Using Wire For Hat Making

Wire is a millinery necessity; it is used to reinforce hat edges, give shape to fascinators and to create all kinds of hat decorations. There are a number of different kinds of millinery wire to choose from. Specialist covered millinery wire comes in a range of gauges (thicknesses) and colours.

Projects, E-magazines and Articles About Wire

  • Project

    Wired Crin Brim

    Make a semi-transparent hat brim out wired diamond pattern crin.

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 207 – June 2023

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 202 – January 2023

  • Project

    Wide Wire Headband

    Make a custom millinery headband to get the perfect fit for any bespoke fascinator or headpiece.

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 201 – December 2022

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 200 – November 2022

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 199 – October 2022

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 188 – November 2021

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 187 – October 2021

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 180 – March 2021

  • Project

    Crinoline Veil

    Create a wired crinoline veil and attach it to a hat.

  • Project

    Felt Holly Leaves

    Decorate your hats using festive holly leaves made with craft felt.

  • Project

    Feather Mount

    Bind goose nagoire and coque feathers to create a handmade feather mount.

  • Post

    How to Keep Your Hat On

    Millinery techniques and tools for keeping hats and fascinators on heads.

  • Project

    Millinery Wire Headband

  • Project

    Windowpane Sinamay Hat Brim

    Make a windowpane sinamay brim with a hidden wire.

  • Project

    Custom Sinamay Hat Crown

    Learn to block and cut a custom sinamay crown for your hats and fascinators.

  • Project

    Edwardian Style Hatpin

    Recreate a vintage-inspired, hat-shaped, Edwardian hatpin and decorate it with rhinestones.

  • Post

    Millinery Wire FAQs

    Millinery wire is one of the most basic materials in hat making and has a multitude of uses. It comes in a range of sizes and materials, so knowing what kind to use for a specific project can be confusing at first.

  • Project

    Downton Abbey Hair Pin

    Make a 1920s style bridal hair pin inspired by Lady Mary of Downton Abbey.

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 155 – February 2019

  • Project

    Feather Peony

    Make a peony flower out of curled nagoire goose feathers.

  • Project

    Beaded Flower Stamens

    Use Rigilene boning to make curled and beaded stamens for finishing off your handmade flowers.   

  • Project

    Freeform Fascinator

    Sinamay pieces, with wired and bound edges, can be turned into wonderfully striking and unique freeform fascinators.

  • Project

    Three-Legged Sinamay Base

    Make a wired sinamay freeform fascinator base.

  • Project

    Sinamay Saucer

    Make a simple sinamay saucer without a hat block.

  • Project

    Straw and Sinamay Hat

    Block and sew a wide-brimmed straw and sinamay hat.

  • Project

    Wiring a Sinamay Edge

    Learn how to wire and bind a sinamay edge by hand, using a practice piece to develop your millinery skills.

  • Project

    Biot Feather Bird

    A novel way to use up leftover feathers, these little birds make a perfect hat trim or can be attached directly to a hair band.

  • Project

    Lace Butterfly Fascinator

    This pretty lace butterfly fascinator, complete with matching hair band, is the perfect headpiece for a flower girl.

  • Project

    Vegan Fabric Feather

    Wired vegan fabric feathers for trimming hats.

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 142 – January 2018

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 87 – June 2013

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 85 – April 2013

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 32 – November 2008

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 19 – October 2007

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 17 – August 2007

  • HATalk e-Magazine

    Issue 8 – November 2006

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Enjoy HATalk

Unlimited Access to Hat Making Projects, Monthly e-Magazines and More

$4.99 / month with a 14-day free trial

This Month’s HATalk Give Away

Win a Ballesté Poupeé

This Month’s HATalk Give Away

Win a Ballesté Poupeé