Used Hat Blocks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Claire-Michelle Taverner-Pearson
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Padding out too-small blocks is the way forward. I've not tried this myself because i'm lucky to have a standard block that fits my head, but I've read that this is what you do for bigger head sizes. The alternative is to invest in a hat stretcher.
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Permalink Reply by Helen Lee Marshall
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My two brim blocks are a 16 inch (38 cm) round pizza pan and a 13 (32 cm) X 16 meat platter. If you buy those clamp paperclips that are meant to hold 10's of sheets of paper together, you can use anything that is the shape you want for a brim block.
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Permalink Reply by Elaine Mergard
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I know how challenging it can be as I was buying them when I had 4 small children. The Govt TAFE College said you can teach Millinery as long as you supply the blocks. I gradually built up a collection. The Brim & Crown I suggest is a good start and you will be surprised what you can create from these. Put them on your Christmas Wish List!!
Even today I add on to blocks or I block on one Brim then block on another Brim to make the final style. Look out in home decor stores for wooden items you can mould on. As you sell a few hats you can find $$ to buy another style. For second hand blocks put an add in local paper and someone may have them in attic and happy to pass them on to you because of your love of hats.
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Dremmel with a sander attachment...unless you can afford something more heavy duty. Google hat block making and you'll see how they do it in the workshops. :)
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Permalink Reply by 1fi9iq6yxs6ig
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For those who live near Melbourne Australia (and I don't unfortunately - being in Adelaide) a supply company, Torb and Reiner, have a block hire service. You can take your fabric/felt etc. to their store, block it, and pick it up the next day. For a small charge, they'll even do the blocking for you. I think this is a brilliant idea.
I've also wondered if an on-line share system could be organised, where people could photograph/list the blocks they have and others, for the cost of return postage and insurance, could 'borrow' them. It would need co-ordination of course, but in Australia at least, the millinery community is small, close and supportive, and I think it could work. Love to hear others' ideas on this.
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Permalink Reply by Hat Academy
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From the Twittersphere
@HatAcademy use upside down bowls and mannequin heads.
— Sarah Miller Art (@SarahMillerArt) June 21, 2012
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Plus Terra Cotta pots !!
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Permalink Reply by Wendy Tucker
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What about heading down to the local woodworking club in your region and asking one of the fellows there to make a few for you? If you had just one as a demo piece I would think that they could copy it fairly easily?
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Permalink Reply by Elsie Collins
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Elaine can you explain a bit more about the blocks being made form Australian Rainforest timber?? I do hope they are not cutting the rainforest down for hat blocks!!! Although the wood sounds ideal. Rain forests are much more important!!!
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Although this timber naturally grows in Rainforests it is grown in privately developed forests for commercial purposes.(can't spell it will ask the block maker) Our Govt regulates the timber industries very strictly especially rain forests for sake of balance in the environment. I have one brim block made from Red Cedar which was harvested years ago in Nth Qld Forests but banned now. My husband will not let me use it and put tacks into it as it polishes up beautifully - will be a clock one day!!
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Permalink Reply by Elsie Collins
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That's good to hear!! So, do you think oak can work as a block? I have someone chipping away on a piece from a tree that came down in our yard during Hurricane Irene last year. Hoping he can at least manage a mushroom shaped button block from it. I tried to put pins into it, but it is nearly impossible!!
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Ouch that's not good if pins will not penetrate. I do have a silky oak block which is ok but again a rain forest tree that grows in back yard here. I know some make them from Balsa but lifetime may be limited. Most of my blocks are white Cedar.
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