Block of the Month – May 2016

Every month we offer a discount on one of our popular designs and this month it is the saucer block FB40.
Some of our saucer blocks come with a presser to create the dome in the centre, however in this case, the dome is not a simple symmetrical shape that lends itself to that, but rather it is nicely rounded in the centre and elongated out to the side of the block. This creates a great look but also makes the making of a presser a more complex and time consuming job.
We’ve come across a few successful ways of blocking a shape such as this and you’ll have no problem getting great results using one of them. You can use a bag of sand or rice or anything fine and heavy and simply press it into the hollow to keep the sinamay in. You can also add extra weights on the top of that if you feel it needs it. Another way is to use some big sponges – the kind you use for washing the car – and strap them in with some strips of cloth wrapped around the block.
Once you have the sinamay inside the hollow you can tie it in around the side using the string groove included in the price.
Here’s some lovely examples by Ani Stafford-Townsend at the Milliners Guild in Bristol.

fb40a
Ani Stafford-Townsend

fb40b
Ani Stafford-Townsend

 
You will receive 15% discount on the price below when you quote ‘Block of the Month’