The Cap Faction

[1mach1]

I got a new cap from Damien. I know he can do very exquisite work but I asked him to make a garden variety, no frills cap from Donegal tweed. I'm very pleased with the results:

Blackthorne, you are the man! Great cap!

 

[1mach1]

Good evening. This afternoon I took a moment to get a couple of more detailed pics of my new Cordova Cap. Everybody needs a Cordova Cap!

Eric, that is a beauty! I love the fabric. :thumb:

 

[Blackthorn]

Thanks for all the kind words, gentlemen.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

The cap showcase continues! Well done fellows!

The lightbulb went on this morning for me. I think I understand the many colors in the caps - they allow better coordination with fabrics and color characteristics. Below are pics of Cordova caps with a Pendelton Boards Shirt. The Pendleton shirts show a large variety of color choices. I was pleased to see the caps worked.

Lightbulb for me, I presume you folks already have had this moment.

Thinking color patterns this morning, Eric -

 

[triple-d]

Very nice Eric!!
I was cruising the Cap Faction this morning. Made me go dig out my one and only Harris Tweed. The next thing I know, I'm ordering a Trident from Keith.........it's like the Twilight Zone when i get on here..........[huh]

 

[RJR]

You're not alone,triple-d!

 

[DamianM]

The Gerrard- 8/4 crown cap

More on my blog.

 

[smoothsailor]

nice DamianM

 

[1mach1]

+1. I like the pattern and the colors! Very versatile.

 

[dh66]

Amazing pattern matching, DamianM.

 

[RJR]

Very cool,Damian!

 

[Stuffsmith]

Nice cap, Damian! And Blackthorn / Eric, you two are sporting the caps beautifully! Good stuff, all around.

 

[Stuffsmith]

A new summer-light Argonne cap. Quarter-panel 8 dart cap with 1950's Japanese 'Tanzen' haori cotton - so light you can practically see through it. I added the usual bells and whistles, vintage silk liner, leather, blah blah, but there are three cool new features I haven't done before. The first is the leather front band, but the really nifty details are hidden: the snap, which is a rare-as-hens-teeth United Carr 1920s/30s 'birdcage' snap, and the sweatband ribbon, which I wove myself - pics of it being made. This one's a keeper!

 

[herringbonekid]

very nice Keith !

 

[dh66]

Exquisite, Keith.

 

[RJR]

Very nice,Keith.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Care questions:
(1) How do you care for the leather banded wool caps? I wear my caps and see that sooner than later I may need to clean (refresh) a couple of my wool caps. I am bald (obvious from my moniker) and I can see the start of staining on the liners of my caps. When I travel with my caps I change the "new" blocked shapes. Should I block and steam them, like I do with my fedoras?
(2) Storage? Currently I store them stacked with tissue paper between. Any suggestions as to care? I only have a couple of custom caps, but value my vtg caps as well.

Thanks in advance for your sage wisdom. Best, Eric -

 

[Brother cavefish]

wow Keith, one of your best, nice glasses where did you get those

 

[Stuffsmith]

Thanks Bro CF! The glasses are from circa 1830, coin silver. I got them 25 years ago for $50 and have worn them that long on and off.

 

[GregNYC]

Eric, I have dealt with the same issues, and can offer some experiences.

Liners and Sweat - This is my first year, but I'll have to solve this one too. I sweat a lot. I've asked the custom makers to use mesh linings and grommets for ventilation for summer caps. And I have worn a sheet or two of paper towel between my scalp and the lining. I heard from a hat seller at JJ's who's been in the business for 25 years that some of the old-school cap wearers actually pad the cap with some kind of rolled-up paper so that they will keep a certain shape. I talked to a wearer from France or Italy who said his father would do the paper-towel thing with an unlined cap.

Steam - I use my Jiffy portable steamer a lot, especially with cotton and linen caps. I accept this as a cost of the hobby. One of the main draws for me with caps is the fantastic variety of fabrics. Some great fabrics happen to wrinkle a lot. And if my storage is less than careful, I might have to steam even a more hardy wool cap.

Storage - There are three things I have heard, and two I have used. (1) Rolled up tissue or packing paper. This is what the hat shops use. (2) "Cap keepers" Keith makes these little round pillows that fit inside the crown. They come with his caps, and he might sell them separately soon. Great for vintage caps and the more delicate customs. They are just the right size and shape for most caps, and make it safe to stack them on top of each other. (3) Barry once told me that he uses something like small, flat plastic Tupperware or Rubbermaid containers, one per cap. I think he uses paper inside too. I'd love to see a picture!

I'd be interested to hear what others do!