Made my own hat - Tutorial
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- Mark Brody
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Made my own hat - Tutorial
Most people go for a Fed or Fed Deluxe if they grow impatient waiting for their AB to arrive. I opted to make a hat to hold me over instead.
I made the block myself with a tutorial I found here at COW. The flange I got off of eBay for about $50. I got about 95% of the actual hat supplies from, well... hatsupply.com (plus 2 small items from Michael's).
I made an absolute mess of the apartment working on this, and had a blast. Things that I thought would be a problem were not at all an issue, and some things I hadn't even thought about left me stumped, but it all worked out in the end. The ribbon that Leko gave me from hatsupply.com isn't a very good match for an Indy hat, so I'm waiting on one of Todd's replacement ribbons.
The links are pics of the hat in progress, while the tagged photos are, obviously, the finished hat. One of the "in progress" photos makes it look like there are two hats, but that was just a photoshop trick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... king10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... king11.jpg
I made the block myself with a tutorial I found here at COW. The flange I got off of eBay for about $50. I got about 95% of the actual hat supplies from, well... hatsupply.com (plus 2 small items from Michael's).
I made an absolute mess of the apartment working on this, and had a blast. Things that I thought would be a problem were not at all an issue, and some things I hadn't even thought about left me stumped, but it all worked out in the end. The ribbon that Leko gave me from hatsupply.com isn't a very good match for an Indy hat, so I'm waiting on one of Todd's replacement ribbons.
The links are pics of the hat in progress, while the tagged photos are, obviously, the finished hat. One of the "in progress" photos makes it look like there are two hats, but that was just a photoshop trick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... aking9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... king10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/ ... king11.jpg
- GoldenHistorian
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- Kilgour Trout
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Fantastic!
Brody: this is Fantastic!!!
It is what this crazy hobby is all about.
When the enjoyment of a character, a time or the Spirit of Adventure
leads to the resurrection of a craft.
Honestly, This is exactly what I want to do, Perhaps "minus" making the blocks. To be able to take a hat body, block, flange and whatever else and be able to create a work of art.
To create a hat like this is truly wonderful to see!
My hat is off to you
Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout
It is what this crazy hobby is all about.
When the enjoyment of a character, a time or the Spirit of Adventure
leads to the resurrection of a craft.
Honestly, This is exactly what I want to do, Perhaps "minus" making the blocks. To be able to take a hat body, block, flange and whatever else and be able to create a work of art.
To create a hat like this is truly wonderful to see!
My hat is off to you
Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout
- genphideaux
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- Mark Brody
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Thanks for all the complements guys! If you like hands on projects, I highly recommend it. The hat itself was a full day's work. The block, on the other hand... well, I can't tell you how many hours I spent on that (maybe about 40). It wouldn't have taken so long if I didn't lose access to power tools halfway through the process
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Outstanding work. This is really the first hat you´ve made? Awesome!!!
Last edited by Last Crusader on Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Mark Brody
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Wow, I really appreciate these compliments guys! I'll work on a tutorial to add to this thread.
The liner was advertised as the same liner that Stetson uses. Whether or not that's true, I really don't care because it does the trick. The logo, I printed on inkjet printable silk. I cut it out with a 1/2 inch lip to fold back and sew in place in the liner. You can see the silk in pic #9, it looks like paper.
The liner was advertised as the same liner that Stetson uses. Whether or not that's true, I really don't care because it does the trick. The logo, I printed on inkjet printable silk. I cut it out with a 1/2 inch lip to fold back and sew in place in the liner. You can see the silk in pic #9, it looks like paper.
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- Pitfall Harry
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Wow! That is fantastic.......
I wish I had the talent, tools and the time to try something like that myself!
There is one question I wanted to ask. How did you apply the stiffner to the felt? Is it something that is already in the felt or is it something you spray during the process?
I'm totally clueless when it comes to that part of the hat making process.
I wish I had the talent, tools and the time to try something like that myself!
There is one question I wanted to ask. How did you apply the stiffner to the felt? Is it something that is already in the felt or is it something you spray during the process?
I'm totally clueless when it comes to that part of the hat making process.
- Mark Brody
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I'm not daring enough to attempt a jacket, but once I have a sewing machine, I think I'll give a shirt a try. I also doubt I'll actually go into hatmaking, as I only expect to ever have a 7 1/8 and 7 3/8 block. I had a little trouble with my block, having made it from pine (big mistake). Long story short, it ended up being a little small when it made the hat, so I will have to stretch it out slightly. I might shave a little more off the block to make a hat for my brother, and make a new one for myself out of poplar.
- Mark Brody
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Assuming you have normal household items (scissors, iron, large kitchen pot), all the tools and materials cost about $170. If you'd rather buy a hatblock as opposed to making one yourself, you could probably add $30-$100 to that figure.
I get to re-use the tools, obviously, but I was also left with a few materials left over (felt hat stiffener, printable silk, and white ribbon). For me to make another hat right now would cost about $70.
In my opinion, it was definitely worth it. When my AB arrives, there's no question that it'll be better than what I made and I'll probably admire it above all my other hats, but I can really appreciate what went into the hat that I made.
I get to re-use the tools, obviously, but I was also left with a few materials left over (felt hat stiffener, printable silk, and white ribbon). For me to make another hat right now would cost about $70.
In my opinion, it was definitely worth it. When my AB arrives, there's no question that it'll be better than what I made and I'll probably admire it above all my other hats, but I can really appreciate what went into the hat that I made.
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Mark,
a comprehensive tutorial of how YOU did this, the Mark Brody Method, would be frikkin' sweet.
I'm inspired, but I'm gonna cheat. I'm buying a hatblock, but the question is, do I contact Lamode hat blocks or Fred's hat blocks?
Seems Fedora (Steve) has used both at one time or another.
I'll have to ask.
a comprehensive tutorial of how YOU did this, the Mark Brody Method, would be frikkin' sweet.
I'm inspired, but I'm gonna cheat. I'm buying a hatblock, but the question is, do I contact Lamode hat blocks or Fred's hat blocks?
Seems Fedora (Steve) has used both at one time or another.
I'll have to ask.
- Mark Brody
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Pitfall Harry, the felt that I got was pretty dense, but it didn't feel like it had any stiffener in it. I just poured the stiffener into a dish and applied it with a paintbrush. Other people have used spray bottles to apply it to get a more even coat. I'll probably try that next time I make a hat. I wasn't sure how much to use, so I put on what I felt was a medium-light coating. I could have been a lot more generous if I'd wanted to, but I think what I did will work fine. I think it ended up being 1/2 cup of stiffener over the entire hat.
bigrex, I guess I don't know how to answer your question any better than I already have. I think you're looking for what it cost me, specifically, to make this. I spent about $170 on tools and materials specifically for this project. I used other tools and materials in this project (iron, computer, my computer with Adobe Illustrator, printer, hammer, etc.), but seeing as how I would have these things whether I wanted to make a hat or not, I don't consider them hat-related expenses. If you were to include absolutely everything I used to make this hat, you're probably looking at a couple thousand dollars (with the majority of that being computer equipment and programs, which were only even used to make the logo on the liner). Short answer: about $170.
Spatterdash, you might just want to check eBay every couple days to see what hat blocks they have. Like I said, that's how I got my flange. I can't tell you a good source for a new block however. I can't even really give you measurements. I just eyeballed most of it.
bigrex, I guess I don't know how to answer your question any better than I already have. I think you're looking for what it cost me, specifically, to make this. I spent about $170 on tools and materials specifically for this project. I used other tools and materials in this project (iron, computer, my computer with Adobe Illustrator, printer, hammer, etc.), but seeing as how I would have these things whether I wanted to make a hat or not, I don't consider them hat-related expenses. If you were to include absolutely everything I used to make this hat, you're probably looking at a couple thousand dollars (with the majority of that being computer equipment and programs, which were only even used to make the logo on the liner). Short answer: about $170.
Spatterdash, you might just want to check eBay every couple days to see what hat blocks they have. Like I said, that's how I got my flange. I can't tell you a good source for a new block however. I can't even really give you measurements. I just eyeballed most of it.
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Haha, I think Fedora's always looking for someone to take up making hats so that they can lessen his caseload.
I'm also pretty sure there's plenty of fans out there that wouldn't mind a cheap handmade hat even if it used polyester ribbon glued together, and the cheapest non-leather sweatband possible, and had no liner.
I'm also pretty sure there's plenty of fans out there that wouldn't mind a cheap handmade hat even if it used polyester ribbon glued together, and the cheapest non-leather sweatband possible, and had no liner.
- eazybox
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Wonderful job, especially for an initial effort. I wonder if there would be a niche market for people interested in making their own hats-- a "Do-it-yourself" kit for making an Indy hat, with block, flange, felt and ribbon, etc. included. I'm not sure the idea is feasible, but it sure looks like it might be a fun project.
Jack
Jack
Last edited by eazybox on Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Neolithic
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Agreed.eazybox wrote:Wonderful job, especially for an initial effort.
I'm amazed by the guys on this forum who get up and do it themselves.
Seems COW is a club of self starters. Well done, MB.
I'd imagine shipping a block would be horrendous in terms of cost, otherwise it would be a cool idea!I wonder if there would be a niche market for people interested in making their own hats
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I wondering: Is it possible to make a hatblock with resin or plaster?
A good and easy way would be to pour the material into an unbashed hat's crown (protected with some plastic) and wait it to harden...
The other part could be made of plywood, saw in the middle, following the base of the "resin casted" block...?
Nicolas jones
A good and easy way would be to pour the material into an unbashed hat's crown (protected with some plastic) and wait it to harden...
The other part could be made of plywood, saw in the middle, following the base of the "resin casted" block...?
Nicolas jones
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I was also thinking that same idea, but i always forgot to post to ask if it would work.Nicolas Jones wrote:I wondering: Is it possible to make a hatblock with resin or plaster?
A good and easy way would be to pour the material into an unbashed hat's crown (protected with some plastic) and wait it to harden...
The other part could be made of plywood, saw in the middle, following the base of the "resin casted" block...?
Nicolas jones
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