Fashionably Forties Felt Tilt Topper

A DIY Project for Gene Marshall & Friends

Gene Marshall

You can easily make stylish hats for your favorite fashion doll diva by using simple objects as a hat block.  Miss Marshall's smartly tailored felt topper uses the bottom of a travel size bottle to form the crown.  

The first thing you'll need is an appropriate bottle for your hat.  You might just find the perfect one in your kitchen or bathroom.  If not, check out the beauty and skincare aisle at your local drugstore.  Make sure the bottle is long enough to allow for the felt to stretch down, and that it is the same size or smaller than your doll's head.  The bottle used for this project measures 4" in circumference and is 3-1/4" long.

Additional Supplies Needed:

• Wool Felt, I used a 9" x 11" piece
• Foil
• Saran Wrap
• A thick rubber band
• A glass or other round object for tracing a circle
• Dressmaker chalk or other marking tool
• Emery board
• Sewing needle and matching thread
• Scissors
• Ruler or tape measure
• Lightweight Buckram, available at most fabric stores or millinery supply shops
• Assorted trims

To begin, prepare your "hat block" by first covering the bottom of the bottle with foil.  Cover the foil with saran wrap as shown above.

Thoroughly wet felt under the faucet with hot water, stretching the felt in all directions.  This will loosen the fibers and make it easier to stretch and smooth.  Blot excess moisture with a paper towel.  Center the felt over the bottle, smooth down sides, and secure with a rubber band.  Position the rubber band approximately 1/2" or more below the position of your cutting line to ensure a smooth finish.  Begin pulling and stretching the excess felt below the rubber band until it is smooth and wrinkle-free above the rubber band.  Take your time.  Once you are satisfied with the results, let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Once the felt has completely dried, measure the desired height of the crown and mark for cutting before removing it from the "hat block" as shown above.  Tip:  If the bottom of your bottle is slightly rounded, place a small flat ruler or other small flat object on top of the crown and measure down with a tape measure and mark the location with chalk.  This will help you keep an even line around the circumference of the crown.  You are now ready to carefully remove the felt from the "hat block" and cut following your marked cutting line.

To keep the cut edge of the crown from stretching, cut a 1/4" wide strip of buckram the length of the circumference of your "hat block" plus approximately 1/2" or slightly more to allow for overlapping.  Stitch to secure as shown above, then slide off the "hat block".

Insert the buckram inside the crown positioning it so that it is even with the cut edge.  Stitch close to the edge as shown above.  Your trim will hide your stitches.  I found this technique makes it easier to attach the crown to the brim.

For the brim, cut a circle of felt in the desired size.  For Miss Marshall's hat, a 2 1/2" diameter circle was used.  Soften the cut edge by lightly sanding the edge with the fine side of an emery board.  Center the crown over the brim and whip stitch the bottom of the crown to the brim with matching thread as shown above.  To indent the top of the crown, I used the round portion of a wooden chess piece available at most craft stores.  You are now ready to trim your hat as desired.  The hat is secured to the hair with a straight pin.  Because wool felt retains its shape, you can easily adjust the brim to the desired look.

Resources:

Wool felt is available from Edinburgh Imports.com.  They offer an excellent weight felt for doll hats and it comes in a wide assortment of yummy colors.  The felt can be purchased by the yard or by the piece.  The piece size is 9 x 11 inches.  Wool felt may also be available at some fabric and craft stores such as JoAnn Fabrics.  Be sure to purchase wool felt, not synthetic craft felt.

Gene Marshall

Costume Credits:  Tweed jacket from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Skirt from Sandra Stillwell.  Handbag from Madame Alexander.  Hat, gloves, scarf, jewels, and styling are from The Couture Touch. 
White Orchid Gene Marshall is from Jamieshow.

Costume Credits for the first photo:  Jacket and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  "Fur" muff is from Integrity.  Brooch from Robert Tonner.  Bracelet from Facets by Marcia.  Scarf from an unknown designer.  Hat, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.
Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall is from Integrity.