Make your own Hat Block

Instructional video by Rae Woolnough, textiles artist, on how to make a styrofoam hat block. Go to: www.artandtext...
to download the instructional PDF

[@RogueMelody003]

Thank you so much for making this! Exactly the tutorial I needed to make a tricorn hat block without having to purchase an expensive wooden version

[@ladycarlalivingston3641]

Thank you so much because I am about to start making felt hats and buying wooden or aluminium hat blocks are too costly for me right now. I really appreciate you for taking time to do this video.

[@littlebrookreader949]

Love your accent! Thanks for the wonderful video! Be safe and well ..... (Grateful in America)

[@nancalvert2468]

Thanks so very much for this tutorial. Your narration is wonderful as is the text. You are a good teacher!

[@jesikawallace3367]

Wow! Awesome tutorial AND you are so lovely! Thank you for sharing, my costume craft students will love this project.

[@dianakang7016]

I’m so going to enjoy making one of these!

[@autumnhat7251]

You are an inspiration, Thank you!!

[@andreanauheimer1987]

Brilliant !!! Thank you, Rae. Greetings from Chile.

[@GarnetLynne]

This is great! Thank you so much!

[@eugeniosolari]

Thank you Rae, it is definetely easier than making on wood

[@annelammel1027]

Such a BRILLIANT idea!!!!! Thank you!!!!!! My Nana made her own fabulous hat creations.....but her milliners block just never surfaced when she passed..........so sad!....This at least makes things possible!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH♥️

[@raewoolnough5509]

Thank Anne - Happy Hat making! :)

[@MomShots]

Great video! Thank you so much. I’m very excited to explore millinery more now that I can make my own hat block.

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hope you have a heap of fun with it Jessica.

[@isabelladavis1363]

Many thanks for your easy to follow instructions truly appreciated,

[@Inkdraft]

That is really very clever! Thank you.

[@raewoolnough5509]

thank you :)

[@yvonnestaub3834]

I need one too!!

[@awoniyibukolafunke6774]

This is amazing, thanks for sharing.

[@mosesblount1191]

Wow! Thank you for this wonderful tutorial! I didn't know how was going to afford a hat block. This is what I needed!

[@oksanakostouros8502]

Thank you so much! That was absolutely great lesson!

[@hobbiesgalore1559]

Great tutorial, very handy! Thank You a lot!

[@santanabastille3897]

Thank you so much, I love hats and the idea is great

[@barhea1]

You’re a natural, and your feltmaking is extraordinary!

[@raewoolnough5509]

Thank you Barbara

[@amandaevangelinaherrerooch6655]

@@raewoolnough5509 ♥️♥️♥️♥️⭐⭐⭐⭐💜💜💜💋💋💋💋

[@ewe2me2ud46]

Excellent video...thank you for sharing.

[@sherrelstroot3034]

Thank you for this video. It is very informative and instructive.

[@leteasipper6563]

Very interesting and easy to follow, thanks for teaching this class.

[@iyamzo]

Wow thank you so much for your teaching dear. I wanted to start hat making 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@pf1634]

Wow this is great, I wish I had the patience to do this! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@shazlee100]

Amazing, thank you for sharing!

[@raewoolnough5509]

You are welcome Sharon - Happy Hat making!

[@irenefzurano]

Thank you so much for this video! It has been really helpful! ❤

[@reannasharp1144]

You should teach on skillshare, this was great!

[@raewoolnoughartandtextiles5833]

Thanks ReAnna - I am currently working on a whole series of workshops that will soon be available on Teachable.

[@garnetscarlette7210]

Perfect hat block!

[@Anitatortuguita]

Woooww que bello trabajo muchas gracias por compartir su gran talento

[@handcraftedinparos9793]

Wow, what a great idea. Thanks so much

[@lamoskgr]

Genius!!!

[@sonenimadzamuse8269]

Thank you so much ma'am this is exactly what l have been looking for. How about making the hat brim do you have a video too

[@jeaniedelgado687]

Good job! Thank you so much?

[@joycewhite4190]

Thanks so very much.

[@LorrayneHam]

Thank you so much…!!

[@humbug202]

Amazingly helpful- thanks!

[@oliviasunny5466]

Wowqw! Awesome! Tnanx!👍👍👍👏👏🌹

[@KalanchoeMonarch]

Beautiful 💓 hats !! Thanks for sharing 💓

[@jannjohnson6255]

Looks good how does hold up with pinning etc.??

[@raewoolnough5509]

I pin mine a lot - and they do deteriorate after a while. You can just re-finish them with more wood filler and varnish and it brings them back to almost new!.

[@godngunclinger]

🖐🤠👍THANK YOU🎩🧢👒

[@dianathakurmillinery9757]

Great video. Do all hat blocks have to be oval or can it be round with difderent design?

[@littlebrookreader949]

I have a very large head. Hats never fit. I’m interested.

[@lindabingham394]

good job

[@raewoolnough5509]

Thank you Linda.

[@khaoulaelkasmi1656]

Wonderful video. I have a question though, once we apply the wood filler and the varnish, with this be able to withstand some steaming when working in the felt or even the modling process??

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Khaoula Yes - gentle steaming would be OK - the varnish will breakdown over time, especially if you pin into it a lot - however, you can re-varnish it again at any time - just quickly rough up the surface with sandpaper and apply another coat. I use these blocks to create felted hat - so I do a lot of modelling on them and use pins, elastic, etc. These blocks are obviously not as tough as timber hat blocks - but can cope with being used to stretch and shape hats on them. Happy Hat Block making. Cheers

[@khaoulaelkasmi1656]

Hello, so i made the block and it turned out great! Thank you for the tips and video! However, I have a question. Is it seeminly possible to use flat wool felt fabric and turn it /block it to a cone or capeline hat body??? i havent been successful yet. any tips or help or even insight on if its possible would be greatly appreciated.

[@rejanefontellefontelle7612]

Gosto do seu trabalho

[@Xitaychin]

Thank you. So if i make my own round dummies i should make them 20x20 cm and then shape them to oval right?

[@alialogan10]

Hi there, would you recommend buying cake blanks that are bigger than your head size, to allow for the block to be shaved down and shaped? Or, would I be fine buying 56cm blanks when my size is 56cm?

[@winterphilosophy3900]

Can you shrink felt cloth in a safe way?

[@susanmercurio1060]

Wouldn't a serrated knife work better? When I have had to cut styrofoam, it worked better for me.

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Susan, If that works for you then that's really good - maybe your knives are better quality than mine. I found that using a serrated knife caused beads of the sytro-foam to pull out during the cutting process leaving more holes in the surface that needed to be filled in with the wood filler.

[@susanmercurio1060]

@@raewoolnough5509 Thanks for your reply. I found that I got more beads with a straight knife, but the quality of the styrofoam may have something to do with it.

[@inmaviera17]

Quería saber que material es ese bote es de silicona

[@sonicfreak04]

can the styrofoam block be used for leather hats too?

[@margaretredmond4836]

You are brilliant, can you youse it for sinamay if you put cling film on, thanks so much. Margaret Redmond from Ireland

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Margaret Yes you can shape your sinamay on the hat block - you probably don't need to use cling film underneath, unless the block is getting a bit old and has lots of pin holes in it. If you block is getting old, just give it a re-coat of timber filler and finishing varnish and it’s good to go. Happy hat making! Cheers Rae

[@LuneEvenfall]

hello! I want to make a hat that's not my full head shape but rather a shaped hat that's to sit on the side of my head. Could this tutorial still be useful for me to make a hat block to shape my hat over? I was planning instead of using my own head measurements to instead use whatever measurements I decide for the hat I have to make. Thank you for this very economical alternative!

[@LuneEvenfall]

Also! Just to make doubly sure so I don't accidentally do something harmful, are these heat safe?

[@raewoolnoughartandtextiles5833]

Hi 凪タン You can certainly make a hat block in any shape or style - I have recently created one to make a hat that sits just on the side of your head. I would love to send you some photos - but I can't find a way to attach them to this comment. Maybe email me at [e-mail] and I can send them over to you. Cheers Rae

[@raewoolnoughartandtextiles5833]

Hi 凪タン You can use a steamer on them if you need to shape your felt or material, but I would be gentle. Styrofoam will melt easily and the protective finishes will break down after a while if you use pins a lot to hold your hat in place while you shape it. You can re-coat your hat block if your finish get a few too many holes in it. The way I make felted hats doesn't require the need to use a steamer or heat as my felt is already wet and very elastic. I actually shape my hats using a dessert spoon and bread knife.

[@forgottenmemories05]

Hi, how would you amend this for certain crown and brim styles? Say for a 40s style trilby with a tilted brim? Is it possible to make the necessary components using a similar method?

[@kgloverel7853]

Do you have online classes?

[@sapaso3]

I’m SOL my my measurements are over 63cm

[@farideh6733]

It is so nice. But I have question.what are the all size of a block hat? Including ;circomstan,diameter and hight ? Thank you so much

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Farideh Cake 'dummies' or 'blanks' come in many different shapes and sizes. I was using the following: 7” (18 cm) cakes dummies for 54cm (21”) or less hat sizes 8” (20 cm) cake dummies for 54cm - 58cm (21” - 22.8“) hat sizes Each blank was approx. 2.5 inches high, so collectively the hat block would end up 7.5 inches high (3 x2.5 inches), but you can make them taller or shorter depending on what type of hat(s) you intend making. It's best to measure your head and then take a tape measure with you when shopping for the blanks and go larger, so you can shape them down to fit your head size and shape. Happy hat making! Rae

[@farideh6733]

@@raewoolnough5509 Hi Dear Rae , Thank you so much for your descriptions that all are great to help me.you are a very good teacher With best wishes Farideh

[@farideh6733]

@@raewoolnough5509 Hi Rae,thank you very much for your very useful description and very to thank you for your time.acually I am making hats ,but I don't access to hat block.i like very much to made them by myself.so your video is great for me.

[@farideh6733]

@@raewoolnough5509 thank so much

[@a.jayeestey2464]

Hi, If I'm making women's standard sun hats for head circumferences measuring 21.5 inches to 21.75 inches, what circumference size of hat block would be the best to use? Thank you. Andrew

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Andrew, Sorry I am not sure what you are asking here. Hat blocks are made in lot of different sizes, so using this method you can make you own hat block the size you need. Maybe you are asking what size 'cake decorating blanks' to purchase to make your hat block - in that case I would go for 8" diameter cake blanks - normally I use three blanks together as per the video.

[@amandaevangelinaherrerooch6655]

♥️♥️♥️⭐⭐⭐⭐💜💜💜

[@inespra]

Hi! I'm Brazilian and I don't understand what is the mix that you use for the final of mold. Can You help me?

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Ines, I use a clear lacquer (clear varnish) usually used to finish furniture, etc. It is hard and helps to seal the wood filler.

[@myway2653]

Can you use a wig holder?

[@raewoolnough5509]

You can - but you will need to cover it with thin plastic so that the wet felt won't effect the wig holder.

[@katiejo911]

What do you do with that diagonal measurement?

[@raewoolnough5509]

Hi Kate Everybody's head measurements are different, so the more measurements you can take, the better you are able to shape your hat block to fit. I use the diagonal measurement to keep track of the 'sit' size, as this is where most hats tend to sit of people's heads - depending of the style of hat you create.

[@katiejo911]

@@raewoolnough5509 Thanks. I was thinking it was where the hat might end.

[@malliemt.s]

Muy lindo trabajo pero no te entiendo yo hablo español soy de Chile

[@malliemt.s]

Hoy haces sombreros

[@FullFlavorRetro]

Great video, Quick question , is it OK to use a small hat steamer when using this homemade block?? will the heat and steam affect the lacquer/wood filler when steaming the hat on the block??

[@raewoolnough5509]

Yes, you can use a small steamer, but the heat and steam will eventually affect the block, particularly if you use a lot of pins and have holes in the surface. Styrofoam melts with heat, so use a steamer sparingly.

[@FullFlavorRetro]

@@raewoolnough5509 thanks you so much for the reply, i finished my styrofoam block, YAY!! and i did a steam test today and yes it did slightly melt the polyurethane...most likely where i kept the steam in one spot for too long...

[@augustinaaseidu6751]

pls list the items down pls .tnkx

[@RussiaIsARiddle778]

She dd s at the start of the video. There was a written list.

[@raewoolnough5509]

HI Augustina - just under the video is a link to my website where you can download the list of products.

[@sueellerman7984]

Fabulous video, thankyou so much for sharing.