Contemporary Millinery: Hat Design and Construction

I'm enjoying how this book teaches about millinery for beginners like me, without hitting the wall that requires the user to have lots of blocks, which is what I've found in a couple of others..You only need a basic cheap one which can be bought online. It thinks "outside the box" so anybody can have a go without lots of equipment, but has tips for using traditional blocks too. Some things look a little more complicated, (skill rating included) which I'll try later. It's stuffed with info and I'm looking forward to dipping into this book as I continue to learn. Took a while to arrive, but well worth the wait!

Thoughtfully compiled with a great variation of projects and masses of design advice. I've not seen another book with a chapter dedicated to designing for millinery. I've tried a couple of projects so far and they've been easy to follow with plenty of pictures. The designs are quite modern and chic. I like the little inspiration boxes and ideas for other ways of finishing and styling the hats, as well as the tips for using feathers and quills in various ways. Fits a lot in it's pages. Highly recommended.

This book was a bit more expensive than others of a similar theme but worth every penny considering the way the projects are mapped out - they save a lot of money by using inventive ways to utilise one block throughout, and blocks are pretty expensive! It explains all the basics of hat blocking on the one block and a wooden bowl, and using paper patterns, upcycling and off cuts so nothing goes to waste. Cleverly done and top marks for being eco conscious and inclusive of smaller budgets.

I had high hopes for this book. What I needed was a book that started with hat construction basics like how to block a basic felt fedora or straw hat from capelines and flares, then moving into increasingly more advanced construction techniques; a textbook so to speak. It is impossible to find recently published instructional books about millinery that accomplish this. I think this author could have successfully filled this void by crafting a deep instructional exploration of the craft since she clearly has the experience and does well in her direction. The book starts out with basic information on materials, terms, stitches, etc. However, the projects jump straight into these highly-designed, sculptural confections that do little to walk you through the foundations of millinery construction. I’m not fully understanding the “why’s” of what I’m supposed to be doing. So disappointing. Other things about the book that are confounding are the terribly light and barely-there text font, as well as the visually distracting jewelry (lots of rings) being worn by the hand model. Will be returning.

Pour apprendre à créer des chapeaux (méthode de travail)

I have bought 'Couture hats', a book by marianne jongkind. And wanted to compare it to the level of this book.Well, while this book is good and covers a wide rang of techniques, I felt it lacks a bit of depth. I was expecting bigger, bolder hats, especially after reading Couture hats.

A lovely book with some great techniques. However, the pale grey text makes it quite difficult to read, and really spoiled the experience for me.