Have you worked with leather? - Learn How To Make Hats Online | Hat Academy Millinery Courses

Hi, I am currently working th…

2025-07-13T21:18:26.171Z

Hi,

I am currently working through the fabulous veiled leather percher course by Sophie Allport, it is excellent and she teaches you how to block leather. She covers all the steps for blocking leather and indeed you use a button block so this could work out well for you. Sophie also covers how to make the percher frame, the veiled brim and the leather trims, so you receive a lot of tuition and can use the other skills and techniques to trim your button.

Perhaps there are other lessons/courses on hat academy that show blocking with leather within studio plus.

My mother is a seamstress and…

2020-02-14T03:00:45.052Z

My mother is a seamstress and she has several sewing machines. For leather works, she uses a Tippmann Boss machine, which is extremely strong and punches through even very thick leather. https://www.amazon.com/Tippmann-AR-Leather-Sewing-Machine/dp/B0769DR7RC/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Tippmann+BOSS&qid=1581649147&sr=8-4 I think this advanced machine is more for guys who do leather work and not for hobbyists. In addition to Tippmann, she has a Janome MB-4S embroidery machine she is very excited about. All our relatives, my wife, have named clothes: hats, scarfs, handkerchiefs etc. Such unique outfits always become highly-appreciated presents.

not yet.

2019-03-21T09:59:35.594Z

not yet.

I've worked with leather only…

2019-02-06T15:45:54.177Z

I've worked with leather only a couple of times and have soaked the leather in a bucket of warm water. I then stretched the leather over a wood block in the traditional millinery manner. I didn't find any spotting or disappointment with the leather. It made it much easier to stretch. Maybe you might want to wet a small piece of the leather and see how it reacts? If you decide to soak it just remember to leave it in the water long enough to wet it thoroughly and don't wring it out as you will put a lot of wrinkles into it by doing so.

I have done straight up leath…

2018-09-10T15:30:40.472Z

I have done straight up leather but have found the hillside works the best. I soak it is water solvable stabilizer for about a half hour then stretch tightly to block. This is a tough leather so be prepared to sweat and a little cussing.

Good luck

LISA

You can immerse in water....n…

2017-09-06T23:32:01.058Z

You can immerse in water....no problem.

Dear Vivienne, Since your me…

2013-11-14T02:10:25.571Z

Dear Vivienne,

Since your message in April, hopefully you have had a chance to experiment with blocking the leather. Recently we had a shipment of Thermoplastics arrive at our showroom and have since been playing around with the different materials. We are really excited to report that blocking the thermoplastic called "Wonderflex" was really easy and it provided a very solid and smooth base (see images below - sorry not sure why the images are rotated!). We then blocked the leather seperately before combining the two. We also supply soft Italian Nappa Leather now and found that really easy to block. In addition we offer calf leather which is not as soft and may require dampening/water to soften the leather whilst blocking. Hope that helps and we wish you all the best!

To view Wonderflex & other Thermoplastics, please click HERE.

To view Leather, please click HERE.

Best wishes, :-) House of Adorn

I use Lefflers all the time,…

2013-05-29T21:49:28.605Z

I use Lefflers all the time, Sue is great let her know if you've ordering unseen that ou want .5-.8ml leather if blocking. It needs to be as thin as possible. X Jill

I have been looking for suppl…

2013-05-29T10:14:56.478Z

I have been looking for suppliers recently also, haven't tried them yet, but I did find the following: http://www.leffler.com.au

Hi Megan Kinch Trading https:…

2013-05-28T00:29:48.792Z

Hi Megan

Kinch Trading https://plus.google.com/101412005402463703022/about?gl=au&hl=en in Adelaide is really good and I believe they send all over.

Caroline is a really nice person, and very helpful - she's worked with Milliners for many years, knows her stuff and has a range of leathers.

Other than that, all I know is to ask for 'garment quality' leather and you get something soft and pliable - but I guess there's a great range in quality even in that descriptor!

Good luck.

PS, I've been blocking over wool felt, but I'm going to try Jill's suggestion of damping the leather and blocking straight onto buckram :)