Feltmaking – Wet Felted Hats

I got a hat block for Christmas – Lucky Me 🙂 This one is a cloche style of hat block made of styrofoam from Gillian Gladrag . These hat blocks come in 4 sizes:

Hat Shapers
Another good source for hat blocks.

Head and Hat Sizing

If you are not sure of your hat or head size, using a tape measure, measure around the circumference of your head. Place the tape measure across the widest part of your forehead, just above your eyebrows, around the tips of your ears and across the back of your head. Take the measurement with the tape measure snugly but comfortably around your head – not too tight, unless you like a very tight fitting hat. You may need a friend to help you with this.

The Punti measurement is half the circumference of the head, down one side – from the top of the ear to the centre of the head.

I am having fun experimenting with different methods of wet felting hats.

Purple Felted Hat

Wet Felted hat made with merino wool and alpaca.

Red Felted Hat

Wet Felted hat made with merino wool and silk.

Here are some links for how-to instructions on making wet felted hats.

Wet Felted Vessel
Here are some detailed instructions for making a wet felted hat using a balloon as a hat form.

Hat Shapers
Instructions for how to felt a hat from Hat Shapers.

Uniquely Felt
Felting Fabulous Flowers: 30 stunning designs