather, very well finished off but so soft and pliable. Never had anything like that. Not on any hat. Feels like butter.

Next the felt itself...Daniel likes his hats to be able to hold their brim and bash just a certain way. This hat actually came with a bit more flange to it, we normally don't have much at all. I iron out the fronts and sides of a brim, but snapping the brim down slightly on this, it held right where I set it at for him. Now mind you this is with a hat that Tim really worked on some extra time to make it a rather light weight, thin brim on it, and spent some time pouncing this entire hat body. Looking at it, you can't tell how light it really is, as the hat is rich. A very "rich" look to it. The colors really come together on this hat. We've never had a green hat in any shade of green. This one is so attractive. Some of the color in this hat body will just not show on any photographic work. It is almost as if it has a hue to it that is mixed in with the darker moss green color.

You can see all of the hand sewn work on this hat. It will remind anyone looking close, that it was not a sewing machine, but rather Tim working the old school way and using needles by hand. I sew soles on shoes that way. And putting soles on shoes you do not have to be so "pretty" in your work as it is not going to stand out like what a hat will. You can only notice that yes, it is by hand...but the stitches are so uniform for a non machine sewing. I will have to post some pictures tomorrow. I can then point to some of the things I state here.

Bottom line...this is another home run, out of the ball park build by Tim. I am sure there may be a one or two things different about this Gran Torino as compared to the other one he has made. Each one being it's own work of art. Just as the other Customs we have from Tim have something different to them yet are so nice.

Daniel will have a hard time picking what hat to wear now....some super winners!

Oh I had to come back and add this...
Tim we thank you so much. This is a awesome hat. LOVE ya!
 
Cindy. There was something that I found, which I can do. The initial flanging I relaxed.

And knowing what he is needing, in the front that, I kept that in mind, getting it into the binding work.

I immediately noticed the brim would hold, flat, I did iron it a little bit, as I got up around that area when binding. Paying attention to each pull of my thread.

Did you need to do much of anything to it?
 
Well now, the Gran Torino was delivered today. I was in a rush to do things and Daniel has been in the hospital due to his health issues. SO, I took the hat for him to see it and to try it on for fit. Everything was as perfect as it could get. It looks so much better in person, holding it, being able to see how nice.

Cindy -- I hope you have Daniel back home soon and modeling this awesome hat for us.
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
Cindy. There was something that I found, which I can do. The initial flanging I relaxed.

And knowing what he is needing, in the front that, I kept that in mind, getting it into the binding work.

I immediately noticed the brim would hold, flat, I did iron it a little bit, as I got up around that area when binding. Paying attention to each pull of my thread.

Did you need to do much of anything to it?
Not too much, Tim, and nothing I sure can't handle! Haha! I'll post some pictures....thanks!
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG5038_zpslm7ydzz8.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG5028_zpsf1ggmoci.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG5019_zps2fbsyd4z.jpg.html] [/URL]

I wanted to show how nice this one is....the leather sweatband is so different, and actually as when you turn it over you feel how soft and supple it is...like cream. Why all hats do not have this nice of a sweatband in them, is beyond me! Tim made this hat light as a Marshmallow. It is just fantastic. The color is amazing and love the color of the ribbon work, too!

Thank you again for such a beautiful hat for Daniel.
 
Just answering the block and flange thing.
As I do currently, I have blocks and can cover the range. But I would like to own several, in certain sizes. Block them all, and I'll always have several on Etsy, a website, and when one is done, others are ready for working on.

Flanges. Heck who can't use them. Some folks like shallow, very little curl, and some a moderate curl. I just made a beautiful hat using a #17 flange for a 2-3/4 bound snap brim. I'd like a 17 flange from 6-7/8 and upward to size 8-1/4 just because it's a super flange. But I'd like it in 3 or 3-1/4 inch 2-3/4 and 2-5/8. I'd be quite set.
 
This was flanged, on the #17. Shown as example of what I'd like in a range.
Been able to do one a week, raw edges 2. So the extra blocks, I explained that also. I'm going to give a quick final flange tomorrow and send it out. I'm looking forward to the client photos, he is a pilot, and this will be his everyday hat. Corporate Aviation, cockpit photos soon. This one will get a lot of exposure, a cool thing for sure.
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