Shaping a Wet felted Fedora hat

[@designertjp-utube]

Excellent Work Mike! And True Haberdasher Words we go by everyday at frames 7:10 - _"Your Head is the actual shape of your Head."_

[@donutpanic]

Thanks - it applies to other body parts too!

[@R8TD-M]

I'd have to agree with another commenter, I've watched several hat videos as well and this one has been on of the better instructional ones, especially using an iron vs a steam machine. Being a fedora guy, I loved this vid.

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Kevin. I've worn that hat daily for coming up to two years now and it's still going strong!

[@R8TD-M]

@@donutpanic Are you a hat maker Sir or do you just know how to clean, shape, restore hats? The iron, is it connected to some kind of steam apparatus or is it just an iron 🤔?

[@donutpanic]

@@R8TD-M Hi Kevin. As you will see from my other videos my hats are wet felted from alpaca fibre. I use a steam iron to shape or reshape my hats once they have been treated with shellac - see that video too.

[@R8TD-M]

@@donutpanic Great. I Subscribed to your channel earlier today 😊. Will definitely be checking out your videos.

[@darenlindley]

I think you have nailed this craft! So cool!

[@donutpanic]

Thanks Daren - still lots to learn I'm sure!

[@j8jake]

Thanks Mike I'm on my 5th hat the first two were just for Halloween. The third was just a good learning experience and the last two are wearable that I gave for Christmas. But they are still basically floppy type hats. I haven't been able my felt to a stage where I could sand it (because I was afraid if it shrank much more it wouldn't fit) and I haven't made a batch of Shellac yet. Next Hat! Anyway your videos have been so useful it's been a lot of fun. -Jae from Seattle, Washington state

[@donutpanic]

That's good to hear James. It's great that you were able to make gifts. Once you think you've finished working the felt - work it some more. You've got to start plenty big enough so it has room to get smaller! Have a go with shellac but you need good felt beforehand. Keep on making those hats!

[@rustynutsnboltz]

Thanks for the vids. I'm loving the info and would like to see more hat making please. Maybe shape a light coloured hat as I think it will be easier to see your folding and shaping. Thanks again. Also would like to try making a hat. Can you suggest materials tools etc for a first attempt. Cheers.

[@donutpanic]

Hi Mark My other videos should guide you through. I use alpaca fibre but sheep or other fur fibres will do the job.

[@frankdavf4599]

thanks

[@Momo_Kawashima]

I wanna make a brown fedora for a friend of mine, now i know how, thanks a lot

[@patsylidgard1425]

Thanks for the nice video. I noticed that you use alpaca wool. What are some of the advantages of alpaca over wool?

[@donutpanic]

Hi Patsy. We keep alpacas, hence the alpaca fibre which felts really well. I also use sheep wool on occasion.

[@gristlevonraben]

pretty cool

[@lweleven3423]

Very helpful just bought a used Australia hat and it’s a bit out of shape inc the brim , I assuming I can iron the brim

[@donutpanic]

I'd try steaming it first - depends what, if anything, it's been treated with.

[@lweleven3423]

@@donutpanic great thanks for the tip 👍

[@dsmith199]

Very cool!! How long did it take you to perfect this art? Your dog is gorgeous!

[@donutpanic]

He is gorgeous - I'll let him know you said so! It took quite a lot of trial and error, gleaning info from the Internet, a visit to a hat museum and plenty of embarrassing hats. Nothing wrong with a handmade looking hat if course, but it's also nice to be able to walk down the street without being pointed at!

[@andywatson9725]

Good morning, I have made the shallac as per your instructions. When I sprayed it on a dry piece of felt, it stayed on top and left a colored film. Before I put it on my hat, what do you suggest to fix this problem. Thank you!

[@donutpanic]

Hi Andy. Is your mix too concentrated perhaps? You could dilute it further. In my experience a fine mist will be absorbed into the felt, but you can rub it in, or even brush apply it. It is an amber colour, so be aware of that if using it on light felts.

[@elimg.3684]

Can a hat also be shaped without adding a shellac stiffener? Or would you have to do it during the felting stage then?

[@caleb1rshelton]

Your videos are very informative with allot of great information. Have you ever tried to curl a brim, and if so did you find a way to make the brim curler or find something to use that's more cost effective than the brim curlers available online?

[@donutpanic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4PCk3yeeL6gkLc

[@caleb1rshelton]

@@donutpanic thank you. This is brilliant.

[@kimmywimmy7305]

Is it possible to form a brim on an already made fedora so that one side is folded up? Like an Aussie slouch hat, but without a button?

[@donutpanic]

You can but try!

[@maristelagoncalves4710]

What the measurement of this block ?

[@donutpanic]

The crown is 140 mm high. The circumference is the same as my head.

[@peliculasgratis9575]

con que material puedo hacer en si el sombrero ? hay que comprarlo en algún lugar en especial ?

[@donutpanic]

Gracias por tu comentario. El cuerpo del sombrero es de fieltro húmedo de fibra de alpaca. Puede ver cómo se hace aquí: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYqucqGhfs2Zirc

[@peliculasgratis9575]

@@donutpanic muchas gracias a usted , me a ayudado mucho para saber las técnicas y los elementos que usa , de verdad muchas gracias 💪 excelentes trabajos .

[@peliculasgratis9575]

para hacer los moldes para la cabeza , que cuentas tengo que hacer para lograr esa forma Obala de la horma ( molde del sombrero)

[@donutpanic]

@@peliculasgratis9575 kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6rEnXZpjqmFprc

[@timwindham6287]

What brand fedora is this? What’s the size of the brim? It looks exactly like what I’ve been looking for!! How do I find one like this?

[@donutpanic]

Thanks for your comment Tim. You'll need to watch my other videos to find out how to make your perfect hat I'm afraid. It's hand made, wet felted from alpaca fibre.

[@dalekingston7429]

What kind of steam iron are you using .. can you recommend one to me ...

[@donutpanic]

That is a Tefal Pro Express - my wife must have been out for me to use it! I usually just use a cheap iron with an on board tank.

[@shiraleepettit6466]

Where did you get the foam hat block from ?

[@donutpanic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn-5dXtteJ2Cf7c

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

Why did you dye it and not use naturally colored alpaca?

[@donutpanic]

Hi Dianne. I usually do but we have 10 coloured alpacas and 30 white ones - the black dye was a bit of an experiment. You will notice my other videos feature natural colours.