Hat making...beginner's course

[PabloElFlamenco]

I just sent off a message to my lady hatter, asking to participate in her february hat-making course, which advertises as "make your own felt hat completely by hand on the block", five three-hour classes.
I will keep you informed of the course of events...
Personally, I hope to learn the basics of sewing-in liners, sweatbands, and sewing-on ribbons.
Paul

 

[duggap]

Let us know when you are going to start taking orders.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Let us know when you are going to start taking orders.

Well...let's not hitch the cart before the horse...(but I do like the original VW beetle design of those Czech engineers...)

 

[bolthead]

cool.....

I wish they had something like that around here.....:eusa_clap

 

[donCarlos]

Well...let's not hitch the cart before the horse...(but I do like the original VW beetle design of those Czech engineers...)

What? How is that I don´t know about that?!

Anyway, good luck PabloElFlamenco, I wish there were some courses like that here. I´d be the first one to attend.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks guys for the encouragement. The course has materialized, five 3 hour sittings starting every consecutive friday, starting 13 feb. I've been thinking about which kind of hat I want to make. Quite frankly, I'm very attached to my high quality Stetson hats and no way will I ever be able to make something quite as good (I think), meaning, I wouldn't wear the hat.

So I'm veering in the direction of wanting to make a Pork Pie.
I always thought those were cool, and -in my primitive opinion- I think this is something I would be proud to make myself, and as I don't have one, I wouldn't be tempted to compare it...

As far as I understand, the course starts from ...scratch... (I guess from a felt cone?) and I'll have to shape it -I understand the lady has only one "men's hat block"- put in a sweatband (the best leather available), try to put together an original looking (two tone, by putting two "regular" ones on top of another, overlapping?) ribbons, try to figure out a "special" knot, I guess a rim-binding will be impossible...

I've printed out quite a few pictures from the Fedora site, as models, and yes, I'm very excited about it all. I intend to ask Martine (that's her name) whether I can take photographs, maybe even some small films (on my lil' Canon) and publish them onto this site... I promise.

Meanwhile, I am open to any (any!) helpful suggestions as to "do's" and "don't do's" in the art of Porking Pies. Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[Lefty]

I remember that someone had posted a link here from one of the Indiana Jones sites that shows how to make and sew the bow. It seemed pretty educational at the time.

Maybe one of the IJ fans can help out with a link.

 

[DocMustang]

Pick up a copy of From the Neck Up, an illustrated guide to hatmaking, by Denise Dreher. I have several books on hatmaking that I use when making my own hats for ren faires. I have not tried making a hat from scratch from a hood as I cannot justify the expense of buying hatblocks for the 1 or 2 hats I make about every other year. Of all the books I have this one is my favorite. It covers basic techniques such as hand sewing and techniques for working with straw, buckram, wire frames and felt. Techniques for finishing hats are covered as well. The illustrations are exellent.

You can search for it on Amazon (the store hatbook.com is the publisher) or
click on the link above.

Doc

 

[trailrunner]

I remember that someone had posted a link here from one of the Indiana Jones sites that shows how to make and sew the bow. It seemed pretty educational at the time.

Maybe one of the IJ fans can help out with a link.

I ran across the link Lefty is referring to earlier this morning during a forum search on ribbon replacement.

Here is another that also talks about attaching the band to the hat, but does not cover making the bow.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Great guys, keep it coming....thanks!
Paul

 

[bolthead]

Curious.....

I'm curious as to which lids you picked out for your reference? [huh]

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

High Bolt (SP), here's just a few from the "Show off your Pork Pies"
thread

http://adamgottschalk.net/porkpie.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1457/5723533/19716428/318035262.jpg

http://gallery.mac.com/garydoty/100266/TLD_0102/web.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5897/p1013535nt3.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5484/00000020004lq1.jpg

Ambitious? ...sure... they're MODELS (modestly said). The idea is in gestation, brewing, yet to be matched to reality... you guys' help (the book, the tutorials...much appreciated).

Paul

 

[bolthead]

High Bolt (SP), here's just a few from the "Show off your Pork Pies"
thread

http://adamgottschalk.net/porkpie.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1457/5723533/19716428/318035262.jpg

http://gallery.mac.com/garydoty/100266/TLD_0102/web.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5897/p1013535nt3.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5484/00000020004lq1.jpg

Ambitious? ...sure... they're MODELS (modestly said). The idea is in gestation, brewing, yet to be matched to reality... you guys' help (the book, the tutorials...much appreciated).

Paul

Nice choices......:eusa_clap

 

[Lefty]

:arated:
It looks like 2 Arts and 2 Optimos - the other one looks vintage.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Update.
Well, here I've been trying to be funny but in this one, I wish to communicate that, sadly, I yesterday received an email that the course was canceled due to insufficient participants and she would let me know if there will be another course in due time.
....oh well....

I emailed my hatmaker, saying I fully appreciate her reason for the cancellation, but that I am VERY interested in learning.

Surely, there will be another chance.

And...I will report on it.

Paul