A Black Wool Hat

This bust was the inspiration for Alessandro's newest hat. A nearly austere style, it is a rollbrim, but not as wide a one as the ghirlandai of the early 1400s. Its top looks like just a cylinder of fabric that drapes to one side.

To make my version, I washed and machine-dried a yard of suit-weight 100% wool to thicken it up a little. I cut a rectangle about 24"x20", rolled a brim and sewed it into place, and voila! A hat. It took me about a half hour total and it looks perfect.

This page last updated: July 10, 2009

All text copyright Vangelista di Antonio Dellaluna, except where otherwise noted. All portraits are understood to be copyright- free and are presented as research aids only.