Hats and How to Make Them. Designing Patterns & Constructing Hats Using 1920's Millinery Techniques

Originally published in 1925, this rare book will teach you millinery pattern making and construction techniques used in the 1920s including how to make paper patterns; equipment needed/used to make hats; types of fabrics and furs that work best with hat construction; making molded frames; making wire frames; covering crowns; covering hat with braids; millinery stitches used; edge and bind finishings; handmade trims; decorative stitches; feathers; hat linings; renovating/restoring hats; hat history. PATTERN MAKING: Using newspaper, tissue or wrapping paper, you'll learn how to create paper hat patterns using hats or patterns you already have. Measuring the brim, cutting the brim, cutting the headsize and copying give you the start of your hat. For designing a brim, the book provides instructions to make an even, uneven, slightly drooping, slightly upturned or irregularly shaped brim based on the look you want to create. Crown pattern design is also discussed including how to measure for a crown, cutting a straight side band, cutting a curved side band, and joining all of the pieces together. After your pattern is made, the book details attaching the paper, cutting the brim, making the brim, sewing the band to headsize, and creating a "paper hat" before constructing your hat of fabric. HAT MAKING: Instructions are provided to make pieces for numerous types of 1920s hats which then can be attached to create the look you desire including a soft hat of bias folds, bias fold hat with running stitch used as decoration and another decorated with narrow hemp braid and running stitches, crown made of bias folds, hats made from strips of ribbon with a cord edge, crown made with wire cord, three ribbon hats, shirred hat made of silk, stitched silk hat, tucked brim hat, two halo brimmed hats, child's stitched hat and tam-o-shanter hat. 125 illustrations accompany the instructions to provide visuals for hat construction. Sample book images are shown at the top of this page.