The crafty Beggars: makers of handcrafted historical hats, traditional crafts and performers of Period Music Thecraftybeggars.org website The Crafty Beggars The crafty Beggars: makers of handcrafted historical hats, traditional crafts and performers of Period Music Fibres being prepared for felting with a bow carder. Fur being prepared for felting with a hatter's bow-carder in 1771 Rachel is an authority on the subject of felt hat making  before industrialisation. She has conducted an extensive study of surviving examples of hats held in British collections. By combining both her knowledge as a historic researcher and as a practitioner she is working to revive this ancient and forgotten heritage craft. She is also involved in a research project on the construction methods of  C16th knitted caps with 'The Tudor Tailors'. Read Rachel’s article The Historical Felt Hatter . Working a wool felt hat on a traditional heated ‘bason’. Hand felted Homburg hat, made using a bow-carder. Hand- dyed beaver fur with silk trim.. Fibres being prepared for felting with a bow carder. Fur being prepared for felting with a hatter's bow-carder in 1771 Research Hand felted Homburg hat, made using a bow-carder. Hand-dyed beaver fur with silk trim. Working a wool felt hat on a traditional heated ‘bason’.