Millinery 101

I very rarely take classes myself, being too busy with my own schedule of working and teaching, and also of the philosophy that 'if I can teach myself I learn more in the long run'. Well today was an exception. I have wanted to take a hat making class for ages! In January I found a straw hat class taught by Wayne Wichern, through The Sewing Workshop in San Francisco. This is a 2 day class, today being the first, and next Saturday the second and last day. Wayne is a sweet and soft-spoken teacher, with a wonderful sense of style. You can see from the 1st photo that he has an incredible collection of vintage and new hat blocks. (photo only shows a fraction of his bounty!) The first block I fell in love with was a delightful 'circus-like' conical shape. Wayne's response was, "Well I have never done that in straw, but it might be fun..." (Normally this form is done in felt and the top is pushed in for an indented look) I found a lovely 'old lavender' straw and began the process of stretching and tying.

Second, I found another wild shape, one with 6 indentations (kind of like a flu pipe) - I should have known that Wayne would once again say, "Well I have never tried that in straw, but in might be interesting..." (I have a tendency to push the river when creating - and today was no exception...) This one I decided to first use a black straw, but it was too short to make it all the way down, so I added another straw, tobacco colored this time, to the bottom rungs. This is a photo of the mold, I forgot to photograph the tied piece and will post it next week...

For my third hat I decided I should do something more 'normal' and found a lovely little 'cloche' form. Not wanting it to be completly ordinary, I added a few nips and tucks on top. The straw for this one was hand-dipped so it has a lovely half tone to it.

Last photos are of Wayne showing us the details of Millinery, (I loved that he kept stressing that this art-form is very 'low tech'!) and how one really has to use your whole body to make a hat conform to the blocks...

I have a zillian ideas, including how to make my own blocks, (wooden ones are hard to find and generally expensive). On the way home I went to the local drug store and bought some plastic plant holders and tupper-ware I thought might make interesting shapes... My brain is zooming. But I won't be able to try any new inventions until next week... I am off tomorrow to teach my 'Figural Paper Theater' to 15 women in Petaluma! Have a great Sunday!!!

Comments

[Lucille]

Ulla, you do look wonderful in hats. I wonder... will I be seeing you in the tall one, striding down our block, walking the dog?

[Mrs.Staggs]

I am so in awe of you Ulla! Even when you choose to be the student you remain a marvelous teacher...stretching boundaries and imaginations everywhere you go. Wayne Wichern sounds like the perfect traveling companion to accompany you on your flights of imagination in Millinery Land too.
These hats are so wonder full...the lavender one reminds me of my birthday party hat!

[tongue in cheek]

Ulla, you made three hats in two days? And not just any old hat, but those heart- stopper-of-hats!?! I wouldn't be surprise one bit if you did! Brilliant story, I like how you wove it together for us!! Wonder Woman you!!

[Sweet pea]

These hats are so whimsical and fun - it looks like you had a fantastic time, I love the colours that you chose too.

[angela]

oh ulla... that looked like fun. i can only imagine. and a course i prolly would have found myself taking with you. a friend of mine is a milliner, and i know that she buys most of her hat blocks and forms on ebay. and actually for a great price. the vintage forms. but i love the idea of you looking and seeing the creative forms in the day to day things we often take forgranted.

oxo,

ang.

[cally]

Wow, I know we both said we wanted to try millinery but I never thought you'd be straight out the door and doing it within the week!

Wish I could come too. What fun. And I love the idea of you seeing things around you and thinking they'll make perfect hat moulds.

I was doing that today at work, seeing things that would make perfect moulds for papier mache bowls.

[Tara Larsen Chang]

Wow! I guess I've never before considered how hats were shaped and constructed. How fascinating, and what a fun class. Yours look like something out of a funky fairy tale (or possibly, Dr. Suess? :-). Love them.

[Elizabeth]

I just adore your blog, and am in awe of the shop windows at Castle in the Air. My daughters and I have decided to try and make the grandfather clocks this summer. Everything is just so whimsical and ethereal. It's so refreshing

[Rosa]

Ulla, you have the most marvelous eye. And lucky you to be in an area that is so full of the arts (and classes to boot)! Hurrah for you to keep on learning new things. And, just where will you be wearing those lovely head pieces to? I especially love the tall one, reminds me of a wedding cake. You need to find somewhere really special to sport that one! Can't wait for next week's finale! (And as always, thank you for sharing--I hold my breath with anticipation each time I go to your site! Always a joyous surprise in store!)

[maryann]

uh, you didn't make the hats in the photos, did you???? because they are INCREDIBLE and i can't see how you could make all three of them in a day! but if you did, well--you rock! makes me want to learn how to make hats...
hugs,
maryann