Making my own hat

[Stoney]

After having read through numerous posts here on the Fedora Lounge, and refurbishing a few hats, I decided to try making my own custom hat at home. Since this is my first effort I decided to start with a lightweight rabbit hat body. It should be fine to wear this summer. I purchased everything to make the hat, except the ribbon, from hatsupply.com.

My goal was to make a tall crowned, narrow brimmed hat similar to those worn by Bogart in the mid to late 1930s.

This is the hat body before it was blocked.

The hat body wet blocked and tied.

The brim is now trimmed and flanged. I've center bashed it for now.

Sweatband is sewn in, stitches just above the brim line.

The ribbon is added and the crease is changed to a squared off teardrop.

The liner is added.

The finished hat. The final dimensions are Crown 4 1/4" front, 5" side, 4" rear,
Brim 2 1/4".

Oh...and a lounge pin on the bow.

And now on my head.

 

[HamletJSD]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[warbird]

Nice job. :eusa_clap

Where did you get the equipment to make the hat?

 

[flylot74]

Bravo! I am envious. I wish I had the :
ability
time
equipment

Oh, well [huh]

I guess for now, I'll stick with Art.........

 

[MrFusion]

Bravo! I am envious. I wish I had the :
ability
time
equipment

Oh, well [huh]

I guess for now, I'll stick with Art.........

Exactly what I was thinking.

Well done!:eusa_clap

 

[Rick Blaine]

BLOODY BRILLIANT!

 

[Simon82]

Bogart himself would steal that off your head!

:eusa_clap

Stoney, that is stellar work. I showed this thread to my wife and kids, it's so cool. The hat looks fantastic, and the pride you must feel at making it has to make it hard to fit!

With more and more people figuring out how to make these themselves, maybe hats will come back, from the grass-roots up.

 

[Stoney]

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm really enjoying this hat. I have an off size head, so I buy one size larger and most of my hats have a little padding in them to make up for the extra room.

When I made this one I fit the hat to my head exactly. It feels good to finally have one that fits properly. I've hardly taken it off all day.lol

Once you've performed all of the tasks required to clean and assemble a hat,
making one is not that difficult. You basically have to form the hat body using the block and flange, add felt stiffer, let it dry then brush the felt and give it a light sanding to remove the stray fuzz. Then all you have to do is assemble it.

As far as equipment required, there is not really that much you need to make one.

1) A hat block
2) A hat flange
3) A small steam iron
4) A sewing kit
5) Some 320 grit sandpaper for pouncing the felt after it is blocked.
6) The raw materials
7) Lots of time since you are doing this all by hand.


I have two antique blocks and two flanges that I picked up on e-bay.
You can buy new hat blocks, but they usually run hundreds of dollars each.

 

[John in Covina]

WOW THAT'S NEAT!

 

[AdmiralTofu]

:eusa_clap Simply amazing, Stoney. And it looks great on you! Bogey'd be proud.

I'm with Simon: maybe we're onto something here... blocks 'n flanges for everybody!

-Tofu

 

[Mustang]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap You did a great job!

Just curious, how long would you say you spent working on it?

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Very nicely done! It looks great.

 

[bolthead]

Super job Stoney

You've done well my friend, I'm very envious. If I was able to make my own hats, I'd be thrilled to do so, the possibilities would be endless. I'm afraid to even try and replace a new sweat and liner myself. Hats off to you.....no pun intended.

 

[surely]

Everything was just going great until that last pic. I bet you changed the d to a y for your name. And please, next time get a haircut first; that little tuft on your ear is very distracting! from an otherwise job well done.

 

[bolthead]

Where do I get me 1 of those nifty little pins?

 

[AlanC]

Excellent job--congratulations!

 

[Mr. Lucky]

So, Stoney me lad, when are you gonna' start takin' orders? I have this idea...

 

[AdmiralTofu]

So, Stoney me lad, when are you gonna' start takin' orders? I have this idea...

I'll take one, please, in navy blue. I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a fedora today.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Where do I get me 1 of those nifty little pins?

Right here, Bolthead!

Stoney, you're making me feel bad. I've been collecting all the equipment and then some that I need to do the same, yet I've not gotten off my butt to give it a try yet. This may be the incentive I need to do so!

Outstanding job!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Regards,
Tom

 

[indycop]

WoW!! Stoney that is amazing!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap