How to Block Felt Hats
Hats are making a certain comeback. More and more people are adding this elegant piece of attire to their wardrobe. Whether you're on your way to church, hanging out with friends or off to the races, a hat will definitely add that finishing touch to your outfit. Felt hats are more commonly worn in the winter because felt is such a warm fabric. The two most popular types of felt are wool felt--which is coarser--and fur felt, which is softer and a little more elegant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden block, in the style you want to block your hat, covered securely with plastic wrap
- Felt material (wool or fur)
- Strong white cord / blocking pins
- Pot of boiling water
- Thick plastic apron
- Bone from corset
Instructions
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1
Put on a pot of water to boil.
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2
Preheat your oven at 250 degrees.
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3
Dip the felt material into the hot water and allow it to drip.
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4
Immediately drape the material over a wooden block before the material begins to dry.
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5
Pull on the felt firmly until all creases, folds or lumps are removed.
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Wearing a thick plastic apron, use your upper body to hold the top of the fabric in place on the wooden block, while using your hands to continue pulling and securing the fabric with blocking pins on the underside of the block. Pins should be placed very neatly all around the block with at most 1 inch between the pins. (If you're using a wooden block with the groove, then tie the white cord securely around the block in the groove.)
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Put the wooden block and the hat into the oven for eight minutes.
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8
Remove the block from the oven and remove the pins from the block, or remove the cord if you're using the block with the groove.
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To remove the felt from the wooden block, use the bone from a corset to slide in between the material and the block. This will loosen the felt without causing it to lose its shape. Gently take the fabric off the block.
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Use scissors to cut excess fabric away, making sure to leave at least an inch and a half to give you enough room to dress your hat. Your hat is now blocked and ready to be finished and designed.
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Tips & Warnings
The wooden block must be covered with plastic wrap because wet fabric will seep color into the wood. This can be a problem when blocking a light-color fabric on a block that has been stained by other colors. To prevent damaging expensive hat materials, cover the wooden block with plastic wrap and remove it after blocking each hat.
Be careful not to leave the material-draped block in the oven for longer than eight minutes, as the material may begin to burn.
