I too have several hat patterns. I keep telling myself I'll soon get started on trying to make one of them. I imagine millinery sites would have ample info on the art of hatmaking, imagine all the beautiful embellishments one can add to a hat!
Yaya

I've made hats but never with wire framing.I've made the baseball type and several different kinds for little girls to keep the sun off their faces.I use butterick and McCalls patterns that i've had for years.Made the gs shirts with matching hats for several years when they were growing up,and hats and dresses for the girls.
Kathi

I did a short millinery course last summer. A lot of the stitches are common to hand sewing of clothes or embroidery, eg the wire is attached with a buttonhole stitch.

If you enjoy hand sewing you'll probably like making hats.

We made a pillbox style (think Jackie Kennedy in the 60s), but mine looked more like a fabric covered cake tin! Very neat, attractive object, but not really something you'd put on your head in public.

See if you can find any millinery workshops in your area, even one day will introduce you to the techniques.

Best of luck,
AJ

Played with hat making a long time ago, I think the process is the same as it was 100 years ago :P went googleing and found this site that teaches the method from the 1920s really neat and interesting things. check it out, rene

Here is a link that might be useful: Millinery sewing

Boy, I had no idea it is so involved!!! Thanks, Rene, for the very interesting link. When/if I make one, I'll be sure to post it.

AJ, I did make a Jackie K type pillbox in 1968, but nothing like this Vogue pattern.

Thanks, everyone.

Thanks for the link to millinery sewing. Vintage sewing.com is a very informative website.......so much basic info. A bit dated and somewhat comical to read, but enjoyable just the same.

Many years ago, back in the early 60's I recall making my grandmother a "pillbox" type hat out of white velvet. I smocked it and put pearls all over it. It was made on a buckram base. She was thrilled with it.

Remember all of that smocking? Guess I thought it was pretty neat, way back then.

All the best,
Nanna