Can anyone recommend a Stateside supplier for felt for making a tiara/kidaris? And what weight to get?
Dan make it yourself its very easy, a hat could be made with maybe an hours work with some wool, glycerine soap and a suitable shape cut from a piece of lino floor covering as the former and a mat of some kind to roll it in... google felt making
This will also enable you to make it in one piece with No seams if required.....
You can make slippers, socks, boots, insoles, helmet liners, Hats in almost any shape, bags etc etc..
I'm looking into it, but I don't have faith in my ability to do a decent job of it.
Seams aren't an issue for me, I worked out my pattern for flat fabric. But is making your own felt really the standard way of doing it?
Dan, when it was time that they cut the wool from the sheep here in Greece, and they usually throw it away, i just pulled a handful out of a dirty pile, washed it a little and then used soap for the dishes, and rubbed it with my hands, after laying it in two layers. It became beautiful felt in like five minutes. It's really very easy. With perhaps four layers you will have the thickness of felt you need for a hat. The most difficult part is to estimate how much it will shrink, and make your initial pattern accordingly bigger. I have heard that about 30% bigger is about right, but a test piece will convince you.
There are indeed many many tutorials on youtube.
Khaire
Giannis