Felting: Traditional Bowler Hat */**

Image

Instructor: Liina Veskimägi-Iliste

A bowler hat is a classic, formal men's hat, traditionally featuring a stiff, rounded crown and a narrow, curved brim. Though historically made in black or brown, in this workshop, we'll focus on creating a bowler hat in the national style.

During this workshop, you will craft a national-style bowler hat entirely from natural carded sheep's wool. We will use the wet felting technique, a genuine craft that requires warm water, soap, precision, and a bit of physical strength. The process is divided into two parts over two days.

Day one: You will begin by making the necessary cuts and spreading the wool. Then, you will felt the wool blank using the rolling and rubbing technique. The blank will be washed, pulled onto a specialized hat mold, and carefully shaped.

Day two: The shaped hat is removed from the mold. You will then complete the finishing touches, try on your newly made bowler hat, and admire your handcrafted result!

Meet the instructor

Liina Veskimägi-Iliste has been immersed in the world of felting since 1997. She has continuously refined her skills through various courses and master classes led by experts from Estonia, Finland, England, Japan, Russia, and Sweden. Liina has also showcased her work at exhibitions and open workshops both in Estonia and internationally.

As the founder and owner of the FeltMill brand, she runs a business dedicated to this warm and colorful craft.

Liina has co-authored two books on felting: "Viltimine" with Maaja Kalle, and "Taasleitud vilt" with Liisa Kallam and Liisa Tomasberg.

• Find FeltMill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feltmill
• Visit the FeltMill website: https://feltmill.ee

Image	Image	Image