How I made my Felt Hats

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

... or to WHOM you want to portray, from WHERE and from WHAT time period.

Excellent tutorial!

Thank you! I’m glad it’s being so well received!

 

[Kansas Jake]

Great write up. I reshaped a Stetson with a clothing steamer a number of years ago. Your process is the whole deal. Also, guys keep your eyes open at garage sales for decent beaver hats for bargain prices. They aren’t that hard to rework.

 

[Dude]

Great tutorial! Thank you!

Hey, how about a photo of you wearing it?

 

[BozoMiller]

Pretty damn cool.

 

[user 51067]

You've inspired me to try something new!

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

You've inspired me to try something new!

I’m happy to hear that! Be sure to let us know how it goes!

 

[DixieTexian]

A couple years ago I decided to do something similar. I got a piece of poster board and cut an oval hole in it that would fit around my head. I then positioned it on my head where I wear my hats and got my wife to tape little rectangles of poster board to it so they were just touching my head until they went all the way around. I used this as a template to make a perfect cross section of the shape of my head, cut out sections from a board, stacked them, then went to work with a rasp until I had it shaped into a proper hat block. I just re-blocked an old hat I already had onto it, but the result was a hat that fit my head perfectly from the get go.

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

A couple years ago I decided to do something similar. I got a piece of poster board and cut an oval hole in it that would fit around my head. I then positioned it on my head where I wear my hats and got my wife to tape little rectangles of poster board to it so they were just touching my head until they went all the way around. I used this as a template to make a perfect cross section of the shape of my head, cut out sections from a board, stacked them, then went to work with a rasp until I had it shaped into a proper hat block. I just re-blocked an old hat I already had onto it, but the result was a hat that fit my head perfectly from the get go.

That sounds like an effective method, thank you for sharing.

 

[sheriff john]

One of the best posts I've read in quite a while. Thank you.

 

[pilot]

Thanks for the write up. I had never considered making my own hat, this is very interesting.

Are you able to water proof the felt?

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

One of the best posts I've read in quite a while. Thank you.

I appreciate that! Thank you.

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

Thanks for the write up. I had never considered making my own hat, this is very interesting.

Are you able to water proof the felt?

To my knowledge there’s no way to make it 100%, but the step of “burning” that I did helps with repelling water especially if it’s pure beaver.

 

[fleener]

Great thread. Makes me want to give it a go for myself.

Fleener

 

[babstooge]

thanks for the post it was very helpful. I think later on I'll try it . your hat was killer ,better than most I've seen for retail. Bruce

 

[Dale Lilly]

Uh, don't let the 'boss' catch you, but check her metal mixing bowls. I found one just the right size to use as a hat block. Shhhhh! Polecat
[yes, I know it's an old thread; so's my hat]

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

Uh, don't let the 'boss' catch you, but check her metal mixing bowls. I found one just the right size to use as a hat block. Shhhhh! Polecat
[yes, I know it's an old thread; so's my hat]

Good tip, I’ll have to keep it a secret from my better half!

 

[Dale Lilly]

Good tip, I’ll have to keep it a secret from my better half!

BTW: Your write up is excellent. I'm getting ready to do a new hat ... I'll use your ideas. Thanks. Dale

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

BTW: Your write up is excellent. I'm getting ready to do a new hat ... I'll use your ideas. Thanks. Dale

Thank you, if you have any questions feel free to ask and I’ll answer them as best I can.

 

[BillinOregon]

What a marvelous thread. Thank you, DiMarco, for taking the time to put it together and post it. Very inspiring -- and I will have to look up the hatmaker's knot. Does your hat retain its shape well in wet weather?

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

What a marvelous thread. Thank you, DiMarco, for taking the time to put it together and post it. Very inspiring -- and I will have to look up the hatmaker's knot. Does your hat retain its shape well in wet weather?

I’m glad my thread is well received. My hat has held up pretty well, and it’s quite easy to reshape it if it warps at all when wet.