Adventures in Hood Making

[Jelly]

I started my adventure this Monday, trying to figure out of to practice making a hood without having to use leather until the real deal. Well I gave up on the construction paper idea it just tore to easily. Later as I was cleaning out the closet as a punishment for I don't remember it didn't really stay a punishment. I found felt and originally i didn't think anything of it. As I was about to put it up I got the idea, that it was possible to use felt to make a practice hood. Amazingly within 20 minutes I completed the entire body and now all I needed were braces. I searched the net for dutch hood hoping to see a picture that would help me a bit more. Nothing seem to help, then I was in a wonderful little chat group where Aaron, sent me some instructions. Thanks to Aaron, I finished a practice felt hood and so did Starburst. The only issue is when doing a felt hood you have to make it much larger than necessary otherwise the felt tears when putting in the brace. I might post a couple pictures later but it is an idea for those out there to consider doing before saying they can't make their own equipment. In no way could a felt hood sub. as a real one but it is a good practice, or so I think.
Starburst can show you her attempts and added her two cents. hers looked pretty good

[Starburst]

Yep! I have been contemplating making a hood for a few days now and when I was talking in a chat group with fellow members of this forum, Jelly mentioned making a hood of felt. I just HAD to try it! I found a nice dutch pattern online and made the body with felt. It turned out quite nice and I was pretty proud of it. I couldnt figure out the braces though until Jelly sent me what Aaron had sent to her (THANKS AARON!). I cut the holes into the body and whadda ya know? Felt is a horrible material to use! The back isnt big enough to make wide slits, so the narrow slits get stressed and rip off!
So, i told myself, thats it! Im making a leather one! We have a box of leather at my house and i chose a flexible yet sturdy piece (deer skin). I traced the pattern onto it and cut it out. then I took a needle with thread and started to sew it. OUCH! My fingers hurt now...
Rule #1!!!
Use pliers to push and pull the needle through the leather!! You will never get it through otherwise!
#2 Use a sturdy needle(Sharp point, thick eye. The first needle, the eye broke off cause it was too thin)

This was my first leather hood and it took about...2 hours to complete (minus topknot).

The braces are really simple to do actually! I was quite surprised. I was kicking myself in the head afterwards cause I thought it was hard at first.

Oh! and they tell you to use waxed thread because it is stronger. Well, I didnt have any so I figured I would use just normal thread. THis morning I'm looking online and find a site that says "use dental floss!" OHHH YEA....!

Well...i'm going to post pictures...but im warning its DEFINATLY not the best hood in the world! Its my first try.... (oh, and there isnt a top knot on it yet)

[Jelly]

lol, the felt gives you a feel, but someone mentioned practicing with leather from old purses I just collected 2 of my mom's old purses that she was going to give away so I may try one soon. ( cou this weekend gh)
-pattern
-dental floss
-old purse
-pair of pliers

I think there may be a new attempt to add to Starburst's picture.

BTW thank you everyone thats ever posted a picture of a hood, and those of you that sent links with patterns on it. (skyrider thanks for the pattern galore page).

Anyways if you have any other ideas for materials to use for a practice hood post them.

[Ryan]

Use a thimble. you know the little metal thing that fits on your finger?
Looks like a bucket ?? Prevents sore fingers
Eragon

[Starburst]

Thimble wouldnt have helped. It wasnt that I got poked (well..i did once but that was just my fault) but my fingers hurt cause I was grabbing the needle so hard to pull it through the leather. The pliers are a very important tool! lol

and I agree with Jelly all the way. Thank you to anyone who has ever posted hood patterns or pictures. It would have been impossible with out the patterns!!

on the Modern Apprentice website under the section "hoods" it actually gives you links to programs with sized hoods. The one I made was off of there and it is: RT Dutch Hood size-1.75 inches.

www.themodernapprentice.com

[Jelly]

If only I remembered all the sites, I got the software from the same place where the practice test is not sure the link but I can get it easily. Also I googled dutch hood and I looked at the hood section. And here is Skyriders link:
astur.jp/info/hoodtype.htm

[apprentice16]

I have made 2 hoods this far, I will try to post pics today.
I know what you mean about sore fingers!!! I pulled the needle through with pliars after the first hood.

-App16

[chris]

Ok kids here goes what I can tell ya. #3 0unce tooling leather it's vegtable tanned so no chemical residue in the leathre , I use this leather for everything on my rt, hoods, jess, bewets ext. Next ( and I'm basing this on how the photo looks so if I'm wrong don't get up set) I looks like starburst's hood has the leather seamed as you would if you were stitching cloth, the leather should be loined flat edge to edge, then tap it seal the edges. You don't want a seam protruding inward as these will scratch the eye of your bird the first time you put it on and you won't get it on her again.
Here's a tip for everyone. soak your hood in warm water, not hot as this will shrink the hood, then fill the hood with wet paper towl. and set the shape, leave to dry for a day or so before removing the towelets.
As for other matterial the thin crafter foam is great for cutting and making hoods As far as practice. I have even used one for introducing the hood for latestage hood training.
Oh ya either get a leather sewing awl or pre punch you leather with a small nail it will make your sticking a lot easier.
Finally Starburst if you pass the brases through each other they will hold closed better.
Other than that it looks good keep up the good work.

[Starburst]

Thanks chris, the critism actual helps though. I take no offense to it . Yea...I know I stitched the hood all wrong. After I had made my hood I found a website ( www.americanfalconry.com/hoods.html ) that explains how to put the needle through the leather. It also explains that you should use an awl, like chris said...much less painful for the fingers!
I'll be making another hood the CORRECT way soon. (Besides...the way I stitched it looks kinda funky )

The foam material would be perfect! Maybe I'll go buy some today. Thanks for the idea.

About the braces, I just threaded them through eachother like you said and it does hold much better. I couldnt figure out how to make them stay better, but now they stay just fine.

Also, about the type of leather you use. Im a bit confused. Could you elaborate a bit more. What kind is it?

[chris]

Glad I could help and figured most of what I said may have been covered somewhere else but through it out there anyway.
As for the leather As far as the ounce description goes I'm not sure how the ounce works but basically the lighter the ounce the thinner the leather. Basically a 3 ounce leather is about 1.19 mm or .047 inches thick. Tooling leather is used most commonly buy saddle makers and holds carving stamps best as well as being tough and stiff. If you know where a saddle shop is then go talk to them tell them why you want the leather and what you're doing with it and they are normally glad to help. And can tell you more about the leather.
The main reason I use tooling leather is that tthey use vegetable oils to cure the leather and not chemicals or acids, often arsinic is used to cure some of the more fashionable leathers, as well as mild acids. I don't know about others but I know my bird picks at her jesses and has eaten her bewets more than once.
Also though it sems to go against most of the commercial hood makers I make my hoods smooth side in thus preventing any of the looser leather from the split side from getting in the eye. This shouldn't be a problem with propper fitting hood and most commercial hoods don't have the rough fuzz that the home hade hoods do but the bird first seems I here most of you say.
anyway hope it helps.
Chris

[Starburst]

Mm....good tips good tips. Thanks for all your help chris!!

[m4tt]

Lol i decided to make a hood, ill put pictures some time up, i did the braces wrong! (hits head on desk multiple times) ill ask aaron 2mrw when we go hawking about it. i think i did a ok job since its my first! made it outa Nagahide (or something like that??) its strong, yet easy to bend/mess with.

i dont have a top knot on mine either.. and its er. strange looking lol


ok ive made 2 hoods so far (no leather so all outa nagahide)
i have pics! *sigh* but used webcam cuz i couldnt find the digi, = all bad pics.. kinda?






Ther u go, a 1.75 and an unusualy large 2.25 (i got bored!) the 2.25 i did the braces right.. i think... on the 1.75 i did them oddly.. but they seem ok!

[shortwingn]

There might be a hood maker or two in this group! If there might be someone interested in a hood for there bird, I could help some. There are a lot of patterns...Perhaps start with Indian hoods 101? I have a bunch of patterns! I liked the 3 piece Dutch myself.

[alex2]

Very nice job matt!!

There's some hope for you yet!

[m4tt]

thanks wolf.. that touched me deep down man.. lol, jk but thanks!