First sewing project-Beret

[Alan H]

Things could be worse than making a beret for your lady! You just scored MAJOR points with her, you know that!

[The Wizard of BC]

Hey BB,

When you "Block" a hat you form it into the shape you want. You use steam to warm up the fibers so that they will mold.

You can do it very simply by putting a cork in the spout of a tea kettle that has a tube sticking out. Then when steam starts to come out of the tube you use the steam to warm the section of the hat you want to shape and mold it with your hands. You can stretch the fabric. you can make sharp edges or nice rolled ones. It's really amazing the shapes you can get it to take.

We all used to do this with Cav Stetsons during my flying days. You know, think "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning".

Felt is wonderful to block. It will take almost any shape and as soon as the hat cools the shape will stay almost forever. My Akubra Fedora came totally unshaped. The brim was flat and the crown looked like "Hoss Cartright". Once I blocked it to the shape I like I have not had to re-shape it since. Just an annual touch-up where the brim may get a kink or flat spot. (unless of course you have to swim out to your get-away plane when the headhunters are chasing you like "Indie", then you get to re-block your hat from scratch).

[berserkbishop]

Hey BB,

When you "Block" a hat you form it into the shape you want. You use steam to warm up the fibers so that they will mold.

You can do it very simply by putting a cork in the spout of a tea kettle that has a tube sticking out. Then when steam starts to come out of the tube you use the steam to warm the section of the hat you want to shape and mold it with your hands. You can stretch the fabric. you can make sharp edges or nice rolled ones. It's really amazing the shapes you can get it to take.

We all used to do this with Cav Stetsons during my flying days. You know, think "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning".

Felt is wonderful to block. It will take almost any shape and as soon as the hat cools the shape will stay almost forever. My Akubra Fedora came totally unshaped. The brim was flat and the crown looked like "Hoss Cartright". Once I blocked it to the shape I like I have not had to re-shape it since. Just an annual touch-up where the brim may get a kink or flat spot. (unless of course you have to swim out to your get-away plane when the headhunters are chasing you like "Indie", then you get to re-block your hat from scratch).

Will this work with aryli-felt? I am worried about melting it or making it shiny? I am going to try to find some wool garments at the thrift store that I can cut up and felt and then make a beret for myself out of. From the sound of it felting wool is pretty easy.

BB

[The Wizard of BC]

The great thing about using steam is you have perfect control over temperature. Steam from a tea kettle, that is not under pressure will always be at the same temperature. Water boils at 212 deg. F at sea level.
Steam is also dry. Only when it cools does it form water droplets.

If you only work on a small area at a time and never get the area so hot that you can't put your hand on it you should be OK. The only problem I can think of with acrylic felt is that it won't shape quite as well because it basically a plastic. So the temperature range at which it will soften and be able to be shaped is very narrow.

But, heck, I'm sure you have some scraps. Give it a go. Hands-on experience is the best teacher. Once you know something can be done then you only need to find out what works best for you.

[berserkbishop]

The great thing about using steam is you have perfect control over temperature. Steam from a tea kettle, that is not under pressure will always be at the same temperature. Water boils at 212 deg. F at sea level.
Steam is also dry. Only when it cools does it form water droplets.

If you only work on a small area at a time and never get the area so hot that you can't put your hand on it you should be OK. The only problem I can think of with acrylic felt is that it won't shape quite as well because it basically a plastic. So the temperature range at which it will soften and be able to be shaped is very narrow.

But, heck, I'm sure you have some scraps. Give it a go. Hands-on experience is the best teacher. Once you know something can be done then you only need to find out what works best for you.

OK, sounds good. I am going to improvise on the tea kettle though. I bought some khaki 40% wool 60% rayon today that I will try to make another beret out of. Why does no one sell 100% wool. I dont care if it is 16 bucks a yard. I only need 1/2 yrd. End rant.

BB

[emyclaire]

What color of wool are you wanting, grandson. I have lots of left-overs. I got them from your aunt in Meadville, Pa. Some are solid and some are plaid (but not authentic tartans)Give me an idea of color, and I'll send them along with the Cunningham strip for the teddy scarf you asked for. Grandma

[berserkbishop]

What color of wool are you wanting, grandson. I have lots of left-overs. I got them from your aunt in Meadville, Pa. Some are solid and some are plaid (but not authentic tartans)Give me an idea of color, and I'll send them along with the Cunningham strip for the teddy scarf you asked for. Grandma

Red, black, blue (sky and navy), green. Those are the colors I am looking for, or a pattern with those colors predominant. I can make some nice hats to match my tartans. If you have any of those colors and can spare me the wool that would be most appreciated

BB

[Ancienne Alliance]

Not bad at all !
Good shot !

[Darkislander]

Very neat. It looks good on either of you.

[Cyndi]

Good job! You can make wool felt if you make another beret to keep.