Let’s weave a cattail hat!
Day 1: Oct 25th from 10am-4pm
Pick your hat mold - bring a set-sized hat that fits you well…this can easily be a baseball hat. *No elastic or knitted.
Select, cut and weave your spokes
Transition your start onto your mold
SHORT LUNCH BREAK (please plan to bring your own lunch to stay on site)
Weave, weave, weave!
Day 2: Oct 26th from 10am-4pm (or when you finish)
Come back refreshed and ready to weave
Flip your hat and start your brim
SHORT LUNCH BREAK (please plan to bring your own lunch to stay on site)
Add the border of your choice - I can share several options
Add a hat band - time permitting
Model your new wonderful all natural hand woven hat!
SIZING - Each student will be using one of my own layered extruded polystyrene molds. I have made over a dozen molds with a variety of circumferences, heights and slight shape differences. I will do my best to match each student with the mold most suited to them. Expect your finished hat to be within 1-2 sizes of your head…always leaning on too big than too small! Adding hat spacers will help adjust for any size issues and for comfort - there are many, many options out there for sizers. I have self-adhesive cork options available for students.
SKILLS - I chose this specific hat project to keep the skill set simple and to leverage a plentiful and easy-to-work with material. There are no pre-requisite skills. We will be weaving the hat directly on to the mold vs. “blocking” which is used for straw or felt hats so specific shapes/shaping is limited.
NATURAL HATS - A natural/rustic hat, like we will make in this class, though beautiful and unique will never be as durable or long lasting as a traditional “straw” hat. When we think of a Panama hat or many straw hats, they are made of a very tightly woven straw called toquilla straw…which is actually a PALM LEAF! Besides toquilla straw, raffia, hemp, sisal, several palms, and wheat straw are also used for making tightly woven and durable hats. They are often treated with stiffeners, lacquers, and other products to extend their lifespan and increase durability. Even with all this, natural fiber hats are still prone to becoming brittle and breakage if left to dry out and not stored properly. Our hats will be a wonderful experience and an ephemeral gift lasting a few years with gentle care, not left in hot cars, or accidently stepped on. Unlike felt/wool or animal hide hats that can last for decades, traditionally it would have been common to weave or purchase a new plant fiber hat every few years.
Age minimum: 18
Class size max: 6 (4 student minimum)
Class registration is NON-REFUNDABLE. However, if you want to sell or give your spot to a friend, I’m happy to welcome someone else in your place. I’m unable to support refunds or credits.