hatmakers

[jackrocks]

So Ive been commissioned to make some little hats. Ive done some before, and its too fun:), but making them for myself and family is different than making them, slapping my name on them and selling them in a shop.

I always have a little bit of a hard time when I wrap fabric around from the outside and brim, and bring it under (currently tiny mad hatter style hats), I end up with a messy inside. I dont really care if its a personal hat, but putting them out in a shop, I want them to look more neat on the inside. I think the problem I am running into right now is that it is hard to get my hand up inside the tiny hats when I get to that part...I was thinking about aiming my little glue gun but Im not sure it will shoot neatly.

Share with me how you guys do that, please.

[gem]

Pictures? It's hard to completely visualize what you're describing; an image or two would help a lot!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Then hats I make are larger with inside linings to match the size of the tall part of the crown. Without a nnphoto, it's hard to give any advice.

[jackrocks]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.135192813255393.29131.100002940258423&type=1&l=505d30ff24


go easy on me please, its my first one:) lol once I get this style nailed down, I want to find another style of tiny hat to build. Me likes hat building!:)

[gem]

I think you'll get a lot of mileage out of trimming off much of that excess fabric, and snipping through the seam allowances you wrap around the brim (so they can fold/overlap tidily instead of just get stuffed inside). That will get  you most of the way there. Once you get just 5/8" or so of fabric turned under, and smoothed out, you can cover the raw edges with twill tape, bias tape, or petersham ribbon.

The veteran milliners on the board may have more hat-specific construction advice.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

jackrocks!

Here's what you can do to make a pattern prototype of that darling hat.


-add at least 1 1/4" onto the brim width in porportion to the hieght and width of the crown so that you can curl the brim sides up a bit.

-for the inside lining, make it the same as the outer tall part of the crown. Place inside and slip stitch using an invidible slip stitch.

Do you use a buckram of any kind for the hat form? Millinery wire?

As with making larger hats, the same techniques can be applied for the smaller ones as well. It takes a lot of messing around to get the right formula. I think you are onto something that could be a commercial hit for you.

I also suggest ordering a few Hat patterns from Lynn McMasters to get a better feel as to how to adapt an adult size pattern into a smaller one. Here is her Mad Hatter styled hat pattern that could be redrafted into the size you so delightfully made.. The instructions are some of the best I have come acrossed for hat making of all types.

Hope this helps.

[jackrocks]

haha, Im very unprofessional:) I kind of make things up as I go, and this one is made with posterboard with masking tape to stiffen it, corrogated thin cardboard for the top, and cheap gold wire for the brim.

There are lots of things I can think of Id like to do to make this more professional....at the moment, we havent had a paycheck in 5 weeks and Im trying to be creative with what Ive got on hand.

Im hoping it takes off, and if so, next summer I might try to do the vending thing at some smaller faires. Im also making some other items.

I am EXTREMELY nervous about putting my stuff out there like this!! But Ive got to think of some way to bring in money.

My daughter wants me to make more hats like this, but smaller, and do them up steam-punky:)

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Keep experimenting with what materials you have on hand.

I do have to admit when I make hats, I use Duct Tape for the back seam. That sticks so well to the buckram. I also use it to hold down the fabric on the top of the crown to the tall crown sides. That adds extra strength as well as some water proofing in the event of rain.

http://lynnmcmasters.com/ There is an article with photos, step by step instructions on making a Mad Hatter styled hat. You could easily adapt the instructions with materials you already have on hand.

Hope this helps. Lynn McMasters is a Master pattern designer, Costumer, and Hat Maker.

[jackrocks]

Theres not any kind of lasting negative health effects from making mini hats, is there? Bc Im totally addicted to them.....how do you stop? I cant stop!! In my head at night are boinging around all these ideas for different little hats....and I think, maybe if I just get up and make ONE, my brain will quiet down and I can go to sleep....BUT THEN i GET ANOTHER IDEA.
Its terrible...is there some kind of treatment for this disorder?

Im working on making the insides cleaner, and the brims wider-THANKS!-and Ive also discovered how to make very tiny top hats, with a solid bottom, that I am attaching to barrettes. They are so cute!!

[bookwench]

Darn! For some reason I can't see the picture. 

I make mini toppers too, and yes - getting that fold over at the bottom can be difficult.  A few notches in the fabric (just shy of being seen from the outside) helps the inside fabric lie a bit flatter.  I also secure it with binder clips to hold it in place as I sew it down.  I do a whip stitch around the base of the crown, since any stitch work will be hidden by the hat band.  And, like Lady Kathleen said, line the hat.  It makes a world of difference in how professional it looks!