Make your own vintage inspired hats

[W-D Forties]

It will be on the left side back of the hat, on the same side as the bow knot.This hat is so asymmetrical, there's nothing straightforward about it.

crwritt- you are a saviour! Whilst I'm not sure my hat will ever look like the one on the packet at least I now have some idea of how to finish the blooming thing! It's such a fiddly hat and having no pic of the back is such a pain.

I'm glad I used cheap felt to try this one out! I'll post a picture when it's finally finished, please do the same and we can compare!

 

[Geiamama]

These videos about make-do-and-mend in WW2 are awesome! There are so many hat making ones!! And there are earlier vids too. What a find!!!

Ladies hat from mans fedora - I love this one! So easy and the ironing the felt with a damp cloth on the block...l never knew!
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=51689

I gave it a go last night and I think it turned out lovely. Not bad for a 1st attempt!

 

[Miss Tuppence]

Did you make that hat form the Pathe news clip for the little sports hat- made a worn by a very glamorous blonde model? (oh, the models hair, she is soooo beautiful) If so I’ve wanted to try it out ever since I saw the clip in the cinema, but haven’t found a nice enough fedora yet! Looks good, Miss. Such a sporty little number…
Tups x

 

[crwritt]

I gave it a go last night and I think it turned out lovely. Not bad for a 1st attempt!

That came out so cute, especially the side and back views!

 

[Idledame]

Ok Ladies, I looked a year or two ago and found nothing But now I've found some sources for all things hats:

Real $$$ fur felt for the experts, plus veils, trims etc.
http://www.hatsupply.com/flat_fur_felt.htm

Cheaper felt, felt bodies, ribbon
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=59fd831f8120ef873545a4df7c74a481

with frequently asked questions:
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/faq-info

Patterns and buckram frames:
http://www.patternstudio.com/hatstudio.htm

And Attention Lady Day: this requires a "Dames Downtown" day. They're even open on a Saturday for working girls. And only a couple of blocks from Clifton's and Coles for lunch! I went 20 years ago for Victorian stuff and went crazy over the goods then. Been meaning to go back ever since.
California Millinery
721 So. Spring St., Los Angeles, Ca 90014
tel: 213.622.8746 fax: 213.622.0438
open M-F, 9a-5:30p, Sat: 12:30-4:00pm

 

[Idledame]

Oh, and how to carve your own hat block out of styrofoam or wood!
http://hatstruck.blogspot.com/2010/09/carve-your-own-utility-hat-block.html

 

[Geiamama]

Did you make that hat form the Pathe news clip for the little sports hat- made a worn by a very glamorous blonde model? (oh, the models hair, she is soooo beautiful) If so I’ve wanted to try it out ever since I saw the clip in the cinema, but haven’t found a nice enough fedora yet! Looks good, Miss. Such a sporty little number…
Tups x

Yes I did! I was really good fun. I used a cheap felt fedora from a fancy dress shop! I was so worried about messing it up but next time I might find something a little nicer to work with, maybe with a wider brim.

That came out so cute, especially the side and back views!

Thank you. After seeing your wonderful hats, I take that as a great compliment.

 

[Hatstruck]

Millinery Supplies

Ok Ladies, I looked a year or two ago and found nothing But now I've found some sources for all things hats:

Real $$$ fur felt for the experts, plus veils, trims etc.
http://www.hatsupply.com/flat_fur_felt.htm

Cheaper felt, felt bodies, ribbon
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=59fd831f8120ef873545a4df7c74a481

with frequently asked questions:
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/faq-info

Patterns and buckram frames:
http://www.patternstudio.com/hatstudio.htm

And Attention Lady Day: this requires a "Dames Downtown" day. They're even open on a Saturday for working girls. And only a couple of blocks from Clifton's and Coles for lunch! I went 20 years ago for Victorian stuff and went crazy over the goods then. Been meaning to go back ever since.
California Millinery
721 So. Spring St., Los Angeles, Ca 90014
tel: 213.622.8746 fax: 213.622.0438
open M-F, 9a-5:30p, Sat: 12:30-4:00pm

Hi Ladies,

Here is one of my favorite supply places. Great phone communication and customer service, really nice people. If you don't find something, call them; they'll bend over backwards for you. Plus, they have great prices!

Manhatco
http://manhatco.com/

Hatstruck
http://hatstruck@hatstruck.com

 

[Hatstruck]

Ok Ladies, I looked a year or two ago and found nothing But now I've found some sources for all things hats:

Real $$$ fur felt for the experts, plus veils, trims etc.
http://www.hatsupply.com/flat_fur_felt.htm

Cheaper felt, felt bodies, ribbon
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=59fd831f8120ef873545a4df7c74a481

with frequently asked questions:
http://www.judithm.com/shop/?page=shop/faq-info

Patterns and buckram frames:
http://www.patternstudio.com/hatstudio.htm

And Attention Lady Day: this requires a "Dames Downtown" day. They're even open on a Saturday for working girls. And only a couple of blocks from Clifton's and Coles for lunch! I went 20 years ago for Victorian stuff and went crazy over the goods then. Been meaning to go back ever since.
California Millinery
721 So. Spring St., Los Angeles, Ca 90014
tel: 213.622.8746 fax: 213.622.0438
open M-F, 9a-5:30p, Sat: 12:30-4:00pm

California Millinery is definitely the place to go for vintage goods and buckram frames. They actually make the frames on site; so the prices are very reasonable. For those in the Los Angeles area or for those vacationing in the area, you just have to visit this store!

Hatstruck
http://hatstruck@hatstruck.com

 

[Hatstruck]

I gave it a go last night and I think it turned out lovely. Not bad for a 1st attempt!

Great Job! I posted the video on my site when I did a post on recycled fur felt [/URL](, but I haven't had the chance to make this hat yet. Now I want to go out and find a fedora and make this hat.

Hatstruck
http://hatstruck@hatstruck.com

 

[W-D Forties]

Well, I finished my vintage vogue hat, with thanks to crwritt for the pics of the back. What a piece of origami, and terrible instructions too! I'm quite pleased with the finished result (as a trial run) and will post some pictures soon.
Problems: the felt I used was very thin and doesn't hold the shape as it should and the 'buckram' I asked for at my fabric suppliers, wasn't! The wire I used wasn't stiff enough either. So the whole thing is a bit floppier than I'd like! I'm aiming to remake the hat in nicer materials anyway, this was a trial run to test the pattern, and I'm glad I did!

Is there a spray on stiffner for felt, and if so what's it called? I have seen paint on stiffners, but being fairly new to hatmaking I don't want to order the wrong thing. Also, what thickness of felt is usual for hatmaking? Most of the felt I have seen is in cones, ect and I just want a nice flat bit!
Any advice would be most appreciated!

Geiamama, you hat is lovely, I'm going to have a go at that Pathe idea too!

 

[crwritt]

Here's another one from Vogue 7464, view A.

I fused natural colored linen to
jute burlap. The fabric had a lot of body. I decided to handstitch bias tape to all of the edges, and also added a wire to the brim.
I think it has a straw hat look to it.
Here is view B, finished

and the underside

 

[Idledame]

Anyone interested, I'm organizing a millinery and fabric excursion to downtown L.A. in events thread:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...-Fabric-excursion-Downtown-L.A.-Sat.-Feb-12th

 

[Hatstruck]

Hi Ladies,

Threads Magazine's anniversary edition, out now, has several articles dedicated to hat making. I also posted a little blurb showing one of the hats in the article; check it out.

Hatstruck
http://hatstruck.blogspot.com

 

[Lady Day]

That was very nice of you, thanks Hatstruck.

LD

 

[LinaSofia]

I gave it a go last night and I think it turned out lovely. Not bad for a 1st attempt!

This looks adorable!! beautiful back view! I've wanted to try following that video on how to make a hat from a man's fedora for ages, because it looks quite easy, now I really feel inspired to try it!! (and your hair is super elegant!).

 

[crwritt]

Hi Ladies,

Threads Magazine's anniversary edition, out now, has several articles dedicated to hat making. I also posted a little blurb showing one of the hats in the article; check it out.

Hatstruck
http://hatstruck.blogspot.com

Here is my fascinator, made while following those Threads tutorials.

I had posted it in the "show what you made" thread.

 

[Hatstruck]

That was very nice of you, thanks Hatstruck.

LD

I absolutely love your blog! I'm more of a hat lady (love to hand sew hats), but I really enjoy reading about dressmaking, etc. It reminds me of when my grandmother made all of my clothes. Thanks.

 

[Hatstruck]

Here is my fascinator, made while following those Threads tutorials.

I had posted it in the "show what you made" thread.

Fabulous!!! I like the way you made it your own creation.

 

[Geiamama]

Geiamama, you hat is lovely, I'm going to have a go at that Pathe idea too!

This looks adorable!! beautiful back view! I've wanted to try following that video on how to make a hat from a man's fedora for ages, because it looks quite easy, now I really feel inspired to try it!! (and your hair is super elegant!).

Thank you ladies
Definately have a go though, it's really quite fun!