Shaping a Bowler Hat Brim

Shaping the brim of a wet felted Bowler hat. This video shows a way to shape the brim of a bowler hat using rope as a forming guide. As long as the hat has been stiffened with shellac, then a piece of rope and a steam iron are all that is needed. Once again, a self taught method that may not be unique or the best way to do things! I have to confess that I steamed the brim flat again after filming this, unpicked and re-stitched the binding as my machine had missed quite a few stitches - a new needle sorted the problem. This hat had already been through it as it was originally the Trilby made in the video showing a hat made straight from the fleece!
Shellac video here:    • How to stiffen a felt hat with Shellac