Captain Robert Rackam

I recommend a Western Hat blank for Larger sizes. with a Western blank you will have more material to work with.

Thanks much for all th' compliments. Th' buttons are from an A.C. Moore "jewelry line called sea life. They are actually locket pendants, drilled through the back, I left them so they still open. Gertie, I would be honored to make such hats for others, let me know what you are looking for and I'll see what I can do.

Thankyou M'Lady. I'll soon be posting some pics of the new hat I made for my wife.

Thanks much, It looks like I figured it out.

This is my newest creation. I've really started to go nuts making hats. This one is wool felt (Hat body from Hats by Leko) cotton trim, all hand sewn and hand blocked and shaped by me. I patterned it after paintings I've seen of George Washington from the American Revolution. Tell me wat you think mates. Front view Side view Rear view Detail of button Detail of hat band Me wearing said hat.

I just recently bought several hat blanks from Hats by Leko. I havent done anything with them yet but the blanks seem to be of good quality. Don't expect the full 6 inches on the brim though, more like 5.6 inches. If you are going with Brown or black I would probably order a western hat blank and pull the extra crown material into the brim.

Does anyone know the names of some of the vendors that have been to Fells point in the past? I live right near there and I'm going. I'm just curious as to how big this event is.

Thanks

Don't know if I'm ready to make my own felt yet, but if things go well with the hat blanks, I may get up the nerve to try it.

Just wanted to show my newest hat creation. Not period by a long shot, but I like it. This one was made by sandwiching together 2 pieces of flat craft felt. I wanted to see how my hats would look before delving into serious all wool hat construction. So now I just have to wait to get my blanks from Hats by Leko and I can get to work on many more. Let me know what you think.

So I just ordered 5 hat blanks from Hats by Leko (colors: Merlot, Gold, Rust, Black, Dark Green) Made my own hat block and plan on trying to create some really impressive head pieces. Thank you t all that advised me. will keep you posted on my progress.

Blackbead-----I't's a tricorn same as in my avatar pic, thanks for the compliment. Almost finished with a second hat will post those pics soon

Hats by Leko seems to be what I'm looking for. I still want to try this from flat felt, but I like the colorchoices from this place. All of the other places have basic brown, black and grey but Hats by Leko has many more colors. I think I'm going with Merlot and Gold and perhaps an Avocado. I'm sure thay are not period colors but I think they will look awesome.

Thank you for the advice GOF. I think I'm at least heading in the right direction.

Thanks for the information. I already knew about hat blanks, hoods, capelines and the like. I'm looking to buy flat felt that I plan to form into a tricorn. Ive already done this with craft felt. Glued pieces together and it came out pretty good, but a little too hard due to the glue. (See pic below) So now I wish to try my hand with Hatters felt (this still may not be the correct term). Felt that I expect is 2-3 times thicker than craft felt.

Does anyone know where someone can puchase hatters felt. Websites, addresses and phone numbers welcome. Also, since I have never puchased hatters felt before, how much does this stuff cost?

Thank you for all your comments!!! Just started work on a new green hat.

I did block it as well, took a few weeks off and on. Would have probably taken 2 days if I could have worked on it straight through. Actually Brown felt though the lighting does make it look a might purpley. Rob

My "Jolly Roger" painted on a piece of copper. I used bleach to get the patina in the copper.

Ok I fixed the pictures

I made this hat from flat felt and I am looking for opinions on it's appearance. All comments welcome.

Ok, First there is a great collection available on iTunes called Rogues Gallery that contains Mingulay Boat song by Richard Thompson (also check out his album 1000 years of popular music), My Son John by John C. Reilly, Blood Red Roses by Sting, and Lowlands Low by Bryan Ferry among many other great recordings. After that I really Love a band that plays at the Renn Faire here in Maryland called the Pyrates Royale. Search for them them they have a websit wher one can purchase music. Here's a list of some of my favorite songs by them. Essequibo River Heart of Oak High Barbary Being a Pirate You Don't Know Jack Also, if you like Metal there's this German band from the 80's called Running Wild they are all over Youtube many of their songs are Piratey but myself I like "Under Jolly Roger." And of Course "A Pirate Looks At Forty"