Some hats are so timeless that they will never go out of style. In this tutorial, expert milliner Elena Shvab explains how to block a classic beret from a wool felt cone. Elena’s Barny Beret from her A/W 19-20 Tenera Collection, which has been decorated with a metallic feather, is pictured above.

Variations on these flat-crowned caps have been worn for centuries, with the particular shapes that we know and love originating from the Basque region of the Pyrenees, on the border of France and Spain.

If you are new to blocking, the beret is the perfect shape to start with since you don’t have to worry about forming any peaks and valleys or joining a crown to a brim. And for those experienced blockers out there, you might be interested to see how Elena uses tubular crinoline to reinforce the structure of this hat.

You will need a beret or button block to make this hat. You could use a traditional shape like the Guy Morse-Brown CB50 or, if you are ready for more advanced blocking, try a perching or asymmetrical beret block.

Category: Hats

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