The bit about claiming the workers had alcohol poisoning reminded me of when corporations claimed the radium girls just had syphilis.

@doninis1354

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that was my tought, too. Are'nt we lucky today?

The symptoms you described are just _mild_ mercury poisoning. Acute mercury poisoning symptoms include extreme mood swings, bipolar disorder, and violent outbursts. For instance, my high school chemistry teacher warned us about it, because his brother-in-law flew into a rage and tried to kill his sister and their children with a crossbow due to mercury poisoning he'd acquired through his job/unsafe working conditions. The idea that this is a myth would only hold true if you believe workers would quit when they had mild symptoms, and you explained quite well why they wouldn't.

@kathryngeeslin9509

2 жыл бұрын

@@plague_doctor0237 Probably for the same reason they don't automatically euthanize rabies victims but try to prolong their lives as long as possible, which is tantamount to torture. Doctors (at least in the USA) see death as the great enemy and until our recent opioid crisis were not that strong on pain control (with exceptions of course, from ethical concerns or a lack of ethics). Our culture as a whole still has difficulty looking directly into the ethics of suffering and death. While most of us would greatly prefer a quicker less painful death to a slower more agonizing death we still balk at euthanasia or mercy killing. And are terrified of mercy killing being used as cover for inheritance murder or insurance fraud. Plus relatives unable to accept reality hoping for a miracle. Or misdiagnosis. So people facing horror are forced to endure to the bitter end.

@babblgamgummi6029

2 жыл бұрын

@@plague_doctor0237 Because euthanasia is always the choice of the patient and automatically killing everyone with a certain condition would be murder?! Nobody has the right to decide if someone else's life is worth living, no matter how short or unpleasant that remaining life will be.

@kailedavid9160

2 жыл бұрын

@@plague_doctor0237 there is a treatment for its called, chelation therapy.

@aliceputt3133

10 ай бұрын

Chelation therapy was invented in the 20th century when sailors painting WW2 battleships with lead based paint were sickening and dying from lead poisoning. They discovered EDTA could be given thru a IV and it removed lead and other poisonous metals like mercury, aluminum…

I really appreciate you going through the historical processes of clothing, not only in how it was sewn or made on a technical level, but also how that impacted the workers. It's interesting to learn about and also important to understand the ramifications of common practices in society, both historically and in current times. I'm looking forward to seeing your entire ensamble together! Thank you for the video :)

@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar

2 жыл бұрын

These academic videos are the only lectures I’m never late to!

@evilinaharford66

2 жыл бұрын

@@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar Same

@kachambers3041

2 жыл бұрын

Nicole makes such wonderful educational content. It's like a lecture/lab duo every video and I love this set up.

I’ve always wondered why hats, particularly top hats, were brushed in the past!! I’ve never seen a genuine top hat up close, before, so this was fascinating. It just never really clicked that they were made from fur. Wool is the primary animal fiber I’m familiar with. The hat is gorgeous, and thank you for sharing your process, and the information!

@adelemaisonneuve7470

2 жыл бұрын

I’m Canadian, so we learn about beaver hats and their importance as a demand pressure that fuelled the fur trade when we study history in school. As a kid I was stunned that they were so elegant because I was picturing something more like a Russian ushanka or a Davy-crocket style hat.

@en1909s9iah

2 жыл бұрын

I think, besides the shiny it gives and the grain it creates on the hat, it was also a way of cleaning all things, coats, and skirts were also brushed regularly since it was not pratical to wash them.

@TumblrOzymandias

2 жыл бұрын

@@en1909s9iah it's actually still the recommended way to care for wool garments!

Is it possible that the phrase "mad as a hatter" was originally intended/used to describe the actual symptoms that people were experiencing, and in Alice in Wonderland, Alice doesn't KNOW what the actual symptoms are because she is a child, and imagines her own idea of what a "mad hatter" would act like? It could be one of those jokes that only make sense to people of the time because they have the appropriate context. So i guess my hypothesis would be that Lewis Carroll unintentionally influenced the meaning of the phrase to modern audiences. This is purely supposition

@bookmouse2719

2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps, I wouldn't count Disney as a historian though.

@ragnkja

2 жыл бұрын

@@bookmouse2719 OP didn’t mention Disney at all.

@KatieRoseHere

2 жыл бұрын

@@bookmouse2719 The original book was written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll. Disney adapted to the book into an animated movie that released to the public in 1951. Disney doesn't own the rights to the story of Alice in wonderland, expect for the movie they animated. The story itself is public domain.:)

@miekekuppen9275

2 жыл бұрын

No reason to assume Carroll himself would be familiar with the specific form of "madness" experienced by hatters. Any neurological or mental symptoms might have been characterized as madness by the general public at the time.

@hanbanan3779

2 жыл бұрын

@@miekekuppen9275 you are right, we don't have any way of knowing for sure what he intended, but from the video it seems like there are historical docs that at least suggest that the general public had some idea what the actual symptoms of mercury poisoning were. But I want to reiterate that my comment was pure speculation. I don't even know what other mad hatter depictions existed at the time; Alice may not even have been the first to characterize it that way...Which would definitely tend to disprove the idea I suggested. Anyone know of other examples?

Well, isn't this on of the best historical costuming content in the KZread these days? Informative, technical, and an actual project from start to finish. Thank you so much!

Early researchers into electricity went to milliners for their insulated wires after struggling to wrap cord around wires to insulate them themselves, because the milliners had tools that allowed them to densely wrap wire in whatever thread suited the hat it was going to be used for.

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

Not THAT is interesting! Thanks.

A Gonzo cosplay? A Gozplay if you will. See also: Gonzo ensemble? Gonsemble.

I was always taught and learned that the "Mad as a hatter" phrase comes not from the process of the felting and so on, but in the decorating of the hat since a lot of the glues, cements, and shellacs that would have been used are rather well fume-y. Ever been high off of rubber cement or the like from poor ventilation? This is plausible as they could have worked in batching- obtain hides, process hides, make hats, decorate the batch of hats. This would allow for the glues and so forth to fume up in the location/shop that the work is taking place in. This is just supposition based off of what I have learned from others around me.

*Subtitle error!* : around 13:44 "health issues" becomes "healthy shoes", which I find hilarious but if anyone was confused, that's what is actually being said

@annahackman2539

2 жыл бұрын

I am always amused by the auto-subtitle errors.

@ragnkja

2 жыл бұрын

@@annahackman2539 As someone who has auditory processing difficulties, I’m more annoyed than amused by inaccurate subtitles, because they make it even harder for my brain to process what’s actually being said. If the captions are particularly bad they’re actually worse than none at all.

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

@@ragnkja that is rough ! Too bad KZread doesn't help creators by offering help to do proper subtitles ! As a person with "normal" processing, I don't need the subtitles, but it stinks that you are stuck with a 'machine based' version. Once again, no profit = no service !

@anna_in_aotearoa3166

2 жыл бұрын

@@ragnkja 100% And I really feel like YT seems to have continued to actively made it harder to create and curate accurate CC rather than helping?? 😡 Thankfully there are some open source workarounds out there, but it's all still very clunky and their whole attitude to facilitating accessibility honestly makes me kinda mad.... (as a hatter??) Auto captioning really is not at all good for most content, so creators who take the time & effort to add accurate & sometimes witty subtitles have my serious respect.

Companies shifting blame for workplace health issues onto their employees? Say it ain't so! Thanks for this piece of labor history, Nicole. I didn't know those shiny top hats were actually fur felt. I knew beaver fur was popular for hats, but whenever I saw a shiny hat I always assumed it was covered in silk satin. Never imagined all the work that goes into making it look that way. I do love the ribbon you used, it's very eye-catching.

We do still have a lot of issues when it comes to toxic chemicals and manufacturing processes and the effects on the workers. Lithium-ion batteries, while really important for making the switch from gas to electric, also have a lot of ethical issues because cobalt and lithium extraction continues to be dangerous for the workers since the companies that run the mines don't care about worker protection. And the battery manufacturers continue to use those materials (although at least some of them are reducing the amounts they use and looking for other options, but mostly because the cost of the materials has gone up--it's always about money).

I think what makes me the saddest about the workers having to hide their illness to avoid losing their jobs is that the same thing still happens today. Where I live few people get vaccinated or wear masks and bosses don't want to give time off when an employee is ill. Whenever I leave home I see sick people all over the place working in stores because they don't have a choice. I feel sorry for them but at the same time I'm personally afraid. It's both horrifying and inhumane. When are we finally going to put caring ahead of profits?

@werelemur1138

2 жыл бұрын

The problem is, there is no "we." As long as the corporations and shareholders continue to rake in the money while other people (workers, people who live in areas polluted by industry) are the ones who live with the ill-effects, things like this will continue to happen. The wealthy class and the working class (which includes people who like to think of themselves as "middle-class") have interests that are diametrically opposed. The solution in the short term is unions. Don't cross picket lines, give to strike funds, educate yourself on the labor movement. In the long term? Smarter people than me are still stumped about how to create a world that's sustainable for everyone.

@johannayaffe2647

2 жыл бұрын

@@werelemur1138 The US seems particulary bad at giving sick leave. In the UK and other European countries sick leave and sick pay is a given. You may or may not need a doctor's letter depending on how long you're sick and which country. In many companies and certainly government/local authority jobs people are entitled to a certain number of sick days per year. Obviously this doesn't apply to zero hr contracts etc... and of course most western countries have universal health care free at the point of delivery, so you don't go bankrupt just because you got sick...

@katherinemorelle7115

2 жыл бұрын

Businesses (not “we”) won’t put caring ahead of profits as long as there is a profit to be made. When it comes to money vs humanity, money wins. Which is why I’m not a fan of the current system and think we should look at other options.

@Jasmine-in-my-mind

2 жыл бұрын

Near my workplace, there are a lot of construction workers doing building renovations (indoors) and none of them wear masks. I would be willing to bet that some of them want to, but the pressure must be so great to act as if they are invincible. (It makes me wonder what other safety measures are being ignored on that job site.) I thought of them when I Nicole mentioned the hat workers not taking precautions. They may well have been under pressure to pretend as if their jobs were not hazardous.

@anna_in_aotearoa3166

2 жыл бұрын

@@Jasmine-in-my-mind Agreed, a lot of it comes down not just to fear of losing your job if you rock the boat, but also to workplace culture? I used to work for our national workplace H&S regulator and saw lots of instances there where male-dominated industries like construction and agriculture had this strong 'macho' culture where taking basic safety precautions had traditionally been seen as sissy or cowardly (!) Changing very slowly over time thanks to better regulation and worker education & engagement efforts, but still very noticeable in how some older staff would pressure newbies to skip things like PPE? (personal protective gear) Combine that with the way many young men think themselves invincible, & you often still had a really problematic environment at times!! 😣

that ends up being a very dapper hat. I could totally believe that Charles Dickens would pay for the upgrade to a watered silk in his top hat to celebrate the success of "A Christmas Carrol." so It is very Him in spirit even if not in precise fiber content. * shrug* the wider band makes for a good width proportionally on a non-Muppet sized body. It's not like a slightly darker brown would not have been available as a dye color in history.. so I don't think the anachronism matters from the movie version.

Remarkably appropriate video for me as today my daughter gave me a 1940's (silk) top hat for my birthday. My felt top hat with the sewn on Christmas lights unfortunately being lost last month whilst carousing I at least now know how to make another to replace it.

One of my favorite part of costume prep and maintenance was brushing the top hat worn by Jean Val Jean. I loved the swirl on the top. Even though I handled it daily, I didn't know how it was made until now. Thank you for all the videos. I want to make everything from head to toe.

I remember being told in my high school Canadian history class that beaver was used in hat making but I had no concept of how involved the whole process was. Sleek fat animal turns into shiny top hat. That's all I was taught and my little teenaged brain never wondered about how that happened lol.

@cherisseepp5332

2 жыл бұрын

It is odd that they never went into at least the basic steps, isn’t it? BTW, it was difficult to put “isn’t it at the end of that sentence instead of eh, I very much fought that urge. Lol. That particular Canadian-ism is very much a part of my speech patterns.

@nataliestanchevski4628

2 жыл бұрын

@@cherisseepp5332 it's crazy, eh? I guess the hosers thought the politics and economics regarding The Hudson Bay Company and England vs France was more important. Tabernac! The school system never focused on the interesting stuff even when it went up to OAC/grade 13 like in my day. Sorry my reply is so long!

I've read somewhere that the phrase 'as mad as a hatter' originally was 'as mad as an atter'. 'Atter' is the old english word (apparantly) for 'poison' from which the adder (the only British poisonous snake). Think of Bilbo Baggings calling the spiders of Mirkwood 'Attercop' ('attercop' really is the old english name for spider, btw) which has the word 'atter' in it. So, according to this thing I've read, 'as mad as an atter' used to mean 'as dangerous/bad-tempered as a poisonous snake'. Hence it referring to bad tempered/dangerous people.

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

This is interesting! I love how language "morphs" over time !

I’m mildly surprised it’s still possible to find the materials in a pre made form. I also like to ask where you sourced the brush for this, as it appears to be somewhat unusual?

@NicoleRudolph

2 жыл бұрын

I think I got this one from Judith M Millinery (link is in description)

@CraftQueenJr

2 жыл бұрын

Nicole Rudolph thank you!

@bela516

2 жыл бұрын

I happen to have a brush like this. It was my grandfather’s and I can only assume it was to brush wool coats or his fedora hats?

I took a millinery class ages ago and it was both so neat to learn more about historical hatmaking here and to compare techniques! Like my wool hat was a two piece process, where the brim was cut and formed separately from the crown, and then they were sewn together after they dried with a ribbon covering the seam. (Also professional millinery steamers are amazing and I hope you can try one out, it helps hold moisture in the felt so much better so forming goes much faster!) Now you're making me want to take more classes and make more hats!

that top hat is just *chef's kiss*, what a piece de resistance!

Seeing the nice, shiny, finished hat on the hat stand made me understand why men were so attached to their hats. I now also understand what books are talking about when they say that someone brushed their hat before wearing it out. Now I want a top hat. I have no where to wear it, but I want one.

@NicoleRudolph

2 жыл бұрын

I do have a serious urge to make SO MANY top hats now

Perfect that an artist/creator/historian, that is...one who wears so many hats...should create a hat.

I have recently traced my ancestors to the prairies of Canada, it seems that they were involved with the beaver trade in a variety of ways. Thank you for showing me and us what happened to the Beavers after they were shipped to England and the US. I learn something new with every video you make.

This series is honestly a masterpiece, I learn so much every time I watch, and I actually want to watch the construction process as the history informs what I then see on screen. It's so clear to me how much thought and work must go into creating these epic videos, you're just quietly doing a masterclass every week. Thank you.

I thought beaver and other animal fur hats were made from the tanned hide with fur on it. I didn't realize that they removed the fur and felted it! And the great explanation on how mercury was used was very understandable. Workers didn't complain, because there were many waiting to take the job. I'm also interested in the Public Health investigation- I had no idea it even existed. Once again, I learned something from your video. Kudos on the fascinating content. I also loved watching your own hatmaking process. Thank you!

Your vast range of skills completely amaze me. Shoes, hats, leather, fabrics! I haven’t seen you make a handbag, although you probably have. Shoelaces! You are astonishing!

This makes me respect Johnny Depp's interpretation of the Mad Hatter all the more, since his plays more into a number of the forgetful, withdrawn, and trembling symptoms you mention! Unrelated, I purchased an identical hat block early this year--after falling down some of the same research rabbit holes it appears you did--and am hoping to try my hand at top hat making sometime in the next year. Thanks for showing how you accomplished it--yours turned out brilliantly!

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this series. Not only is it based on arguably the best Muppet movie of all time, which has exquisite costuming, but it's showing how to this period of menswear is created from top to tails (so to speak). I'm not a historical costumer but have just started watching these kinds of vids in the last few months, and this just fuels the fascination. I really appreciate the knowledge and the demonstration of skill to make these kinds of garments (plus, shoes and hats?! Nicole is amazing, simply put).

Thank you for researching all of this! I had thought it was just one person making hats instead of them being manufactured by many, many other people.

While watching you make things is always a satisfying experience, I truly appreciate the research you present. The depth of detail and scholarship are truly a joy to me. I always leave your videos feeling smarter.

My favourite beauty of KZread

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

#same !

I love the education Nicole provides with all of her work. Infotainment in the best form here.

If you plan on making another felt hat you should get a steam cleaning machine, they produce a good amount of very hot steam which would make the process go much faster. They can regularly be bought for well under $100.

Haven't seen this to the end yet, but I wanted to take a moment mid-way through to say that once again your research into this topic is amazing and very thorough. Thank you!

This was absolutely fascinating! I actually watched the part of creating the hat twice through! I never thought about why the hat would have been brushed but now understand the need to do this. The plight of the hatmakers being poisoned by mercury echoes many of the issues for workers in the trades before the unionizing of workers and passing of legislation that safeguarded their health and lives. My grandfather was a printer who suffered from a mild form of lead poisoning due to the handling of hot lead type. Love your videos!

A top hat! I have no words. Also, I appreciate the deep historical dive into "mad hatter."

That is really wonderful ... Just the finish to add sparkle to the eye and a bit of Gonzo's formal Dickens personna but with his own (which surely you are channeling) mischief.

the golden coloured polished cotton gets me every time because it looks like the kind of shiny paper that's left when you peel off stickers

Ok. Just finished this video and as usual am just gobsmacked. So well done. My favorite project on KZread ever. I must find a reason to make a top hat now. Heck, I want to learn millinery. Thank you again, Nicole. You crushed this series.

This had to be the best video in the series! How amazingly interesting. My jaw just remained hanging the entire time! I could not have imagined how historically informative a muppet's costume could be. I have really enjoyed your dilligent research on each piece of clothing and then going on to make each piece with painstaking detail. More! I need more! 😆

The curves on that style of top hat are so much more flattering to the wearer than the early "stovepipe" lines, such as we see Lincoln depicted wearing. Is there a particular word for that style, and when did the change take place? Did all styles continue to be worn, or was it eventually a fashion faux pas to wear the earlier versions?

@argusfleibeit1165

2 жыл бұрын

@@brennerc180 Thanks. That's kind of hilarious. I just assumed the stovepipe was an earlier stupid-looking thing because they didn't have the technology to make a more graceful looking tall hat.

@anna_in_aotearoa3166

2 жыл бұрын

Really interesting! Do concur the tall stovepipe hat is kind of ridiculous looking and seems less flattering to the wearer - guess it was just another example of how fashion trends once initiated always seem to have to proceed to rather ludicrous extremes before they deflate or disappear..? (Cf. the horrendous 'whale tail' trend and its cousin, the exposed boxer shorts 🤣 Yikes!!)

I’ve periodically wondered how to get that top hat shape, and now I know thanks to you!! Yours turned out gorgeous!

Your sewing creations are so beautiful and so well made.

As a high school chemistry teacher, I'm definitely bringing this into our discussion of elemental chemistry when we talk about unique properties of mercury. It makes chemistry more meaningful to sophomores. Thank you for your thorough research; you always do such a great job with citing your sources and I'm appreciative of the confidence I have quoting you and viewing your sources myself if I choose.

Honestly severe confusion would be considered “madness” back then. Anything that was out of the norm in terms of behavior would be considered madness. So being coined as “mad as a hatter” may have actually been related to the symptoms they were experiencing regardless. Then take someone using the term and not fully understanding that it’s a generalization could interpret how they wished… for a book or for a movie. The book is an outlandish work of fiction made to amuse a specific child and is the premise for that behavior pattern in regards to that term.

I love the look and style of a good top hat! It may be because I am so found of the character of the Mad Hatter. This dive into the process leading the idea of the mad hatter is fascinating.

Your talent never ceases to amaze. Truly, you are amazing. Also, thank you for the deep dive into hat making,that in itself was quite the undertaking.

Another fascinating history lesson. I had no idea so much was involved in hat making. It turned out beautifully!

This looks amazing! The outfit altogether really shines in a human size too ❤

Gonzo loves this.💜💙

I usually think shoes make the outfit, but now I think this hat does.

So, I watched half of this video before my writer's group today, and lo and behold, Mad Hatter and Mercury Poisoning worked their way into my poem.

the little tilt of the hat at the end was so good, thank you.

Could mad as a hatter quite simply imply that you had to be mad to do that job?

THIS WAS FASCINATING!!! OMG you’re so incredible, Nicole!!!

I love how full of information your videos are! I enjoyed both the talking and the making, and the finished product is exquisite!

The reveal gave me chills! I've really enjoyed this series, you make everything look so effortless. Thank you!

Super excited to see everything together! It all looks super high quality and it is! Thank you for sharing, looking forward to your future videos ☺️

Wow, just wow! your commitment to this is outsstanding and amazing!

Your videos are like watching a documentary every single time, I love them so much!

The history and the process were fascinating! Great job!

Thank you for putting so much effort into informing us about the history! I always learn so much about the culture, practices and situation of the people in the past when watching your videos. I love it!

Phenomenal job! Thanks for digging up and sharing all the history with us. (Your hairstyle here really suits you! I wish I could convince my curls to do that 😂)

I love your tutorials and history behind the word or phrase. The care and research you put in is wonderful. And I adore Gonzo. ❤

The hat turned out so well, it looks awesome. Great work Nicole! And thank you for the historical perspective on mad as a hatter!

Gorgeous! Thanks for the history lesson as well - it's always interesting to see where cultural ideas start and how they take hold.

Your content is pure art, thank you for being you.

I really just adore watching your videos -- the history lesson about the piece you're creating, the research into what it was like for people to make them in the time period you're recreating, all of that is so fantastic to learn and it really humanizes the people who made these things and allows a connection to the past that doesn't seem otherwise possible. And seeing the completed piece is always so satisfying and wonderful. On top of that, your work has given me a real appreciation for just how much labor goes into the creation of clothing/hats/shoes -- especially shoes! I had no idea the labor that goes into them and I appreciate the shoes I own so much more now, even if they're mass manufacture -- which I think is something a lot of people don't realize/understand about clothing and it's helped give me so much more appreciation for the things I own and made me value my *own* sewing projects so much more. Basically, thank you so much for sharing your work with youtube! Your videos are amazing ^^

Impressive. You keep bringing the best costuming videos and information. Thank you!

Absolutely gorgeous, I love your attention to detail. Also the history lessons are amazing . Thanks Nicole!

Fascinating. The mercury poisoning can be put into context by looking at the lead poisoning in the pottery industry. Many more pots were made than top hats and the use of lead glazes, while diminished, continued in England until the early 1980s when the US banned importation of any pottery with lead content unless it is labelled as 'not for food use'.

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

Wow ! 1980's ?! Insane !!!

@victoriabergesen6775

2 жыл бұрын

@@m.maclellan7147 There are still lots of imports from Mexico and China among others that have the paper labels on at the store, but of course the labels are removed and people may use them for food. A few small British family potteries, art potteries, in the early 1900s worked on non-lead glazes because they wanted to protect their families from the lead. Lead persisted because it produces such vibrant colors and a very glossy glaze.

@m.maclellan7147

2 жыл бұрын

@@victoriabergesen6775 Luckily I have many artist friends who make ceramics, so I am normally buying from them.

YES this is the part I’ve been waiting for! Thank you so much for all your hard work!

This was so interesting, the history behind the Mad Hatter and how you made your top hat. I have long admired this style. So, after watching you make yours, I will have to give it a go. Thank you and Happy New Year!

This was wonderful and so interesting! I am so excited to see the full ensemble!

I am a fiberartist, mostly colorwork/sock knitting plus anything wool or other animal fibers. I have made a lot of mostly flat felt pieces, some several feet by several feet. I inherited a children’s derby-type hat block from a dear friend. It has two pieces for the brim and also two for the top. Maybe I will have to try it once. I teach a lot (non-pandemic ), and learning from this overview will help me answer questions from my students. Thank you for your work here. Your approach is fascinating and so helpful.

YOU ARE SIMPLY AN ASTONISHING CREATIVE ARTIST!! WELL DONE!! And THANK YOU!

Huh, I always thought hat making was this big mistery, but it actually looks fairly simple. Now I want to make my own top hat. They are just the ultimate headdress in my opininon. Also, the one you made here turned out real pretty and suits you very well.

What a wonderful fun informative project. Loved every minute ❤️ will definitely share with friends and family. You did an incredible job!!!

Such excellent research and execution of the beautiful top hat. I found the hat block so fascinating. Many moons ago (last century) I took and workshop with a professional milliner. One top tip she gave us that really stuck with me was that millinery wire or any wire I guess has memory not unlike nature fibers to a greater or lesser degree. She advised to always straighten your wire followed by bending or forming it into the shape it is to be in before sewing to an edge. Yes, it really does make a difference. It's that little extra step that brings a project to chef's kiss level in the end.

Utterly fascinating. Gave me a level of insight into the lives of the 19th Century workers I'd never had before. Thank you very much. Subscribed!

Fascinating! I love how you research and then impart the information to the viewer thus following up with the step-by-step process as you make the item. I am in awe of your ability to not only sew but make the shoes and now...a hat.

@anna_in_aotearoa3166

2 жыл бұрын

IKR?? Milliner, cobbler, seamstress, researcher, educationalist... Nicole's breadth of talents is just kind of mind-boggling 😲 And the fact she combines all that with wry humour, super-high production values and such an easy-to-listen-to presentation style is just #chefskiss

This is absolutely amazing. It was riveting and mind blowing. Thank you so much for this.

Its lovley to see you working on a hat, I worked at a master hatmaker for two years and started studying fashiondesign because my hatmaker master recommended it because unfortunately you don’t earn much, so it brings so much joy to see someone doing my old job and passion. A tip for the steaming, usually we have special steamers that steam the raw felt throughly while its closed with a pin then you have around 10 seconds to take it of and shape and pin the basic shape down to the block (part of the skills of a hatmaker) so it was quite funny for me to see you use a waterboiler and working so slowly on it. But for the conditions overall you did a lovley job!:)

I never thought that hatmaking is something that interesting. Great lesson, thank you Nicole!

I am not even done watching this video and I have to just say……this is everything! I want to do this!! I have a love affair with hats and this is something I want to do. Wow!! You are so talented and never fail to leave your audience better than we were before we watched one of your videos. Thank you for sharing your talents and knowledge and skill.

Nicole, this was chef's kiss! I bought a top hat a few years ago when I was giving a talk on Victorian mourning traditions for a museum (I made full mourning for myself, and bought a top hat and wrapped a band of crape around it to show what men wore). I actually really love the hat, but have never worn it for fear of spoiling it - but this makes me want to wear it!

Wow 😍 I so love getting to see the process, and the result is amazing!

Wow. The process of turning that flabby, furry thing into a sleek, elegant top hat... magic! I had no idea, that that was how this type of hat used to be made. The history part was also highly interesting. Such thorough research!

You look so pretty! The colour of the hat really compliments your eyes. Also when you showed the underside I was struck by what high quality work this is

Absolutely fascinating, what a work of art.

That little hat tip at the end. Its like your asking me to fall in love with you

This is such a beautiful hat!!! You have done a wonderful job with the hat and the education. Thank you for sharing all of this.

I have really enjoyed these videos, educational and fun you are a great communicator, thankyou💜

Thank you very much for this beautiful time with all your knowledge about hat making and showing an example of making a hat.

I still wonder where the stereotype of the loud and crazy mad hatter comes from. It is probably rooted in the real history of mercury poisoning that you talked about but I bet the myth, as you called it, comes from some specific writer or caricature that decided to depict hatters in the mad way that we are familiar with. The most famous example in literature is in Alice in Wonderland but that’s 1865, I bet there are earlier examples. Anyway, that is far from the topic of fashion history and you did an excellent job of describing the whole process of hat-making, and of course making a gorgeous hat yourself! Just goes to show how interesting a single garment can be

@SusanYeske701

2 жыл бұрын

A previous commentor said the symptoms she listed were "mild" mercury poisoning. Severe mercury poisoning is apparently a whole other animal. A lot closer to the expected notion.

@megelizabeth9492

2 жыл бұрын

Also it may have referred to the effects of the fumes given off by some of the different glues, cements, and shellacs that were used.

Thank you for a wonderful video. Years ago I got to take a very close look at the top hats hanging up at Fort Vancouver historical museum. Very cool.

I'm thoroughly impressed with your skills when making these things. It's so cool

You had mentioned the wide variety of health issues among the dyers, and the dyes are DEFINITELY a source of potential toxicity. Azo dyes are among the earliest synthetic dyes, and early azo dyes are not great for you. A great number of them are carcinogenic at the least, and toxicity is a fairly common problem as well.

Im sorry but I had such bad day today and seeing this video made me so happy 💖 thank you Nicole