Hat Labels and Linings

There are a lot of talented milliners posting photos of the exteriors of their wonderful creations, which are very inspiring. But, I'd also like to see the insides of the hats and undersides of the fascinators.

I'm curious as to how many modern milliners are putting full linings in their hats and what kinds of linings. And I'd love to see what your labels - which are basically your artist signatures, and will be how people will know the hats were made by you - look like.

So in short....I'd love to see your labels and linings. Please post photos!

Tags: Essential Discussions

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Permalink Reply by Jen Marsh December 5, 2018 at 9:42pm

Oh thanks for the tip Carole, never thought of using silk scarves before myself. Would definitely make the inside as pretty as the outside.

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Permalink Reply by Silpa Kohler December 6, 2018 at 8:43am

Yes! I totally agree. I feel like the 'other side' of the hat is like a secret... the only times I get to see them is when the buyer sells them on and posts photos online! Here's my latest... I like to line (usually with silk dupion which blocks amazingly) where I can, especially when blocking sinamay as it takes away the transparency. My labels were bought online and are sewn in. Sometimes I feel like I need an algorithm to figure out what I need to do before/after what!

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Permalink Reply by Helen Lee Marshall December 11, 2018 at 10:13am

Hi! I ALWAYS put full linings in my hats. My linings are almost always dupioni silk in white, ivory or if I have it, a matching color for the hat. (I probably have close to 75 hats and maybe 6 or 8 of the old ones don't) In my opinion, If you want to be considered a professional, you have to make your products look professional. To me this means no threads showing, no extra marks, no messy, tacky undersides or insides.

One of the first things I bought when I started with millinery is labels. A professional milliner needs professional labels. I have had the misfortune of having two label makers that have gone out of business after my labels and so all of my sets of labels look different. My third set has a rose, my shop name, my site address and my email. A professional has to be accessible if they want business. If a customer can't find you quickly, they will go somewhere else. They also have to bend over backwards (If they can) with customer service.

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Permalink Reply by Helen Lee Marshall December 11, 2018 at 10:31am

As for feathers, there are times when sewing feathers just won't work and if you want the feather to stay, you have to glue it. I use "Beacon's Fabric Tac" glue. It will glue fabric to ANYTHING. It doesn't spot like a glue gun (you don't see where you have glued it.) , it doesn't smell or have fumes and it's easy to use. The only problem is that you have to watch your fingers very closely because glue>fingers>hat> ugly spot that is difficult to get out.
I live in the states and it is available at JoAnn's fabric. I haven't checked Michaels or Hobby Lobby but I know JoAnn's has it.

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Permalink Reply by Hussain April 18, 2019 at 12:20am

Hates are amazing to wear, they uplift your personality. such things are also available in https://austintrim.co/woven-labels/

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Eliott July 4, 2019 at 4:51pm

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Permalink Reply by Heather Summers August 16, 2019 at 10:22pm

I make simple labels (using lettering from such libraries like www.emblibrary.com) with a hoop (I've been using a Janome Memory craft 10000/10001 but now I have switched to Brother PE800). It takes some time, but since I don't take commissions so often recently, it doesn't really bother me.
I have Digitizer 10000 software and my machine uses the cards, so I have an adapter at my computer where I can transfer a design that I save with the software to the card, then take the card to the embroidery machine. That took quite a while to figure out. But now I have a personal label design which I love to use.
It's a lot of fun and they look so much nicer than writing with pen on fabric (which I've tried before, shame on me).

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Permalink Reply by Sue Ranbarger August 22, 2019 at 12:38am

I've been making felt hats from raw wool fleece or batt and I really want a finished look as well. I've searched the net and books and can not find information on lining a hat, it's like a trade secret or something. So I'm trying to learn by trial and error, which gets pricey and can ruin a hat. Even trying to find photos of lined hats is near impossible.

So I'd be very interest too if anyone know a way to learn how, a site, a book, anything. I also noticed no one listed satin as a liner, is there a reason for that?

Thanks for sharing

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Panozzo August 22, 2019 at 3:37am

I use satin quite often. Mostly in felts and winter hats. I embroider my label in the center on the crown piece and then put the lining together. I learned how to make linings by taking apart old throw away hats. I do have some pics posted on this thread.

1. I cut an oval or circle for the center of the crown out of my lining fabric.

2. Measure the circumference of the inside of the crown add about 3 inches to the length. And I measure the depth adding about 1".

3. I cut a length of my lining fabric on the bias to the length I measured but cutting on an angle \ so the top edge is the length I measured and the bottom edge is a couple of inches longer

4. Fold back about 1/2" of the non angled end so you will have a finished end.

5. Right side of crown piece to right side of cut length (longest end at the bottom) and start sewing to the crown about 1/4" in from the edge. After about 1" I take a 1/8" pleat and continue to do this all the way around the crown.

5. Insert in the crown and adjust the depth. Fold over the edge and sew to the hat.

If you have questions just send me a message and I will try to help. or you can go to my shop on ETSY for more pics of my linings. NouveauHatsbySharon