Artist Work Spaces: Scout King

Hello there!
I’m a milliner, with my studio carved out of a corner in my East Gloucester shop, Scout Vintage Finds. I hand-craft hats using time-honored millinery techniques and tools. I use wool & fur felt, straw, or buckram to create the basic hat shape, then finish and trim by hand, using vintage trims and findings.
Hats in process:
A few vintage hat blocks. A block determines the shape of the hat, and can be literal (lower left), or perhaps a bit science-fiction-y, like the one on the right. This block will yield a hat that, after being blocked (using intense heat and steam) and dried, will have those side bumps pushed in, with the small creases left by those ridges stitched into place; the lower portion of the hat below the block’s “waist” will fold up and under, to create a finished, inside band. Blocks can demand vision and faith from both the milliner and client, as it’s sometimes a visual leap from block to finished piece. Blocks are virtually always hand carved from hardwoods like maple, walnut, poplar, etc., and are beautiful objects themselves.

These particular blocks belong to Wayne Wichern, a dear friend of mine & master milliner, whose San Francisco workshops I take at every opportunity:
A felt hat starts with this…
…and can become this. I name my hats after vintage cocktails; this is the “Third Rail.”
Inspiration is essential:
I love making hats! When I’m not away making hats for far-flung theatrical productions, I’m making hats at Scout – and when I’m not at Scout, I’m dreaming about making hats.
Scout is open Thursday-Sunday 11-6, and by appointment. I always, always welcome hat chat!

I welcome custom hat orders, and that I offer millinery classes & workshops. 
Scout Vintage Finds is located at 186 East Main St. (across from Beacon Marine);
 I can be reached at (978) 290-0533.

Ciao!
Scout King

www.facebook.com/scoutfinds