Millinery The Art of Hat Making

Discover the “blocking” technique as it pertains to blocked hats. The one-week course, Millinery, the art of hat making, also accommodates participants who wish to make fascinators or soft-form hats. 

Classes are held in a professional Millinery Studio where participants will have access to special equipment and materials of the craft. A tour of the hat collection at the Stratford Festival Warehouse is also included.

​Explore and expand on the following skills:

• Analyze and interpret various hat shapes;
• Properly take and interpret head measurements;
• Draft a custom hat pattern and mock-up based on your chosen design;
• Discover new techniques in working with different materials and hat-making equipment;
• Explore traditional millinery materials, ie, felt, buckram, and modern materials such as Fosshape and Wonderflex plastic;
• Discuss and share sources for millinery materials;
• Construct a custom hat shape; then learn to cover, decorate and line the shape with fabrics and trims to suit your taste;
• Produce a finished hat which fits a specific head size; 
• The hat is yours to keep!

​​Participants are asked to bring design ideas/inspirations (magazine cutouts, printed images from the web), paper and fabric scissors, measuring tape and straight pins. Previous sewing experience is helpful but not necessary.

Instructor Monica Viani

Workshop runs Monday – Friday 9 am- 5 pm