Hatmaking experience

It turned out that some Facebook recommendations could be really useful. In such a trivial way I discovered not a trivial opportunity - a two-day workshop of Monika, who works together with a star millinery maitre Philip Treacy.

Actually, I´ve been thinking of taking a millinery course since a while, and it seemed to be a perfect opportunity. I was very excited at the very beginning and I got even more excited when the workshop started. Monika is a charming person and is absolutely in love what she does. Her way to her dream was not easy, but she had never given up. She unveiled many professional secrets and shared her passion for hats with us. It was one of the most inspiring days ever!

But let’s come back to the essence. To make a hat one would need a semi-finished felt product (a hatbody) called capeline or hood. The first one has broader hat brim, the latter shorter. Then hatbody of a choice is soaked and blocked on the wooden hat form. There are many types depending on the form - some are solid, the others consist of two or three components (see the first image). The hatbody is fixed to the form by means of sewing pins. Quite a painful stage, I would say (better use a thimble). Then wait till the form is dry, take is off and finish with a cotton stripe.

The other way to make a hat is so called “dry blocking“. One needs an iron and a wooden head. Just put a hatbody on the head and block it by means of vapor.