Dilemma to choose the size of a hat-block
Hello milliners!
I'm very new in the community, and a beginner in millinery. I would like your advice for choosing a hat block size: I have a 57 cm hat block which is OK for me, but for most of my friends it is too big. Now I want to purchase a new hat block, and make hats not only for me but for friends too. What do you recommend me? Is it easier to enlarge or to shrink a hat?
Many Thanks
Tags: hat block size
Views: 2146
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sharon Panozzo -
I find it much easier to enlarge. Just block a cheaper felt or 2 over your block and with each one you will have a larger size. It is more precise than shrinking. The problem will come if you have a very complicated block. Then you could loose some details or even distort the final blocked version.
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Permalink Reply by Delphine Scornet-Hyrien
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Hi Sharon. I haven't thought of adding a felt on the hat bock to enlarge it. Thanks for your advice !
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Permalink Reply by Darryll Osborne
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Hi Delphine, my reply is from a block makers perspective only...
It really depends on just how much smaller you need to go for your friends head sizes. Most of the time you can make a hat a size smaller simply by adding a thin layer of material or felt inside the head band. A layer that is only as thick as a dress makers tape will reduce by up to .5cm (making a 57 hat into a 56.5) thicker layers will reduce by a cm.
As Sharon mentions, you can also 'double block' to make a larger hat.
I would suggest making hats to fit yourself and adapting them if need be to your friends (if the sizes are not to much smaller) Stretching works to a point and depends on what the hat is made from. Some, like felt are very forgiving, others not so and you can buckle the brim if you over stretch.
If you really got into making hats for other people and it was financially worth it, then i would suggest a range of sizes... making sure to recoup the block costs over several hats.
Darryll (Hat Blocks Australia)
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Thanks for your advices Darryll. I think I’ll do as you told: I’m going to buy a hat block at my size, and make it smaller for my friends (56,5 to 56 cm).
As I mentioned, I’m at the beginning of my millinery adventure, so I don’t think that to buy several sizes of hat-blocks financially worth it (for the moment...)
Thanks again :)
Delphine
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Permalink Reply by Tania Hansen
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Lately I’ve been playing with Fosshape to enlarge blocks. The only problem Is that it shrinks and you will loose any convex definition. I solved this by cutting lengthwise slits in the fosshape over the convex areas so that it can be folded down into the area thus preserving the definition. If I need to remove the fosshape, I cut it up the back and slip it off. Then I can always tape it back together if needed.
Good Luck,
Tania
