Vintage Fur Felt Cloche in XL??

[Joshbru3]

Hello Ladies,

I need a little help. My fiance' has a larger head than most women and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find her a fur felt cloche. I would like to get her a vintage one, but a new one would be fine as well. I measured her head and it measures 24 inches in circumference which equates to 61cm or a size 7 5/8 in mens hats. Does anyone have a recommendation where I could find a quality vintage or new cloche that will fit her? I've been looking and looking and looking and just can't seem to come up with anything. I've looked on etsy and ebay and have found a couple vintage hats that measure 24 inches in circumference, but they were not cloche's. Thanks Ladies!!

 

[Drappa]

Not sure how much you are willing to spend, but I would contact some of the Etsy millinery shops and see if they can custom make her one to the size required. I am sure there are several who would!

 

[crwritt]

Hello Ladies,

I need a little help. My fiance' has a larger head than most women and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find her a fur felt cloche. I would like to get her a vintage one, but a new one would be fine as well. I measured her head and it measures 24 inches in circumference which equates to 61cm or a size 7 5/8 in mens hats. Does anyone have a recommendation where I could find a quality vintage or new cloche that will fit her? I've been looking and looking and looking and just can't seem to come up with anything. I've looked on etsy and ebay and have found a couple vintage hats that measure 24 inches in circumference, but they were not cloche's. Thanks Ladies!!

You do realize that a quality felt hat can be steamed and resized?These ones are wool felt http://www.shopnational.com/p/Felt-Hat and I had excellent results steaming and stretching them to fit my very large head.I know they're not vintage, but they do come in lots of colors,are very affordable and once she has them the right size, they are fun to embellish.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1123649228462.14035.1744062716&type=3&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1195590626952&l=b45e791fd9
In my case, I found a child's toy ball and inflated/ deflated it until it was the correct size, dampened the felt hat, stretched it over the ball, steamed it with a steam iron, and let it alone until it dried. I did not apply sizing to stiffen my hats, but if you choose to, use Zinnser clear spray shellac, very lightly, and if it beads up on the hat surface smooth it with a cloth.

 

[Louise Anne]

I when into this in great detail several years ago with a bespoke milliner becuse I wanted a 20's style cloche making myself..
becuse my head was not a standard size either they would have to have a block made especially for me this would cost if I remember about £80 then the cost of making the hat on top of this.
After a long search the milliner found a London company who has a very large range of block size and could make one for me cheaper than a milliner could make one.
and that's where mine come from through the milliner trade account so I never knew the companies name,
I would say go into your local milliner and see if they know of a manufacturing London company who can block a hat in felt

 

[Joshbru3]

You do realize that a quality felt hat can be steamed and resized?These ones are wool felt http://www.shopnational.com/p/Felt-Hat and I had excellent results steaming and stretching them to fit my very large head.I know they're not vintage, but they do come in lots of colors,are very affordable and once she has them the right size, they are fun to embellish.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1123649228462.14035.1744062716&type=3&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1195590626952&l=b45e791fd9
In my case, I found a child's toy ball and inflated/ deflated it until it was the correct size, dampened the felt hat, stretched it over the ball, steamed it with a steam iron, and let it alone until it dried. I did not apply sizing to stiffen my hats, but if you choose to, use Zinnser clear spray shellac, very lightly, and if it beads up on the hat surface smooth it with a cloth.

I do restore and make mens fedoras, but I've never tried making a cloche. I know that the concept is the same, but the major problem is the crown block shape. Mens hats have a much different crown profile than womens hats. Cloche's tend to have almost perfectly round shapes where mens hats tend to be oval. I have not found any womens hat blocks that measure 24 inches around. I have never even tried or thought about using a childs toy ball. Thats a good idea. I can always go the custom milliner route, but a fur felt cloche will run me anywhere from $200-400 per hat. Knowing my fiance' she's going to want a couple of cloches in a couple of colors. That would run me a bit of cash. I can always use a mens felt fedora and reblock it, but thats really the problem. I don't suppose anyone on the lounge has a 24 inch circumference cloche hat block that they want to rent to me?

 

[Joshbru3]

Not sure how much you are willing to spend, but I would contact some of the Etsy millinery shops and see if they can custom make her one to the size required. I am sure there are several who would!

I when into this in great detail several years ago with a bespoke milliner becuse I wanted a 20's style cloche making myself..
becuse my head was not a standard size either they would have to have a block made especially for me this would cost if I remember about £80 then the cost of making the hat on top of this.
After a long search the milliner found a London company who has a very large range of block size and could make one for me cheaper than a milliner could make one.
and that's where mine come from through the milliner trade account so I never knew the companies name,
I would say go into your local milliner and see if they know of a manufacturing London company who can block a hat in felt

Thanks! I will probably have to go the custom milliner route if I am not able to make these cloches myself.

 

[HeyMoe]

My fiance' has a larger head than most women

Dangerous statement..... :scared:

 

[crwritt]

I do restore and make mens fedoras, but I've never tried making a cloche. I know that the concept is the same, but the major problem is the crown block shape. Mens hats have a much different crown profile than womens hats. Cloche's tend to have almost perfectly round shapes where mens hats tend to be oval. I have not found any womens hat blocks that measure 24 inches around. I have never even tried or thought about using a childs toy ball. Thats a good idea. I can always go the custom milliner route, but a fur felt cloche will run me anywhere from $200-400 per hat. Knowing my fiance' she's going to want a couple of cloches in a couple of colors. That would run me a bit of cash. I can always use a mens felt fedora and reblock it, but thats really the problem. I don't suppose anyone on the lounge has a 24 inch circumference cloche hat block that they want to rent to me?

Try the ball method. It does work! I have never found a readymade ladies' hat to fit me. The cloches I blocked with the toy ball fit my 24" head just fine. You could also carve a block from styrofoam, but it seems like a lot of work, when you can just inflate the ball to the proper size.

 

[Jennifer Jones]

I'll keep my eyes out for you. I frequent antique stores, estate sales and watch ebay hat lot listings for my etsy store. Does she have a cloche style preference and colors? Closer to head with down-turned rim or one with height and a down-turned rim?

Good luck!

Jenny