East Village Hats is a small team of milliners in New York that hand craft hats using traditional tools and methods. They offer workshops for all skill levels and have a wide selection of materials and blocks, some dating back over a century.
Unleash your creativity and learn the art of transforming merino wool into seamless sculptural forms, perfect for making hats, bags, and vessels. Join us for a magical felting workshop where you'll create strong and texturally interesting fabric, with no skills necessary. All materials provided.
Next start date:
Sunday, Apr 7th, 10am–5pm Eastern Time
Learn the secrets of creating beautiful cloche hats in this unique workshop. Discover the art of draping and finishing as you design your own windproof and stylish hat. Perfect for those with hand sewing skills looking to master the couture cloche.
Next start date:
Saturday, Apr 13th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time
Discover the secrets of innovative millinery in this hands-on workshop at East Village Hats. Learn how to create stunning cocktail hats using scraps and old hats, and leave with a set of tricks to unleash your creativity. No skills are necessary and all materials are provided.
Next start date:
Monday, Apr 8th, 10am–5pm Eastern Time
Discover the art of hat-making as you learn to block and finish your own felt hat. Unleash your creativity and create a stylish addition to your wardrobe with the guidance of expert instructors. Basic hand-sewing skills are a must for this workshop.
Next start date:
Saturday, Apr 20th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time
Unlock your creativity and add stunning decorative details to your woolen masterpieces with the ancient art of needle felting. Discover the beauty of sculptural forms and learn to paint with wool in this hands-on class at East Village Hats. No skills are necessary and all course materials are included.
Next start date:
Monday, Apr 15th, 10am–1pm Eastern Time
Discover the art of sculpting with thermoplastic and silk in this 2-day workshop with Maor Zabar. Create stunning three-dimensional headpieces inspired by Japanese Ikebana and unleash your creativity with this innovative technique. Join us at East Village Hats and let your imagination come to life.
Next start date:
Sunday, Jun 9th, 10am–6pm Eastern Time
In this class learn to cut sew and drape a soft and comfortable turban. This technique works with almost any fabric and can be styled in many different ways, creating the ultimate bad hair day solution! All materials included, hand sewing skills a must, bring your own fabric if you like.
Next start date:
Sunday, May 26th, 3:30–6:30pm Eastern Time
Unlock the secrets of the Sina-Silk technique and create wearable works of art in the Silk and Sinamay Sculpting Masterclass at East Village Hats. Discover the unique method of combining these fabrics to unleash their full potential, and learn how to manipulate them into stunning three-dimensional creations. No experience is necessary - just bring your creative eye!
Next start date:
Sunday, Jun 2nd, 10am–6pm Eastern Time
Discover the art of combining silk and sinamay in this unique taster class. Join us as we explore the Sina-Silk technique developed by Maor Zabar, and learn how to manipulate this new material to create stunning Waterlily flowers. All you need is a creative eye -- materials included.
Next start date:
Saturday, Jun 1st, 9am–12pm Eastern Time
Julia Emily Knox is a English Milliner, trained in New York, who heads up a small team of milliners at East Village Hats, where they hand craft the hats on the premises, using traditional tools, methods and materials. Julia was trained as a milliner at FIT and joined Barbara Feinman Millinery in 2012, taking over the business when it moved to it's current location in 2016.
Barbara Feinman Millinery, which was established in 1998, became East Village Hats in 2016. East Village Hats is carrying on a valued tradition of local independent business in a world where this is ever more rare.
In the store workshop, surrounded by an incredible selection of felts, straws and trims, the work is done on a sewing machine which dates back to the industrial revolution. The block collection, on which the hats are molded, has been built over a period of 25 years since Julia's predecessor, Barbara Feinman, first started her career as a milliner, and includes blocks from more than a century ago, as well as from every decade since. Julia has continued to grow the selection, adding blocks of her own design.
East Village Hats offers workshops aimed at sharing hat making skills with the community. The classes are taught for all levels, absolute beginners can take introduction courses while more experienced craftsmen and milliners will find all kinds of skill building workshops by a variety of teachers.
Reviews of East Village Hats
(4.7-star rating across
35 reviews)
Make Your Own Fedora
Reviewed by Frank K. on 2/18/2024
I learned how to make a hat and how to sew and what it takes to make a quality hat.
A very small place and very knowledgeable hat maker!!!
Make Your Own Fedora
Reviewed by Mara N. on 10/28/2019
Julia is such a great teacher ! I had an amazing time this past weekend learning how to make fedoras.
Wet Felting
Reviewed by Maria M. on 10/7/2019
This was a totally enjoyable experience. Tierre Taylor is an excellent instructor. It was a fun day in every way...and I made a beautiful cloche.
Make Your Own Straw Hat
Anonymous review on 6/30/2019
A really interesting class and fun to walk away with a wearable summer hat
Make Your Own Fedora
Reviewed by Philip M. on 5/13/2019
Amazing all-round!!! Julia Knox is the best!!!!!!!!
Make Your Own Fedora
Reviewed by George R. on 2/11/2019
Lot of fun - creative experience, excellent teacher, personal attention given to each student. Will,do it again.
Fascinator Workshop
Reviewed by Renee B. on 10/1/2018
The class was great! The instructor walked us through the steps while allowing us to be creative.! Nice claas. I can’t wait to do take another class.
Sinamay Draping Masterclass
Anonymous review on 9/27/2018
The class was very informative, but it could have been a bit more organized.
There was limited work room.
By the end of the class we had all bonded and it was a very nice experience.
Cost was slightly high.
Flower Making
Anonymous review on 7/24/2018
I love the class, the teacher was nice !
Turban Making
Reviewed by Amelia R. on 4/22/2018
Wonderful class. I really had a lot of fun and the instructor provided practical easy to remember ways to take what I learned in class and repeat it on my own at home. Looking forward to taking her additional classes.
Sinamay Masterclass with Bridget Bailey
Reviewed by Catherine Z on 4/2/2018
I love this shop! Not only do I own numerous hats from here, but I have also attended many workshops on millinery construction that have been so helpful in my work as a costume designer. The workshops are small so the individual attention is great! Some are taught by the talented shop owner, Julia Knox, and some are taught by guest milliners from all over the world. If you get a chance to attend the workshops, you won't be disappointed! It will also make you appreciate the amount of work that goes into making a custom hat versus the price.
Sinamay Masterclass with Bridget Bailey
Reviewed by Kate P on 4/2/2018
Sometimes a lady is in need of a hat.
And this classic millinery shop located in the heart of the East Village is my go to spot when I in fact do need a hat!‰Û_ I always feel like I've stepped into a different century when I go to visit. And I feel like more than a lady when I place her unique master pieces on my little head.
Make Your Own Fedora
Reviewed by Clevel R. on 3/19/2018
The instructor and the course was awesome! I learned a lot and I intend to take another course asap!
Fascinator Workshop
Reviewed by Kat F. on 3/3/2018
The class was so much fun! I didn't come in with a specific idea and Julia helped me come up with a fabulous design. There are so many great trims and supplies to choose from! She even stayed late to help us all finish our fascinators. We all left with a really great piece and everyone's was so unique. I hope to take more classes here soon.
Floral Sinamay Workshop
Reviewed by Cristina D. on 10/9/2017
My only regret is that there wasn't enough time!
Draping in Felt
Reviewed by Erin on 4/12/2017
I wanted a fun NYC activity to share with my visiting mom, and Julia's draping class was it! We left wearing two beautiful, professional-looking hats, and we gained great insight into what goes into the craft itself. The class size is small, and everyone receives personalized attention, so don't worry if you have trouble with a technique or need a second opinion. Julia is so helpful and shares her best tips and millinery knowledge with everyone. The class is set up around a single table for easy communication with your fellow participants as well, so you might even meet another hat-loving friend in this two day workshop. Highly recommended!
Draping in Felt
Reviewed by anita on 3/30/2017
I planned a trip to NYC to take this class, and I'm so glad I did! Julia enthusiastically (and patiently!) shared her knowledge and expertise. It was so much fun to see the different creations participants came up with using the same materials and instructions--every hat was truly custom. I left the workshop with two cute hats and the inspiration, skills and information I need to make more.
Draping in Felt
Reviewed by Catherine on 3/13/2017
The class was so much fun, incredibly informative and a wonderful networking opportunity! I love the hats I made and think it was worth every dime! You receive so much personal attention while working on your project. I already signed up for a second class of draping in felt!!!
Fascinator Workshop
Reviewed by Allison S. on 1/17/2017
This class was incredible! Julia went above and beyond to make sure that all of the students walked out of the class with a beautiful fascinator tailored to their individual tastes. In fact, she stayed nearly an hour late to help put the finishing touches on the fascinators so they looked professional. Definitely check out the store website for additional class listings and news.
Students who have taken classes at East Village Hats have had overwhelmingly positive experiences. They have praised the instructors for their expertise and personalized attention, as well as the enjoyable and creative atmosphere of the classes. Many students have commented on the practical skills they learned, such as making fedoras and cloches, and the ability to walk away with a wearable summer hat or a fabulous design. Overall, students had a great time and felt that they got their money's worth. The reviews indicate that students not only learn how to make hats but also gain insight into the craft and appreciation for the amount of work that goes into making custom hats.
Quotes:
- "The instructor provided practical easy to remember ways to take what I learned in class and repeat it on my own at home."
- "The class size is small, and everyone receives personalized attention, so don't worry if you have trouble with a technique or need a second opinion."
- "Julia went above and beyond to make sure that all of the students walked out of the class with a beautiful fascinator tailored to their individual tastes."
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