Finishing a Wet Felted Hat

[@isabeldelaportilla6223]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Bravissimo!!! Thank you for sharing. I’ve been studying your channel, and you explain the whole process cristal clear. Thanks again!

[@runen1484]

A big thank you from me. You gave me the courage and knowledge to revive my granddads old bowler hat. It has been sitting on a shelf for many years, 1/2 a number in size to small. Now I gave it a good soaking in lukewarm water and a massage. The leather sweatband got a little grease. Then I squeezed the wet thing on to my head and had it dry out there and now it is a perfect fit. Lots of memories with that hat, as my granddad drove a horse carriage at weddings and other special occasions wearing it and me helping him with the horses. Eternally great full - thanks again 🤠

[@donutpanic]

Great to hear! Look after the hat and it will look after you.

[@LorrayneHam]

What a wonderful hat..!!!

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Lorrayne!

[@historiamusica1179]

My friend, you are one of the most generous persons I know about sharing the knowledge of this art! Not everybody would do it, I wish you luck and succes, you don´t realize how some people enjoy this. You´re an artist!

[@donutpanic]

Thank you. You are very kind to say so.

[@dshawneadoodles4862]

I have been searching KZbin for videos like yours for a while now. So glad to finally have video tutorials on how to make hats at home.

[@donutpanic]

Thanks. I look forward to seeing your hats!

[@MullenProjects]

I think you are FANTASTIC! I have learned SO MUCH from watching your videos. THANK YOU!

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Deb! I hope it helps you create some great hats.

[@dsmith199]

Thank you for another great video! I so appreciate you sharing your skill. It looks really nice on you too!

[@spinningtopchildrensentert7265]

Amazing video

[@donutpanic]

Glad you think so!

[@Xitaychin]

Yay gorgeous! Well done! Thank you!!!

[@historiamusica1179]

Oh just beautiful!

[@donutpanic]

Thank you! 😊

[@isabelladavis1363]

Wow quite impressive!

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Isabella!

[@DillyWillow]

Very informative thank you

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Sharon!

[@Shrimp_Insurance]

Love your videos, they're the only ones on youtube that show how to wet felt a quality hat, I've learned a TON and am almost finished making my first hat block! Quick question though, I've seen in other videos that people sand the felt, I'm wondering if you have any knowledge on that? Perhaps the grit of sandpaper they use or if it's even a necessary step? In any case keep up the awesome work! I look forward to learning more from you!

[@donutpanic]

Hi Wolfy. For me it depends on the quality of the fibre as to whether the finished felt needs a trim or a shave - if they have been felted to a hard, stiff felt they shouldn't need it. I think for wool felts sanding may result in a fuzzy finish. I occasionally use hair clippers or a razor to remove any guard hairs or coarser fibres. I hope you produce some great hats!

[@Shrimp_Insurance]

@@donutpanic Hey, thanks a lot for your quick reply! And thanks for the info, I actually bought some wool to make my first hat so it's good to know the effects that sanding can have on it specifically, and good to know that clippers can work as well. I'll definitely have to do some experimenting to see what steps need to be taken to get the best finish Thanks again for the info!

[@donutpanic]

@@Shrimp_Insurance By wool I mean long fibres such as sheep wool or, as in my case, alpaca, as opposed to fur fibres such as rabbit or beaver. You can always experiment to see what works.

[@mikeadams9559]

Magnificent! Is this one made with felt from your Alpaca fur?

[@donutpanic]

Yes, huacaya alpaca.

[@ellends67]

You mentioned that you can felt the edge of the hat instead of sewing on a binding, how is this done? thank you!

[@donutpanic]

As long as the brim is firm enough, cut the edge neatly and work the edge with your fingers to leave a finished edge.

[@CinnamonGirl0707]

I liked your lining method. Question: How do you shape the brim without wire? I always wire my brims,

[@donutpanic]

Thank you. No wire involved, but I do shellac my hats only after having made very stiff felt.

[@myiaresendes9845]

Love the video! Can you use regular grosgrain ribbon for the trim around the brim or what was it that you used?

[@donutpanic]

Hi Myia. Millinery Petersham swirls into a curve easily for the band - in the video it is not millinery Petersham! The brim is trimmed with bias binding. It would be difficult to get a neat, flat finish with ribbon not cut on the bias I think.

[@omarualpacafarm]

@@donutpanic really enjoy your videos. I too have alpacas and have made a few hats but it’s good to see how to finish them professionally. When you say bias binding, what type of bias binding do you use. There are so many different ones. Is it nylon or cotton or a blend? Thanks for all the tips over all the videos.

[@donutpanic]

@@omarualpacafarm Thanks for your comment. I've used different types of binding but a starched cotton is much easier to hold in place. If you stiffen the brim with shellac before adding the binding it is much easier to hold the binding in place.

[@arlenetoth608]

Thank you for sharing this as I have just finished making a Fedora for the hubs and would like to go classic. That is a nice trick with the ribbon. Would you mind sharing where you bought the brim trim from as I am having a hard time sourcing that at the mo. I live in the UK. Many thanks.

[@donutpanic]

Hi Arlene. The trim around the brim is cotton bias binding which is widely available. I've just done a quick ebay search and lots of it pops up. Baxterhart.org are a good source for milliners Petersham and other materials.

[@arlenetoth608]

@@donutpanic thank you for such a quick reply! I think I have some of that bias binding and will check that link. :)

[@CinnamonGirl0707]

I buy a lot of supplies from www.petershams.com/ They are in the UK.

[@jamesrobinson330]

Very helpful video. How to control the curve of the hat band? Does your method only work on the thin ribbon material? I was very happy to see how you did the trim around the brim. I’m gonna try it today. I’m sure it will take some practice seeing that I am new to sewing.

[@donutpanic]

Hi James. Swirling the sweat and hat band works well on proper millinary Petersham (grosgrain) and less well on ribbons not made for the job. It is quite thick and has held up well on a hat I have worn most days for the last three years. The ribbon on this video didn't swirl very well. You can find a stiff, starched bias binding that is easier to hold in place as you sew. I learned to sew by doing this - I've since made shirts and jackets so be warned!

[@peliculasgratis9575]

Hola , se usa un telgopor especial para la bace ?

[@donutpanic]

Hola. Esto es lo que uso. Es más rígido que el poliestireno ordinario.www.panelsystems.co.uk/product/craftfoam-blue

[@donutpanic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6rEnXZpjqmFprc

[@peliculasgratis9575]

@@donutpanic Es posible hacerlo con un telgopor mas clasico y comprar una lamina de fieltro para moldearlo en la bace , los que se compran en las tiendas de telas , es posible ??

[@donutpanic]

@@peliculasgratis9575 Puede comprar 'capucha' de fieltro o 'capelina' desde la cual puede dar forma a un sombrero. No puede usar fieltro plano comprado en la tienda para hacer este método. El bloque debe ser bastante rígido, por lo que debe usar una espuma artesanal o un bloque de madera. ¡Espero que el traductor de Google sea lo suficientemente bueno!

[@donutpanic]

@@peliculasgratis9575 Puede comprar 'capucha' de fieltro o 'capelina' desde la cual puede dar forma a un sombrero. No puede usar fieltro plano comprado en la tienda para hacer este método. El bloque debe ser bastante rígido, por lo que debe usar una espuma artesanal o un bloque de madera. ¡Espero que el traductor de Google sea lo suficientemente bueno!

[@susandillon6834]

Mike what is petershim??

[@donutpanic]

Petersham ribbon aka grosgrain. Where are you located Susan?

[@susandillon6834]

@@donutpanicFlorida, and you have your own alpaca, I will be looking to see about the fur just off the alpaca and hand card it. Do I need a certain kind, or is all alpaca fur the same? I know its soft but long fur or short? Showing my ignorance here😊

[@donutpanic]

@@susandillon6834 There are two types - huacaya (wuh-caya) and suri. Huacaya are the more common fluffy ones and the type to use for felting. You can use many sheep breeds too, with merino being a popular choice. In Florida you may have other fur fibres available,

[@sombrerosdalpacacinane4568]

Buen día señor cuanto es el precio del sombrero

[@donutpanic]

Hola. No los hago para venderlos. Los hago con fibra de alpaca de nuestro propio rebaño.

[@sombrerosdalpacacinane4568]

@@donutpanic gracias amigo felicitaciones por su trabajo yo también tengo un rebaño de alpaca en Perú y aquí regalamos la fibra ya que nos pagan precios miserables y me gustaría aprender hacer sombreros y tal vez venderlos

[@donutpanic]

@@sombrerosdalpacacinane4568 Gracias. Espero que encuentres útiles mis videos. Ciertamente, puede hacer un sombrero de calidad vendible utilizando los métodos que muestro. Mis mejores deseos y buena suerte desde Nottinghamshire, Inglaterra.