Editing Hatmaking (section)

== Special tools and materials used by milliners ==
A wooden [[hat block]] is an intricately carved wood form shaped by skillful woodworkers. Hat blocks are the tools of the trade for milliners in creating a unique hat crown shape. Some of the hat blocks are ensembles with crown and brimmed, while some are only with crown or brim or designed for [[fascinator]]s. Milliners always have an extensive collection of different hat blocks because there are specific hat sizes and custom shapes for every hat block. In the blocking process of a hat, milliners used push pins and a hammer to hold the adjustable string along the crown's collar and the brim's edge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Blocker Shapes and Styles the Hats – Brent Black Panama Hats|url=https://www.brentblack.com/pages/tour2_page_15.html|access-date=2020-10-22|website=brentblack.com}}</ref>

A floral-making iron is a unique iron used by milliners to create different floral petals or leaves as the [[Ornament (art)|ornament]] for hat decoration. In the past, candles were used to heat these irons with various shapes of metal in one set. Nowadays, these irons are electric. A ball-shaped metal heading is commonly used for the curve of floral pastels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=flower making iron|url=https://presentperfectcreations.com/category/flower-making-iron/|access-date=2020-10-22|website=PresentPerfect Creations {{!}} Original hand crafted flower accessories in fine fabrics and genuine leather|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Milliners often use [[buckram]], a stiff cotton (occasionally linen or horse hair) cloth with a loose weave. Millinery buckram is impregnated with a starch which allows it to be softened in water, pulled over a [[hat block]], and left to dry into a hard shape.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hart |first1=Eric |title=The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film, and TV |date=2013 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780240821382 |page=292 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TSx5VSRqbfgC&pg=PA292 }}</ref> Millinery buckram comes in many weights, including lightweight or baby buckram (often used for children's and dolls' hats),<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Copyist |journal=The Illustrated Milliner |date=July 1913 |volume=14 |issue=7 |page=68 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_wlQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA3-PA86 |access-date=8 October 2019 |publisher=The Illustrated Milliner Company }}</ref> single-ply buckram, and double buckram (also known as ''theatrical buckram'' or ''crown buckram'').<ref>{{cite newsletter |last=McMasters |first=Lynn |title=Buckram 101 |journal=Finery |date=1 November 2005 |url=http://www.gbacg.org/finery/2005/buckram-101/ |access-date=8 October 2019 |publisher=Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild}}</ref>