So... How to do it?

[The real Henry]

After searching for hats, buying and blocking them, I now more and more want to make one myself! So can anyone help me to learn the basic skills and what else I've to think of?:fedora:

 

[Art Fawcett]

Oh gosh..where to start!! Try going online to a site called "Hat LIfe". There on the main page I recall seeing a title something like "How a hat is made". I didn't read it but it might give you some basics to start with Henry.
When you get to it, just email me privately & I'll help walk you through it.

 

[The real Henry]

Interesting... but no real directions !

 

[Art Fawcett]

What equipment do you have Henry?

 

[The real Henry]

At the moment nothing, except the Linings!

 

[The real Henry]

I also have a addres for the bodies and the ribbons! But nothing for the Sweatband! I think I'm going to buy an old (maybe golden era) block from ebay! Now I just need to know how to put all together!

 

[Art Fawcett]

You might need a bit more than that Henry, but it will be a good start. You also need the proper flange, a spinner, flange stand, good iron, flange cloth, cording, bows, good threads to match whatever ribbon you are going with and a heck of alot of enginuity to work around the problems you will encounter with this minimal equipment. I don't want to discourage you Henry but I'm pretty sure you were around when discussing something in the neighborhood or $300K to put a top notch hat shop together. What you appear to be asking is "how can I do it with nothing" and the answer is..you can't.

 

[The real Henry]

I knew it won't be easy! And I never said I have all together, I even didin't know what I need. That's what I asked for!

 

[Art Fawcett]

Easy there Henry...didn't mean to get the hair up on your neck...it just takes an awful lot more than you might imagine. Nobody can really give you a complete tutorial online in a single thread.
My best advice would be to start collecting everything you can get your hands on relating to hat making. Go online and find all the publications you can relating to it. Start talking to hatters privately in your area or online and ask alot of questions. Call up everyone willing to talk to you and develop relationships where ever and when ever you can.
The way you have posed the question is too broad. I'd be willing to help but you first need to do alot of homework on your own and then pose specific "how to" questions. Much easier to answer that way.

 

[fedoralover]

I admire your desire Henry, but one of the real hang-ups you are going to have is buying the raw products, meaning the felt bodies, liners, sweatbands ribbons and a few other details. Most companies that sell that stuff have minimum orders on them. Meaning you can't just buy one or two of each of these items, you have to buy dozens and sometimes hundreds of each one. The upfront cost on materials alone is astronomical, then like Art pointed out you have to have all the specialized equipment, which is both hard to find and very expensive.

I'm sure not trying to pop your enthusiasim, but that is just the reality of getting into the hat making business. And that is also one of the reasons a custom fedora costs what it does.

fedoralover