Scooterz
Practically Family
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Hat block. I wear 7 1/4 or 58 mostly. If I want a hat block to make an existing hat open crown with the sweat still on what size should I order? 7 1/8?
My opinion would be to just go ahead and get yourself an actual 7 1/4 block if that's the size you wear. Get an old hat you really don't wear much and practice taking it apart, reblocking it, and then putting everything back together. You can block a hat with the sweat in but it just doesn't look quite right.Hat block. I wear 7 1/4 or 58 mostly. If I want a hat block to make an existing hat open crown with the sweat still on what size should I order? 7 1/8?
Wonderful job Terry.I recently posted this Bandera conversion in "The Other Open Roads" thread. Since then I had a change of plans with it. The hat originally started out as Bandera's version of the Open Road. It sported a 5 3/4 open crown with a 3 inch brim width. It definitely needed some work, and it was too small for me @ 7 1/8. In order to retain the original crown height and brim width I reblocked it on a 7 1/4 #51 block and only did some light cleaning on it so I could also retain its 'worn and lived in' look. I was successful but the block shape and the wide brim just didn't grow on me. So I took it apart apart again and reblocked it on my RA block and lowered my open crown height to 5 1/2 inches tall. My straight sided RA uses up a lot more material than my #51 and if I would have went with the full 5 3/4 crown height I wouldn't have had much brim to work with. So I readjusted my cord to get 5 1/2 inches and I was just barely able to get my preferred 2 5/8 brim width. With that, though, the original color of the hat which was hiding under the thin ribbon hat band crept up higher onto the crown. But I would rather live with it this way. I was able to lighten up the old shadow pretty much so its not too bad. The crown is creased, the brim is cut and reflanged, and I just recut the original brim binding to size and it's on the hat hat ready to be sewn on. Here's what I have so far...
Before:
First blocking on my #51:
Too much front to back crown taper and the brim was too wide to suit me.
Reblocked on my straight sided RA. The profile is completely vertical all around and much more to my satisfaction:
Off the RA and ready to trim the brim:
This is how close the trimming was even after lowering the crown height to 5 1/2 inches. This shows how much more material that my straight sided RA takes up than my #51 block:
Trimming on this part of the brim was right at the stitch holes where brim binding was. It would have been an easy fix if I was going to leave it raw edge but I'm putting the brim binding on it, so no big deal at all: the black stitching on the crown is the temporary basting stitches:
Notice the block differences and how much area the straight sided RA takes up over the #51:
Brim binding cut to fit and the ends sewn together: also, notice how far the old shadow under the thin ribbon crept up on the crown. I lighted it up pretty much by going over it with a yellow hat sponge:
Basting stitches to hold the binding in place while I sew on the permanent stitches:
Everything's almost ready. I'll have more when it's finished.
The open crown is 5 1/2 inches and is creased to my preferred tear drop, 4 3/4 at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches in the back. The brim is 2 5/8 inches. Everything original to the hat will be reused.
Thank you Blare!Wonderful job Terry.
I recently posted this Bandera conversion in "The Other Open Roads" thread. Since then I had a change of plans with it. The hat originally started out as Bandera's version of the Open Road. It sported a 5 3/4 open crown with a 3 inch brim width. It definitely needed some work, and it was too small for me @ 7 1/8. In order to retain the original crown height and brim width I reblocked it on a 7 1/4 #51 block and only did some light cleaning on it so I could also retain its 'worn and lived in' look. I was successful but the block shape and the wide brim just didn't grow on me. So I took it apart apart again and reblocked it on my RA block and lowered my open crown height to 5 1/2 inches tall. My straight sided RA uses up a lot more material than my #51 and if I would have went with the full 5 3/4 crown height I wouldn't have had much brim to work with. So I readjusted my cord to get 5 1/2 inches and I was just barely able to get my preferred 2 5/8 brim width. With that, though, the original color of the hat which was hiding under the thin ribbon hat band crept up higher onto the crown. But I would rather live with it this way. I was able to lighten up the old shadow pretty much so its not too bad. The crown is creased, the brim is cut and reflanged, and I just recut the original brim binding to size and it's on the hat hat ready to be sewn on. Here's what I have so far...
Before:
First blocking on my #51:
Too much front to back crown taper and the brim was too wide to suit me.
Reblocked on my straight sided RA. The profile is completely vertical all around and much more to my satisfaction:
Off the RA and ready to trim the brim:
This is how close the trimming was even after lowering the crown height to 5 1/2 inches. This shows how much more material that my straight sided RA takes up than my #51 block:
Trimming on this part of the brim was right at the stitch holes where brim binding was. It would have been an easy fix if I was going to leave it raw edge but I'm putting the brim binding on it, so no big deal at all: the black stitching on the crown is the temporary basting stitches:
Notice the block differences and how much area the straight sided RA takes up over the #51:
Brim binding cut to fit and the ends sewn together: also, notice how far the old shadow under the thin ribbon crept up on the crown. I lighted it up pretty much by going over it with a yellow hat sponge:
Basting stitches to hold the binding in place while I sew on the permanent stitches:
Everything's almost ready. I'll have more when it's finished.
The open crown is 5 1/2 inches and is creased to my preferred tear drop, 4 3/4 at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches in the back. The brim is 2 5/8 inches. Everything original to the hat will be reused.
Thank you buddy!Great work as usual Terry!
Steven
Great ideaMy Mickey Mouse inspired Akubra Stylemaster. I did this simple conversion for my family trip to Disney World.
View attachment 327339
Have a safe and blessed evening.
Steven
Hahahah! Good’n!My Mickey Mouse inspired Akubra Stylemaster. I did this simple conversion for my family trip to Disney World.
View attachment 327339
Have a safe and blessed evening.
Steven
I recently posted this Bandera conversion in "The Other Open Roads" thread. Since then I had a change of plans with it. The hat originally started out as Bandera's version of the Open Road. It sported a 5 3/4 open crown with a 3 inch brim width. It definitely needed some work, and it was too small for me @ 7 1/8. In order to retain the original crown height and brim width I reblocked it on a 7 1/4 #51 block and only did some light cleaning on it so I could also retain its 'worn and lived in' look. I was successful but the block shape and the wide brim just didn't grow on me. So I took it apart apart again and reblocked it on my RA block and lowered my open crown height to 5 1/2 inches tall. My straight sided RA uses up a lot more material than my #51 and if I would have went with the full 5 3/4 crown height I wouldn't have had much brim to work with. So I readjusted my cord to get 5 1/2 inches and I was just barely able to get my preferred 2 5/8 brim width. With that, though, the original color of the hat which was hiding under the thin ribbon hat band crept up higher onto the crown. But I would rather live with it this way. I was able to lighten up the old shadow pretty much so its not too bad. The crown is creased, the brim is cut and reflanged, and I just recut the original brim binding to size and it's on the hat hat ready to be sewn on. Here's what I have so far...
Before:
First blocking on my #51:
Too much front to back crown taper and the brim was too wide to suit me.
Reblocked on my straight sided RA. The profile is completely vertical all around and much more to my satisfaction:
Off the RA and ready to trim the brim:
This is how close the trimming was even after lowering the crown height to 5 1/2 inches. This shows how much more material that my straight sided RA takes up than my #51 block:
Trimming on this part of the brim was right at the stitch holes where the brim binding was. It would be an easy fix if I was going to leave it raw edge but I'm putting the brim binding on it, so no big deal at all: the black stitching on the crown are the temporary basting stitches:
Notice the block differences and how much area the straight sided RA takes up over the #51:
Brim binding cut to fit and the ends sewn together: also, notice how far the old shadow under the thin ribbon crept up on the crown. I lightened it up pretty much by going over it with a yellow hat sponge:
Basting stitches to hold the binding in place while I sew on the permanent stitches:
Everything's almost ready. I'll have more when it's finished.
The open crown is 5 1/2 inches and is creased to my preferred tear drop, 4 3/4 at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches in the back. The brim is 2 5/8 inches. Everything original to the hat will be reused, (just to add, the felt is awesome on this hat).
My thanks again to Suited Cowboy who gifted this hat to me.
Fantastic job Randall. I’m sure he will love it.
View attachment 350868 Newest conversion finished today.
A Don Williams Stetson clone.
Did this one for my oldest brother.
He LOVES Don’s songs. Knows em all by heart. I like the “Gentle Giant” a lot, myself.
I used a size 7 late 60s 3X Stetson and disassembled it. Craig is my size, so 7 1/4. Blocked, flanged, shaped and distressed. Added a lightly bleached brown ribbon and dyed a Calvary style new gold two cord hatband with acorns to a darker old looking color.
As you can tell, I went with the felt color of Don’s later hats. His earlier ones were a bit darker.
Could’ve distressed it further, like Don’s, but Craig wants to do it naturally, which won’t take him long, since he’s a hard worker and a true woodsman. Don’s song, “I’m Just a Country Boy” suits him well.
We’ll all miss the smooth singin’ man and his songs.
View attachment 350865 View attachment 350869 View attachment 350866
Sewed in one of my signature sweatbands. View attachment 350871
Looks great buddy! Nice job! I like that style of Western, something of a throwback to the old TV Westerns of the '50s and '60s. Just my style and just my size too!View attachment 350868 Newest conversion finished today.
A Don Williams Stetson clone.
Did this one for my oldest brother.
He LOVES Don’s songs. Knows em all by heart. I like the “Gentle Giant” a lot, myself.
I used a size 7 late 60s 3X Stetson and disassembled it. Craig is my size, so 7 1/4. Blocked, flanged, shaped and distressed. Added a lightly bleached brown ribbon and dyed a Calvary style new gold two cord hatband with acorns to a darker old looking color.
As you can tell, I went with the felt color of Don’s later hats. His earlier ones were a bit darker.
Could’ve distressed it further, like Don’s, but Craig wants to do it naturally, which won’t take him long, since he’s a hard worker and a true woodsman. Don’s song, “I’m Just a Country Boy” suits him well.
We’ll all miss the smooth singin’ man and his songs.
View attachment 350865 View attachment 350869 View attachment 350866
Sewed in one of my signature sweatbands. View attachment 350871
Thanks buddy. I've done quite a few with that RA block. It gives a nice straight full profile. Here's the Bandera completed. I forgot to post a picture the hat after I finished it.Looks awesome as usual, Terry!
So, with this one how many hats will you have made? You do fine work.
I got a new straight sided block from Randal Alan about a month ago.
Liked it so good I ended up coating my old one with bondo and sanded it down to my specs. View attachment 350877 View attachment 350879 Works so much better, now. Looks good after painting it Mopar Plum Crazy Purple; since I already had that color.
Looks great buddy! Nice job! I like that style of Western, something of a throwback to the old TV Westerns of the '50s and '60s. Just my style and just my size too!
I did one similar last year with this '50s era 3X Stetson. It started out as a size 7 and was crushed up and badly stained with sweat and dirt. The Lounger who gave it to me said it had a story to tell. It was definitely worn for work. I liked the distressed look so I cleaned it up just enough to get nasty off of it....and I blocked it up two sizes to fit me. I even kept the original 3ply ribbon and brim binding.
Great job on the Bandera !Thanks buddy. I've done quite a few with that RA block. It gives a nice straight full profile. Here's the Bandera completed. I forgot to post a picture the hat after I finished it.
That's pretty neat, though, what you did with yours. I like that MOPAR plumb color! It looks great! I take it that you're a fellow MOPAR fan?