New Project: German vintage block #3102
With the Homburg finished, now it’s time to move ahead onto the next project.
I’ve just received a block I bought on Ebay from a German vendor. I was a bit weary because the feedback for the vendor was not as high as I hoped, but then I saw that some people had bought blocks that were obviously in very bad condition (you could see that in the picture) and afterwards posted feedback saying “hey this block is crap”… well duh!
My purchase went well and I got my block well packed and in good shape. There are lots of tiny pin holes all over, but that is normal on a used block and was visible on the pictures. I wish I had known the size though (which is marked on the bottom, 57) but on the description it said all blocks are between 56 and 59 cm… I wonder if I had asked if they would have replied with that info.
Anyway, the block is wonderful but I paid way too much for it so I’m not going to tell you how much exactly.
Next thing for me will be blocking some felt over it. I’m going to use a mustard colored velour cone that I have in my stash, and to be honest I have NO idea what the final hat will look like… funny isn’t it? I have the block but I cannot visualize how it will look on the head. We will have to wait for that.
I’m not too worried that the block is one size too small because I believe it will be easy to stretch a little bit (fingers crossed!)
That’s all for now… Stay tuned for more!
P.S. Sorry about the lousy quality of the pictures! You can click on them to enlarge (for an even blurrier -but larger- image)
It is hard to visualize. I can imagine one view, then the other, but can’t pull together an image in my mind with profile and front view. I’m really curious how you will manage to block the concave “cuff” and still get the felt off the block without stretching. Maybe it just looks deeper in the photo than it actually is.
Wouldn’t it be an interesting TV show: Make that hat!
Random blocks would be presented, and milliners would make hats using the shapes.
Golly, wouldn’t it be cool if creatively shaped hats were appreciated again?
I read an “futurist” article the other day; hats are predicted to become part of our lives again. Only they will be known as head pieces.
I’m waiting…bring it on!
Comment by jill — January 13, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
It looks so beautiful. Will be fun to see what you do with this one. Love following your progressions from block to hat.
Comment by Glorious Hats — January 15, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
You can upsize your block by pulling a throw-away felt over it first, then blocking your good felt over that. Looks to me like it will be a wonderful hat. Looking forward to seeing how it comes out! K Q:-)
Comment by Kate — January 17, 2008 @ 1:55 am
Jill, I think we will be the only viewers on that TV show, but wouldn’t it be fun!!
I kind of panicked when I read your comment because I thought darn! duh! indeed! How am I going to get the felt out. Fortunately it came out quite easily because the back is very curved and so I pulled from there and after some struggling it came out (pfiuuuuu!).
Kate, the idea of felting over a detailed block and then doing it again had me worried because of the loss of detail. Fortunately once I pulled it out of the block it was the right size (hugging but ok), so no more worries on this one. I will post shortly about it.
Comment by cristinadeprada — January 22, 2008 @ 9:38 am
I see this posting is old but I havent visited here for a while. That hat is beautiful and you could have maybe put rhinestone banding along the creases?
Comment by Doretta Rice — April 29, 2010 @ 3:32 am