Hat Blocking - part 1

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These coated splatter guards cost me €1.20 from the local cheap import shop. And they're perfect beret blockers.

I'd not thought of using splatter guards before as they're not something we use in our kitchen (way to much hassle to wash up, if you ask me) but when I saw the new silicone one that my Step Mum had bought recently, I saw their potential.

The silicone ones with a side handle would need the handle taken off with a hack saw, filed and then sealed again to stop the water getting in. The silicone ones though are at least a tenner each, and with all that work, I opted for these cheap coated ones with a centre handle at a fraction of the price! The other benefit of the silicone ones is grip - these coated ones won't help the wet Hat stay on quite as well. But that's OK if you leave it alone whilst it's drying.

They let the air through and allow the Hat to dry without turning, and are perfectly flat - no more plate shaped berets! And the 29cm diameter one is spot on for a standard beret. Bingo!

1) Gently stretch the beret over a suitably sized splatter guard, and place in the wool bath.

2) As you lift the beret out from it's soak, gently press to remove excess water then place it between two towels to soak up even more water.

3) Then allow the beret to dry naturally on an airer or even standing against a work surface – wherever it can rest and dry undisturbed. Once the beret is dry, remove the splatter guard.

4) Placing the splatter guard inside the beret before soaking prevents any stretching of the brim and helps maintain shape. Should you place the guard inside the beret after soaking then gently reshape the brim by smoothly it inwards towards the centre as the beret dries flat.

ps/ yup, that's the beret from my previous post blocking!

Support

As always, if you have a question about this technique or need some help with it, leave a comment below! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message but you’re welcome to post in our forums.