Hat Making Starter Pack

Hat Making Starter Pack

Everything You Need to Begin Your Hat Making Journey

Overview

Hat making, or millinery, is a creative and rewarding craft that allows you to design unique headwear for any occasion. This starter pack brings together the essential tools and materials chosen by professional milliners to give you the best possible foundation for your first hat.

What's Included

• Hat Blocks (x2): One open crown dome (57cm or 58cm recommended) for shaping the crown, and one large Lazy Susan brim block — ideal for beginners as it rotates easily during steaming and flattening.
• Millinery Sewing Kit: Includes strong millinery pins, hand sewing needles, needle threader, thimble, pliers, tape measure, awl, non-stick ironing mat and sharp fabric scissors.
• Hat Stretcher: A versatile tool that can extend a crown block or stretch a finished hat to size.
• Felt Capeline: Wool felt base (pre-stiffened or non-stiffened) — the most common starting material for shaped hats.
• Millinery Stiffener: Required if using a non-stiffened capeline to help your hat hold its shape.
• Petersham Ribbon: For a neat, comfortable sweatband finish inside your hat.
• Slip Knot Set: Includes nylon cord and instructions for achieving a crisp finish between crown and brim during blocking.
• Horse hair hat brush: Maintain the pristine condition and elegant nap of your felt hat with our premium Horse Hair Hat Brush. 

Getting Started

Begin with a simple style such as a cloche or pillbox. Use your hat block to shape the felt or straw, securing it with pins and steam. Once set, wire the brim for structure, trim any excess material, and finish the edges. Decorate with your chosen trimmings for a personal touch.

Tips for Beginners

• Start with wool felt — it's forgiving, easy to shape, and widely available.
• Always steam your material before blocking to make it pliable.
• Use your slip knot cord snugly around the crown block for a clean crown-to-brim join.
• Take a beginner's millinery class for hands-on guidance and technique.
• Practice on inexpensive materials before working with premium fabrics.

Why Choose This Pack

Curated by B Unique Millinery, this starter pack removes the guesswork from sourcing your first tools. Every item has been selected for quality, usability, and relevance to the beginner milliner — so you can focus on creating, not searching.

Specifications

• Suitable for: Beginners and hobbyists
• Hat block sizes: 57cm or 58cm open crown dome
• Material: Wool felt capeline (included)
• Pack contents: Blocks, sewing kit, stretcher, capeline, stiffener, petersham, slip knot set and lots more