Is felt hat too small?

[lmatteis]

Beginner hatter here . I have thrifted this beautiful beaver/rabbit hat. The logo has both a rabbit and beaver in them. But anyway the quality of the hat is superb. It's the softest and nicest thing. I also really like the color scheme. Of course the problem is that it's too small. Seemed to be a women's hat. There was no way it fit me with the internal sweatband. So I decided to learn how to deconstruct hats and I removed the band all together. With a bit of help from my steamer I stretched it outward, by using my own head as a block. Also removed and enlarged a bit the outer ribben. I got to this point. Has anybody ever done this to enlarge a felt hat?

 

[Rmccamey]

Beginner hatter here . I have thrifted this beautiful beaver/rabbit hat. The logo has both a rabbit and beaver in them. But anyway the quality of the hat is superb. It's the softest and nicest thing. I also really like the color scheme. Of course the problem is that it's too small. Seemed to be a women's hat. There was no way it fit me with the internal sweatband. So I decided to learn how to deconstruct hats and I removed the band all together. With a bit of help from my steamer I stretched it outward, by using my own head as a block. Also removed and enlarged a bit the outer ribben. I got to this point. Has anybody ever done this to enlarge a felt hat?

Obviously it is possible to do what you have done, and if you like the hat, wear it as you see fit. But removing the sweatband destroys much of the foundation of the hat. It probably won't take too long or too much sweat, rain or humidity for the hat to become a floppy mass of loose felt. Sweat stains will become obvious much sooner as sweat penetrates the felt. I don't know of any competent hatter who would claim that removing the sweatband and ribbon is their preferred method to increase a hats size.

 

[belfastboy]

Obviously it is possible to do what you have done, and if you like the hat, wear it as you see fit. But removing the sweatband destroys much of the foundation of the hat. It probably won't take too long or too much sweat, rain or humidity for the hat to become a floppy mass of loose felt. Sweat stains will become obvious much sooner as sweat penetrates the felt. I don't know of any competent hatter who would claim that removing the sweatband and ribbon is their preferred method to increase a hats size.

It looks as though the hat is still a touch too small as the brim looks distorted as it would in a too small hat.