42      MAKE YOUR OWN HATS 
 
SQUARE CROWN FOR WIRE FRAME- 
  Straighten the brace wire and cut four sticks or 
pieces long enough to reach from the base of the 
crown at the front up over the proposed crown to 
the base of the crown at the back, allowing eight 
inches for finishing. Cut and join a small circle of 
brace wire-about three inches in diameter-for the 
crown top. Lay the four sticks across this circle 
dividing it into eight equal sections as at the begin- 
ning of the brim, and join to the sticks with tie wire. 
Cut a piece of brace wire one inch smaller than the 
headsize wire. Lap the ends and tie this wire. 
Elongate slightly. Join to the sticks outside of the 
small circle. Keep all lapped ends of circles on the 
center back spoke. Bend spokes down over this 
circle, then measure down from this circle for the 
height of crown and mark on spokes with pencil. 
Be very accurate. 
 
BASE WIRE FOR CROWN- 
  Measure and cut a length of brace wire one-half 
inch longer than for the headsize wire. Lap the 
ends one inch and join with tie wire. The base wire 
of any separate crown must be large enough to fit 
over the headsize wire on the brim. Place this