"Transformation"

[REDKNIGHT1775]

Lately I had been keeping an eye out for an Akubra style hat on Ebay, with no luck. I did end up coming across a good deal on an open-crown Resistol western styled hat, with 4" brim. The hat had a nice brown color that I had been looking for so I went with it, hoping I could work with it. Upon receiving the hat I began planes on what I would to do to make it a nice fedora...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=52370&item=8287304648

The crown height was approximately 7" tall and the brim was 4". The felt was a little on the stiff side, but with a good pre-work cleaning in woolite and a hot water soak it softened up nicely.

I did some step by step work and took some pictures of the "transformation". The first thing I worked on was the crown. I went with a c-crown and a tight pinch in the front. It then measured over 5 1/4" in front and 5" in the rear, with the sides being just over 5 1/4".
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g184/REDKNIGHT1775/2.jpg

The second step was replacing the slender ribbon with a 1 1/4" black gross-grain ribbon. I used one I had ordered off Ebay, have a whole spool of it. It went on pretty easy, all I had to do is sow it tighter on top to close the gaps. I did keep the Resistol pin that the hat originally came with, add that extra touch.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g184/REDKNIGHT1775/IM000909.jpg

Finally I took a trip to the local Boot Jack where they sized down the brim to 2 7/8". I had thought about going with 2 5/8", but since the crown sits high it looks more proportional with the wider brim. I snapped the brim in the front and did steamed a slight curl all around the sides and back, just enough to notice.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g184/REDKNIGHT1775/3.jpg

Did a little tinkering afterwards and got the final look I had been wishing for. I managed to work the front crown down to 5" and the back at 4 3/8". Let me know what you guys think?
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g184/REDKNIGHT1775/IM000912.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g184/REDKNIGHT1775/IM000910.jpg

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Very good!

And a good hat procuring strategy. No body bids on a dorky looking hat, so if you're handy you can fashion a swan out of an ugly duckling, and save yourself a ton of cash. Well done!

 

[epic610]

don't get me wrong....

it's a gorgeous hat. you have done a great job of tranformation. but maybe i am missing something. why don't you just go out and buy what you want and be done with it?

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Great, just great!!

I think you did a great job and you have the pride that you made your own fedora... Looks like we have a up and coming new hatter. :eusa_clap

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

The creative urge must be obeyed.

it's a gorgeous hat. you have done a great job of tranformation. but maybe i am missing something. why don't you just go out and buy what you want and be done with it?

Because it was more fun to create his own,...
and if ya want something done right,...ya gotta do it yourself. (If ya can, that is.)

 

[epic610]

i guess you are all right...

my idea of a tool box is a swiss army knife . . . if it takes more than that, i just spend money. don't have the talent or the patience to create something. with the internet its just as easy to buy.

enjoy your beautiful creation!

 

[Wild Root]

Not a bad little trick there! Such a tall crown... wow! I like tall crowns!!!

My self, I'd have put a center crease and some what taller ribbon... trim the brim down to say 2 1/2 size and make a total early 30's tall crowned job... you know, with the reverse taper profile you see in the early 30's movies!!!

You did a good job, nice hat and enjoy the heck out of it!

=WR=

 

[REDKNIGHT1775]

I do have a good collection of other fedoras, but I thought it would be fun to work on something. I really did enjoy making this hat look and feel different. Hope everyone liked the pictures I posted. Thanks for the compliments...