Step by step guide to making your very own top hat

[Samilyn]

What a wonderful hat!  I am profoundly impressed by your imagination and skill. 

[Jonny B. Goode]

Thanks for posting this, it gives us all a step-by-step guide should we wish to create our own.

Tell me, about how much were your expenses in creating the hat, from start to finish?

[Sam Watson]

Total cost for this hat: about $6.

The buckram is the most expensive, and I bought a couple yards of it so it would last a long time. I only used a small portion of it, I'd say about $3 worth. I already had wire for the brim, fabric for mulling, fabric for the lining (which was the lining of an old leather jacket I bought from Goodwill so I could use the leather for other projects), rubber cement, and needles and thread. I bought half a yard of fabric from a discount fabric store near me, so that cost about $2. Then all I needed was some ribbon for the hatband and headband for another $1, and that's about it. The hat I made for my wife is a little more expensive, but that's just because I covered hers in silk. From the same discount fabric store. So it probably came to around $9 all told.

[AVW]

This is very tempting...another thing to add to the 'to-do' list for when i find employment!

[jennibell]

It's very impressive, I have never attempted a hat before but I am thinking I may give it a go :-) x

[Delireus]

That hat is great! I'm studying technical theatre and I took a hat making class last semester. We used the same book you did and made ours just like yours. It was a boater hat, so similar to yours, just a shorter band and a wider brim.

I got to tell ya though, making that thing by hand was hell. We used double thick buckram so at times we were sewing through 4 layers of that stuff. Materials we needed for the class included pliers to pull the needle out. We were not allowed to use a machine because, as our professor put it, she wasnt able to when she was younger, so we couldnt either While it was very hard to do, I really want to make a mini topper like yours! Great job 

[SteamLove.com]

Very nice work! ^^

[Sgt.Whatshisname]

The hat is OUTSTANDING
Your skills are very impressive, I'm amazed.

having said that I have to ask,
While wearing that hat, are you able to
grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals?
( put's silly stick down and RUNS....)

[Dr.Nautilus]

Ah!  Dr. Dolittle.  My childhood hero.

My good Mr. Watson, I congratulate you upon a handsome work of haberdashery. To add my thanks for your posts would be superfluous, but I nevertheless tip my hat to you.

Nautilus

[KABAR2]

Mr Watson,

Fantastic work sir! I will have to try my hand at this in the future, I look forward to seeing the vest that goes with it.

[Crickity]

Inspiring results and an incredibly well presented tutorial. I shall be attempting one of my own very soon!

[Flightless Phoenix]

Thank you very much for tis tutorial- it is so deatailed and comprehensive that I feel I would be able to make a hat like yours without the book for instruction.

If I ever have time (maybe at Chrismas) I will purchase some buckram and have a go =]

[Bufo_periglenes]

Adding to the chorus of thanks for posting this: Thank you!  A very inspiring tutorial, and a splendid hat.  ◻]=)

[RATFINKBOYMICAH]

cool hat im going to get that book sometime heres a link to it http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0941082008/ref=olp_tab_new?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&condition=new

[Darkling]

I'm having a go at making one at the moment, mostly following this thread for instructions. So far so good...

[Cubinoid]

Thanks again for posting this. It is wonderful to see it is inspiring others to have a go at making their own hats.
I thought I might post a better picture of the hat I made...

[Zili_Corrigan]

Watson, Sir, that is a gorgeous hat!  Splendid photos of the process, and I love your attention to detail!

[frances]

My dear Sir,

Congratulations on a splendid hat indeed.  I am so enamoured of your success that I would like to add this discussion a a link on my own 'how to make' hat page.  Like this: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/createthemood/HowToMake/1815%20riding%20hat/1815all.html

I wish you more and greater success in your costuming endeavours,

yours truly, your servant

[Bree L.]

An excellent tutorial, Sir! I would love to make one, but not sure if I have the skill.

[jemamus]

Excellent job there!! I'm very inspired to try it on my own.  I think I'll pick up a copy of that book next week!!

[Pro. Millbore Grosling]

bRelent work I plan on making one I do wish to know how difficult was the process

[Sam Watson]

bRelent work I plan on making one I do wish to know how difficult was the process

It's just sewing. I didn't find it difficult at all. Tedious and long? Sometimes, but not difficult. The second hat I made went together much more quickly because I knew what I was doing.

[Cpt. Vanderstorme]

Só much respect!
I'm gointto try make one myself! Although it'd be my 3rd tophat then, maybe it's time for variation

[hardlec]

what wire did you use?

[Rose Inverness]

Awesome!!! I love the fabric choice and clarity of the photos. I think I'll be trying this method of hat-making.... Thank you for sharing it!