Which Hat Blocks?
As a beginner to millinery, I'm not sure which hat blocks I should invest in. Could you give me some advice on which ones you have found to be the most versatile? I have the basic brim and crown and one small button. I was looking at all the fascinator blocks available through Hat Blocks Australia, but became completely confused! They are such a big investment I want to get it right. Unfortunately I'm too new at this art to know exactly which direction I want to go. Many thanks. Sue
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Darryll Osborne
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Hi Sue
We have your email, but it is a good question to have on here too.
Sometimes we have to start a direction to find it is not the one we want to follow, and then change course. The good thing with quality hat blocks is that if you change direction, there will always be someone wanting to take them off your hands!
I don't think you can go wrong with buttons, simple cocktail shapes like our duchess, april, mini holly, kate etc, as the principles involved in using them are the same but give different results according to shape.
sometimes it helps to send us pictures of the hat types you would like to be making, and then we can guide you to the blocks that could create that concept. Quite often they are ones off our blocks, or can be made from a block we have on range.
cheers
Daryll
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Permalink Reply by Julie Rodriguez -
Hello Sue. I very much understand what you are going through. My first hat block was an average US size 22” Cloche Block, but should have gone with 21” (harder to shrink a hat than stretch it using layers of felt, or you can use a sizing band-Ribbon in band to pull tought). I was able to use it for Facinator toppers, Perchers, for creative designs in hand blocking, as well as the cloche and it worked great during my first few years. You can see from my pictures that are posted and many from one block! Quite the variety!
Although my business has greatly slowed down while I care for aging parents, my collection has dwindled since I’ve sold off a few to keep my most used. I’ve found Etsy to be a good source and other Milliners who train. You will find that most do not separate from their favorites so use caution and get lots of pictures upon purchase since I’ve received some cracked and chipped items. Hope this helps.
p.s. If you get a brim with crown set it’s nice since you can vary the brim and get lots of options, wish I had done that since it may have saved some money.
wishing you loads of fun on your journey!
Julie
