Learn how to make your own fedora in this 16hr/4wk, hands-on millinery course curated for all abilities.

An immersive 16hr/4-week hat-making course curated and taught by acclaimed milliner Virna Pasquinelli (member of The British Hat Guild, QEST scholar and millinery teacher at King's Foundation), where you will learn and apply a range of intricate crafting techniques to create your own unique seasonal headpiece.

This course is perfect introduction to millinery, teaching the fundamentals of felt hats, from forming and wiring to create a true timeless classic.

During this 4-week you’ll explore the art of crafting stylish felt headwear like trilbies and fedoras.

You’ll learn a variety of essential techniques, including:

Felts Preparation and Blocking: Gain hands-on experience in preparing and blocking felt into shape, creating a sturdy base for your winter hats.

Wiring and Petersham Head Fitting: Learn how to wire your hats and add a perfectly fitted petersham ribbon for a polished and comfortable finish.

Trims and Gilding Techniques: Discover how to create unique ribbon trims, felt-based trims, how to add gilding details to enhance your designs and much more.

Each week will demonstrate uniquely specialised techniques, offering you the chance to build on your skills progressively.

To maximise your time in class, students are encouraged to complete some hand-stitching at home, allowing for more focused instruction and experimentation during each session.

You will finish the course with at least one complete hat comprising a crown and a brim.

What’s Included

Full Access to Equipment and Studio Facilities: All tools and equipment needed for hat-making will be provided, ensuring you have everything required to bring your designs to life.

Some Materials Provided: You’ll have access to wire, stiffeners, threads, glues, and other essentials, with additional supplies available for purchase if needed. With a choice of felt pre-ordered at cost.

In-Depth Demonstrations and Expert Support: Benefit from comprehensive demonstrations on new techniques each week, along with personalised guidance from an experienced instructor.

What to know

This is your hat, your idea and your creative journey.

You won’t be given a set design that everyone in the class has to follow. During the course, you will develop and design your own felt hat with my guidance and support.

You might choose to create a classic fedora, a cowboy inspired shape, a wide brimmed hat or something much more dramatic and individual. We’ll look at shape, proportion and design together and I’ll help you turn your ideas into something you can make.

I’ll teach you the essential techniques of felt hat making and guide you through each stage, but there is plenty of room for you to make creative decisions and develop your own style.

Every student is different, and every finished hat will be unique.

Description supplied by the event organiser.