Northwest Hats, Eugene, Ore.

[Tukwila]

Great hat, Mike! I need to go see Mike at NW again.

 

[belfastboy]

Great hat, Mike! I need to go see Mike at NW again.

I would visit Mike for sure...except I am in Canada and I am not allowed!!!

 

[Bill Hughes]

I have been remiss in keeping up with the NW Hats thread. Mike and I had a wonderful visit last Thursday. We talked hats, covid, gardens and life for about an hour and a half. I got to fondle some wonderful felt and straw, the best therapy one could have. Picked up my latest creation by Mike...the Black Cherry! When Winchester changed the dye lot a few years ago, their black cherry felt became almost black, made me long for the old days. Well, Mike got a hold of a couple of old dye lot bodies from Art and knew I would want one (it pays to have a personal hatter!), and since I was already "up" in the queue, a new masterpiece was born. Had to go with his special 'dog ear' gills and some spiffy edge work. The double tear drop is influenced by @Bill Hughes
Come on winter!

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I think that gray ribbon work and stitching are awesome.

 

[Rmccamey]

A real winner!

I have been remiss in keeping up with the NW Hats thread. Mike and I had a wonderful visit last Thursday. We talked hats, covid, gardens and life for about an hour and a half. I got to fondle some wonderful felt and straw, the best therapy one could have. Picked up my latest creation by Mike...the Black Cherry! When Winchester changed the dye lot a few years ago, their black cherry felt became almost black, made me long for the old days. Well, Mike got a hold of a couple of old dye lot bodies from Art and knew I would want one (it pays to have a personal hatter!), and since I was already "up" in the queue, a new masterpiece was born. Had to go with his special 'dog ear' gills and some spiffy edge work. The double tear drop is influenced by @Bill Hughes
Come on winter!

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I love everything about that hat! Congrats Mike -- good to see you in the Lounge again.

 

[Rmccamey]

Granite and Charcoal, the modern bowler by Mike Miller at Northwest Hats. This one comes with a 5 inch crown and a 2 inch brim (before all the D'Orsay curl was put in)! All I can say is, Wow. This thing is as close to a vintage look and build as I can imagine. The curl is great as is has just the right amount of "stiff" to give it a nice drum sound when I thump it! I had a tough time getting a decent picture of the binding and the burgundy liner. Mike and I tried for many weeks to come up with a pleated liner but, alas, it was not to be. Maybe next time. As much as I don't need another hat, I'm partial to bowlers these days and I may have to get another bowler in Mike's queue again real soon. This one is going to be very hard to take off!!!

@deadlyhandsome Brent, if you waiting for a bowler, check with Mike. This one is amazing and I'm sure he can fit you with proportions that will look great on that 5/8 head of yours!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Granite and Charcoal, the modern bowler by Mike Miller at Northwest Hats. This one comes with a 5 inch crown and a 2 inch brim (before all the D'Orsay curl was put in)! All I can say is, Wow. This thing is as close to a vintage look and build as I can imagine. The curl is great as is has just the right amount of "stiff" to give it a nice drum sound when I thump it! I had a tough time getting a decent picture of the binding and the burgundy liner. Mike and I tried for many weeks to come up with a pleated liner but, alas, it was not to be. Maybe next time. As much as I don't need another hat, I'm partial to bowlers these days and I may have to get another bowler in Mike's queue again real soon. This one is going to be very hard to take off!!!

@deadlyhandsome Brent, if you waiting for a bowler, check with Mike. This one is amazing and I'm sure he can fit you with proportions that will look great on that 5/8 head of yours!

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Wowsers! Mike really nailed it with your bowler. The brim looks great, and the D’Orsay curl is impressive.

I was actually thinking of a top hat rather than a derby and I’d want the brim curl flattened for that, but it’s a simple tweak from what Mike did here.

 

[Scrambler]

I was lucky enough to score one of the old style Black Cherry bodies from Mike. I told Mike I wanted the color to speak for its self with few accoutrements and the shape should have some attitude. This is what Mike sent me. I have to say he nailed it.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I bought two big floppy velour Borsalinos a couple years ago. They were great big unruly hats bordering on being floppy. I posted them at the time in the Borsalino Brotherhood thread.

I didn’t wear the hats much and the reason was I just didn’t care for the linked self-felt hat bands. I sent them off to Mike at Northwest and let him chose the ribbons to replace the bands. Mike did me right!

Brown:

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Gray:

 

[Tukwila]

Home run, Brent!

 

[Rmccamey]

Wow, what a great combo!

I bought two big floppy velour Borsalinos a couple years ago. They were great big unruly hats bordering on being floppy. I posted them at the time in the Borsalino Brotherhood thread.

I didn’t wear the hats much and the reason was I just didn’t care for the linked self-felt hat bands. I sent them off to Mike at Northwest and let him chose the ribbons to replace the bands. Mike did me right!

Brown:

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Gray:

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[1961MJS]

Gray:

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Hey, that color combination matches the "Seattle Hat" I bought from Tony about 10 years ago. Still looks great. I was up to Mukitelo quite a bit and well it's always raining so Charcoal and an almost Navy Blue ribbon looked pretty rainy.
Later

 

[steur]

Gray:

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Good you stuck with them, Brent. Mike brought out their potential as the great hats they are.

 

[Bill Hughes]

This one arrived yesterday. The color is coffee. It's a limited beaver blend. The ribbon is 1 7/8" kangaroo with one of the back edges frayed. The brim is 2 3/4" with a matching spiral stitch. It's a bit of a hard one to photograph. I'll get some pictures in natural light to when I wear it to morning services and post them in the WHAYWT thread.

 

[Tukwila]

This one arrived yesterday. The color is coffee. It's a limited beaver blend. The ribbon is 1 7/8" kangaroo with one of the back edges frayed. The brim is 2 3/4" with a matching spiral stitch. It's a bit of a hard one to photograph. I'll get some pictures in natural light to when I wear it to morning services and post them in the WHAYWT thread.

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That's really sharp, Bill! A stylish gem! Wow!

 

[belfastboy]

This one arrived yesterday. The color is coffee. It's a limited beaver blend. The ribbon is 1 7/8" kangaroo with one of the back edges frayed. The brim is 2 3/4" with a matching spiral stitch. It's a bit of a hard one to photograph. I'll get some pictures in natural light to when I wear it to morning services and post them in the WHAYWT thread.

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Is it a Winchester or? Is it 50/50 blend dress weight?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This one arrived yesterday. The color is coffee. It's a limited beaver blend. The ribbon is 1 7/8" kangaroo with one of the back edges frayed. The brim is 2 3/4" with a matching spiral stitch. It's a bit of a hard one to photograph. I'll get some pictures in natural light to when I wear it to morning services and post them in the WHAYWT thread.

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The stitching on the brim is amazing. A classy hat all the way around, Bill. Congratulations on another suburb hat!

 

[Woodtroll]

This one arrived yesterday. The color is coffee. It's a limited beaver blend. The ribbon is 1 7/8" kangaroo with one of the back edges frayed. The brim is 2 3/4" with a matching spiral stitch. It's a bit of a hard one to photograph. I'll get some pictures in natural light to when I wear it to morning services and post them in the WHAYWT thread.

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Very nice addition, Bill. I love that color!

 

[Bill Hughes]

Is it a Winchester or? Is it 50/50 blend dress weight?

It's a Check beaver blend. I don't know the percentage.

 

[belfastboy]

It's a Check beaver blend. I don't know the percentage.

That is exciting if Tonak is now offering a blend with at least some beaver involved. I love their rabbit felts but could use a bit more density/substance that the beaver would supply.