moehawk
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,837
- Location
- Northern California
Hey everyone!
A couple of months ago I decided that I needed a real wooden hat block. Being always short on money but having plenty of time on my hands, I chose to make one instead of buying one from ebay or having one custom made. So, after sculpting a few different shapes from expanding gap-sealing foam, I got my stepdad's help (he has a workshop and, unlike me, good vision to use power tools) and cut out a whole lot of pine ovals. Why pine? He had a big pine board already in his shop, and I didn't have to buy him a new one as it was an extra left over from his last project. After much glue, clamping, shaping and sanding, I now have a block.
The two bottom ovals are loose for height extention. I also have two ovals of 1/4" cork for fine tuning crown height. It is 4 1/2" high without extenders, can go up to 6" (or higher if I make more ovals). I applied a little stain for eye appeal, as plain pine is boring looking, and 3 coats of poly to seal it.
I ordered two cheap fur felt hoods (100% rabbit) from Manny's Millinery Supply online, and some reeded leather sweatbands and another fur felt blank from Leko's (I got felt from Leko even though it was twice the price to see if it was better than the stuff from Manny's...it was the same stuff) and proceeded to stretch me some felt. This is what I ended up with.
This was my first attempt ever at creating a liner, so that needs improvement, and my sweatband stitching needs some more practice, but overall I am rather proud of my first all handmade hat. It has a 5 1/2" crown (open) and a 2" brim that I made as close to a snap brim as I could without a proper flange. The ribbon is 1 1/4" cotton/rayon and I styled it after the band on my Borsalino. I wore it today and got compliments on it from people that didn't even know me!
Next, I think I'll try to make one like Reddington wears on The Blacklist... I love James Spader's hats.
A couple of months ago I decided that I needed a real wooden hat block. Being always short on money but having plenty of time on my hands, I chose to make one instead of buying one from ebay or having one custom made. So, after sculpting a few different shapes from expanding gap-sealing foam, I got my stepdad's help (he has a workshop and, unlike me, good vision to use power tools) and cut out a whole lot of pine ovals. Why pine? He had a big pine board already in his shop, and I didn't have to buy him a new one as it was an extra left over from his last project. After much glue, clamping, shaping and sanding, I now have a block.
The two bottom ovals are loose for height extention. I also have two ovals of 1/4" cork for fine tuning crown height. It is 4 1/2" high without extenders, can go up to 6" (or higher if I make more ovals). I applied a little stain for eye appeal, as plain pine is boring looking, and 3 coats of poly to seal it.
I ordered two cheap fur felt hoods (100% rabbit) from Manny's Millinery Supply online, and some reeded leather sweatbands and another fur felt blank from Leko's (I got felt from Leko even though it was twice the price to see if it was better than the stuff from Manny's...it was the same stuff) and proceeded to stretch me some felt. This is what I ended up with.
This was my first attempt ever at creating a liner, so that needs improvement, and my sweatband stitching needs some more practice, but overall I am rather proud of my first all handmade hat. It has a 5 1/2" crown (open) and a 2" brim that I made as close to a snap brim as I could without a proper flange. The ribbon is 1 1/4" cotton/rayon and I styled it after the band on my Borsalino. I wore it today and got compliments on it from people that didn't even know me!
Next, I think I'll try to make one like Reddington wears on The Blacklist... I love James Spader's hats.
