After looking online for hat blocks I came to a couple conclusions. 1. I cant afford one and 2. nothing out there is shaped like a bycocket. Sooooo...to Home Depot I went. I remember as a kid my dad using this crazy window sealant that expanded hugely and hardened and thought that if I put a garbage bag in to one of my existing bycockets and sprayed the stuff down in there it would become the shape I need, oh no so, wrong. Air could not get through the plastic so it remained the constancy of gloppy glue.
In my next attempt I bought some cheap felt from the fabric store made a simple bycocket pattern and you guessed it, more window sealer. This time however I was successful in creating a shape that could handle lots of pressure yet hold its shape. The felt allowed for enough air to let the foam harden. Check out the photos below, maybe you might be interested in making your own form (totally not period, but a great inexpensive resource for one trying to become more authentic-ish. Ha! Happy hatting!!
In my next attempt I bought some cheap felt from the fabric store made a simple bycocket pattern and you guessed it, more window sealer. This time however I was successful in creating a shape that could handle lots of pressure yet hold its shape. The felt allowed for enough air to let the foam harden. Check out the photos below, maybe you might be interested in making your own form (totally not period, but a great inexpensive resource for one trying to become more authentic-ish. Ha! Happy hatting!!