Put a bird on it!

re: Put a bird on it!

Lili — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:34:10 GMT

Commenting on JoyceH@16, bgvt, Lynn G. and other pot/bowl people: Those circular household objects work for soft stretchy hats such as berets and toques. But the human head is not round in cross-section, so if you make a felted stiff hat, you really do need an OVAL form of *the right head size* to block it to fit correctly. The foam wig heads can be pared down or padded up with paper. I like the balloon+papier mache idea.

And Kathleen's 22" adult circumference would fall down over the eyes of this 21.25" adult. One Size does NOT fit all. Measure your subject!

re: Put a bird on it!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:19:33 GMT

Thanks for all of the hat form ideas, ladies. I'm just such a make-it person, but I don't want to do any harm to the environment, for sure. I'll have to think on this one.

Kathleen

re: Put a bird on it!

knitty mcknitter — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:47:09 GMT

Has anyone knitted the felted cowboy hat in this book? I have attempted it several times. (To the point where my husband told me not to try it again!!!) I just can't seem to get it to "shape" properly. Any suggestions are appreciated!

re: Put a bird on it!

EllenM@47 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:09:08 GMT

for an easier way to block a hat -- or to keep a hoodie's hood spread out while it dries -- just blow up an oval balloon to the appropriate size and tie the neck tightly. easy, cheap and much better for the environment.

if you want something more permanent, you probably could blow up an oval balloon a little bit smaller, cover it in papier mache, let it dry and then put a couple of layers of plastic wrap over the papier mache to make it waterproof.

re: Put a bird on it!

LyndaC — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:10:55 GMT

What kind of glue works well on styrofoam?

I already have a wigstand for blocking/displaying hats, so am unlikely to build one. But I've had craft projects in the past that called for glueing (gluing?) styrofoam and never found one that worked well.

re: Put a bird on it!

male.eriksson@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:49:28 GMT

Hej!

Om man ser någon ha en sådan här hatt har man rätt att fråga: Har du fått pippi?

Hälsningar

Mamma

re: Put a bird on it!

5280Spinner — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:44:22 GMT

I agree with Ms. Applegate's comments!

re: Put a bird on it!

Fr.Jonathan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:55:12 GMT

One of the more interesting hats I've seen is a Klein bottle hat. A Klein bottle is a shape that has only one side..".A closed surface with only one side, formed by passing one end of a tube through the side of the tube and joining it to the other end."

It's the three-dimensional version of a Moebius strip.

It's a great gift for your physicist friends...

re: Put a bird on it!

Barbara Applegate — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:45:39 GMT

I agree the bird hat is adorable. I just feel uncomfortable about cutting and sanding styrofoam....it is one of the most destructive materials to life on our planet especially if it gets into our water systems. And ironically, birds are one of the animals that suffer greatly when styrofoam pellets or scraps are ingested. I hope all readers of this suggestion, if you must make a styrofoam hat form, will be especially careful to dispose of all scraps responsibly and intentionally. And I see that there are many creative suggestions for hat forms that entirely avoid styrofoam. Bravo! Hats off to you....especially bird hats!

re: Put a bird on it!

Barbara Applegate — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:43:56 GMT

re: Put a bird on it!

SpelledWithaW — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:38:49 GMT

That bird hat is adorable and I promptl. Bought the ebook. I love birds, hats and knitting, too!

re: Put a bird on it!

Lynn G. — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:10:42 GMT

I use an upside down flower pot with a plastic bag over it, to keep the knitting clean. They come in many sizes, so it's easy. You can also add the air cushions that are often used as shipping materials if you need to add more height or width.

re: Put a bird on it!

s5brooks — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:22:33 GMT

I purchased a styrofoam wig form (head) for less than $4 at a beauty supply store. Works well and unlike the balloons one can stick pins in it wherever needed for blocking.

re: Put a bird on it!

FeliciaS — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:18:00 GMT

I use an inflated balloon, set on a wide mouth jar for stability, for blocking hats. This way you can customize the size for each hat recipient.

re: Put a bird on it!

bgvt — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:02:44 GMT

I use a kitchen bowl of about 20 - 21" circumference - free, and always on the shelf - for blocking hats. When I bother to block them at all, that is!