You're right. Once you get the hat you'll get the idea. Mine came with a C-crown, so I just left it as is. The brim I ran under the tap for a minute or so, shaped it, and left it to dry for about an hour. It keeps the shape: I might have adjusted it once during the first ten minutes.
Actually, it helped quite a bit. In theory, anyway; I'll have to wait until the hat arrives before I can put it to good use.
I wish I'd thought to look on You Tube first--they have a few videos that show how to shape a straw/palm leaf hat.This helps as well. I ordered the same model as Scooterz, so it should have some sort of Teardrop shape and I might only have to tighten the pinch. We'll see, but with my luck I doubt it'll be that simple.
I just check it until I know it sort of "turns loose", then start to work with it. Obviously just a dunk won't do. Heat is an important part of the equation in getting it to turn loose, probably as important as the moisture. I guess that's why we call it steam.
After Michael posted that You Tube video I watched it and a couple of others as well. In the video Michael posted Chip advises letting it soak in water for "a couple of minutes", another young lady sprayed hers with a water bottle, and the professional hatters all used steam. I'm drawing the conclusion that the techniques used for shaping a straw hat aren't much different from those used for shaping a fur felt hat--people tend to use whichever method they're most familiar with, whichever method they believe gives the best results, or a little of both. I suppose I should start to give more serious consideration into getting a tea kettle, a steam iron, or one of those hand-held garment steamers one of these days.I just check it until I know it sort of "turns loose", then start to work with it. Obviously just a dunk won't do. Heat is an important part of the equation in getting it to turn loose, probably as important as the moisture. I guess that's why we call it steam.
This is another reason I chose Sunbody for my first straw hat--I don't want to have to worry about it if I happen to get caught wearing it in the rain.
I'll have to try to remember this for the next time I'm feeling adventurous. Thank you!
That's exactly what drew me to them. In a month or so the hot and steamy weather will come oozing in here and stay until next November, and for most of that time you get sudden, catastrophic downpours. It makes me a little wary of wearing my more expensive straws, but, price-range wise, there's nothing on the market between the Sunbodys and the customs. Believe me, I've looked. The great thing about the Sunbody hats is that you can wear them as everyday, knockaround hats or as dressier hats. I'll be keeping my new one for work, going out for dinner, etc. Either way, they're miles past anything else on the market and a good buy as well. I guess you really can compare them to Akubras.
Good advice,imo.
Any idea on what the open crown might be?Well, it arrived. Ordered on Thursday, on my doorstep on Monday; Monaville/One 2 mini Ranch wasted no time sending it to me.
First impression: Yep, it's a straw hat. The Teardrop was well-defined, but the side dents were very shallow and the brim was almost flat. Except, of course, in the front, where it had this slight upward curve. Kinda' boring, actually. And here it is after my first attempt to give it more character:
Better, I think, but still a work-in-progress. I left the Teardrop alone, but was able to give the crown a little more front-to-back rake by lowering it in the back; I'd prefer more, but my head has to fit inside it so it'll do for now. I also tightened the pinch, and deepened the side dents. I was also able to give the brim the look of a "deep flange" in the back, but that relaxed considerably as the hat dried so I'll probably give it another try.
The "band" is made from polished coconut husks and plastic beads, a freebie that came with a hat I ordered years ago. I don't know how long it'll last, but for now I like it more than the simple "ribbon" that came with the hat. Ideally I was thinking a puggaree would suit the hat, but I have no idea how to make one or how to attach one to the hat, so...
Funny thing. After seeing the dimensions of this hat on Sunbody's website I thought it would be similar to my Fed IVs, except made from straw. When I tried it on the first time I thought the brim seemed a little too wide, so I measured it and found it is 2-1/2" on both sides as advertised. But when I measured the front and back I got a measurement of nearly 2-3/4", so except for the slightly tapered crown it really is similar to my Fed IVs.
As always, comments and criticisms are welcome!
Well, it arrived. Ordered on Thursday, on my doorstep on Monday; Monaville/One 2 mini Ranch wasted no time sending it to me.
First impression: Yep, it's a straw hat. The Teardrop was well-defined, but the side dents were very shallow and the brim was almost flat. Except, of course, in the front, where it had this slight upward curve. Kinda' boring, actually. And here it is after my first attempt to give it more character:
Better, I think, but still a work-in-progress. I left the Teardrop alone, but was able to give the crown a little more front-to-back rake by lowering it in the back; I'd prefer more, but my head has to fit inside it so it'll do for now. I also tightened the pinch, and deepened the side dents. I was also able to give the brim the look of a "deep flange" in the back, but that relaxed considerably as the hat dried so I'll probably give it another try.
The "band" is made from polished coconut husks and plastic beads, a freebie that came with a hat I ordered years ago. I don't know how long it'll last, but for now I like it more than the simple "ribbon" that came with the hat. Ideally I was thinking a puggaree would suit the hat, but I have no idea how to make one or how to attach one to the hat, so...
Funny thing. After seeing the dimensions of this hat on Sunbody's website I thought it would be similar to my Fed IVs, except made from straw. When I tried it on the first time I thought the brim seemed a little too wide, so I measured it and found it is 2-1/2" on both sides as advertised. But when I measured the front and back I got a measurement of nearly 2-3/4", so except for the slightly tapered crown it really is similar to my Fed IVs.
As always, comments and criticisms are welcome!
It came pre-shaped and I didn't try to undo that, but based on some rough measurements I took as it's shaped I'd say open crown would be approximately 5-3/4".
Thank you. I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I start wearing it and the straw gets broken in and loosens up a bit; it seems to have gotten a little stiffer after I re-shaped it. If you do measure yours, please let us know the results. I'd guess the variance is due to the hats being handmade, but now I'm curious about how much that varies from hat to hat.
Will do!
Thanks, Z. 5 3/4 is a good open crown height and there seems to be plenty of brim to work with. I may try and get one. I have a couple of ideas I'm floating around.
Alden 403 Moc Toe Boot - Brown Chromexcel - $680 The classic "Indy" style Alden Boot in the classic Horween brown Chromexcel. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket.
A 2-1/2" brim doesn't seem to be so wide on my Fed IVs, but on this hat it initially looked huge; the lighter colored straw is probably responsible for the optical illusion. Joao would probably call it a "fez with a rain gutter", but it's enough brim for me.
Admittedly not a huge difference, but it does make the hat look more like a traditional Panama (in my mind, anyway).
