Spring 2019

Build Your Own Custom Hat Workshop

I am excited to invited you to join us for a 2 day workshop in Joseph, Oregon at Prairie Mountain Folk School where you will have the opportunity to learn how to build yourself a custom designed and custom fitted lifetime quality hat. Participants will learn basic hat making skills using original, early 1900s hatters equipment and using methods that have been passed down from generation to generation of hatters.

I have had the distinct honor of apprenticing with several master hatters over the course of my development as a hatter. In this workshop I will be teaching you the fundamentals of hatmaking which I have absorbed over the years, and the unique techniques I have developed through my own trials. The workshop is limited to 5 participants each session so that I can give proper one-on-one instruction and attention to each participant. Together we can create the hat of your dreams which will last you not only your lifetime, but will be passed on to the next.

Each participant will get to choose the color of their 100x Premium beaver felt, what they would like to stamp on their sweat band in gold foil, the color of silk liner, style of hat shape they will be creating, and participants will build a custom leather hatband to adorn their handcrafted creation. Participants will also be taught basic hat maintenance tricks and at home DIY skills.
 

Workshop Cost $1300

The cost of workshop covers all materials for 100x Premium Beaver hat and leather hatband (retails for $1000) two days of instruction and beverages.

Part of the joy in offering this workshop in Joseph is sharing an immersive experience in a remote area of Oregon that is very special to me. I find remote areas like Joseph very inspiring and a great place to take a creative retreat. Nestled between the Wallowa mountain range and Hells Canyon, Joseph is 4 hours from any airport so for those traveling from other areas of the country, you will need to rent a car to get to this mountain town. For those who make the effort, you will see it is well worth it.

Due to the demand for limited spots, refunds are not possible within 12 weeks of the workshop date. It takes months of preparation to have all the materials and measurements I need to help you build a custom hat. As such, in the case of an emergency if you are not able to attend, I will build your custom hat and ship it to you.

The first 10 people to apply via the link below and fill out a questionnaire will be sent invoices. Once the invoice is paid, your spot in the workshop is reserved. I am only able to offer 20 spots a year and spots can not be reserved prior to registration.
The kitchen/ library at the Jennings Hotel.

When & Where

Session 1- March 27th & 28th

Session 2- March 30th & 31st

Our day will begin at 9 am and generally we end at 6 pm. We will take an hour lunch each day and beverages will be provided.
This workshop is taking place at Prairie Mountain Folk School in Joseph, Oregon. I can’t imagine a more inspiring, rejuvenating and immersive setting for this workshop! I truly look forward to creating together in this special place on earth.

Accommodations

The cost of the workshop does not include lodging. The Jennings Hotel exists in the same building where Prairie Mountain Folk School operates currently. It’s a lovely place to stay with a sauna, a communal kitchen with an incredible library and record collection. Part of why I return to Joseph each year is for the relaxation and rejuvenation of staying at the Jennings. I recommend booking your stay early, as rooms are limited.

There are several other B&Bs in Joseph and in nearby Enterprise, just be sure to arrive the night before the workshop as we start early at 9 am.

Within walking distance of the folk school there are many great cafes and restaurants to eat at, and if you are staying at the Jennings Hotel there is a communal kitchen to cook for yourself. Be sure to leave some time to take a drive into the Zumwalt Prairie, or walk around Wallowa Lake.
“I signed up for the workshop for three reasons.  1. I wanted my dream hat.  2. I wanted to learn a little about another traditional craft that could offer me some new skills/materials for my leatherwork.  3. I was hoping to have an experience that would provide some restoration to the creative part of me that I have been neglecting.  I walked away with everything I hoped for, in spades!  The energy from that weekend spent with you all is still with me, & has had a powerful effect on me.  At the risk of sounding dramatic & cliche, I think I will look back on it some day as a turning point.”
-Kambra, Fall Workshop 2017
 

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ

Due to the overwhelming response to these workshops, I must differentiate who this workshop is for, and who it is not for.

Many novice hatmakers have reached out about joining these workshops. One day I will take on an apprentice or apprentices in the way that I was taught, but that is not what these workshops are. These workshops are an opportunity to share a rare experience for folks to build something they will wear for the rest of their lives.

This workshop is not for novice, aspiring or working hatmakers, please respect my intentions in offering this to people for which this will be a very out-of-the-ordinary experience for.

If you are a novice, aspiring or working hatmaker interested in apprenticing, please email me directly at catehavstad@gmail.com and we can discuss this for the future. The format, pricing and structure of me teaching other hatters will be very different from this experience. All applicants will be asked to sign a non-competition agreement before being accepted.