How to Make Riding Hats

Riding hats can complete your entire look for your outfit or costume. Although some riding hat adds safety and protection, there are some that are just made for design and style. You can make a basic riding had with some skill to and equipment.

Things You'll Need:

• Hat block with the appropriate shape


• Felt hat blank


• Hot water


• Elastic band


• Stock pot


• Rust-free pins


• Steam iron


• Millinery wire


• Sewing machine


• Sizing


• Accessories

1. Choose a felt hat blank with the material of your choice. You can make your hat from fur, wool or a more expensive material. Choose a color of your choice, since blanks are dyed in a variety of colors.


2. Heat the fiber using a steamer or very hot water in a pan. Submerge the hat blank enough to where the bubbles stop rising from the bottom of the pan of boiling water.


3. Take a hat crown block and pull the hat blank over it. Note that these blocks can be difficult to find and are on the expensive side. Hat blanks are cut from smooth woods such as poplar, butternut or balsa and are shaped in the form of a hat crown.


4. Hold the blank in place by placing an elastic band around the both the blank and the block. Tightly secure the elastic using rest-free pins.


5. Use a steam iron to iron the hat brim. Be patient when ironing the brim because it will take a lot of effort to iron it flat entirely. Pin the brim down and then allow it time to dry. Cut the brim to size and let it dry overnight.


6. Stitch millinery wire to the edge of the brim once it is dry. Brush the hat with sizing; wipe it off using a cloth.  Form the brim to your desired shape and allow it to dry completely.


7. Remove the hat from the hat block once it is fully dry. Use a sewing machine to stitch milliner's grosgrain ribbon around the brim wire of the hat. Attach any accessories to the hat that you desire, such as feathers or buttons.