What Hat Are You Working On Today?

[RickP]

And now the Sweatband is sewn back in, the ribbon tacked in, and liner is back inside where it belongs. Its a complete wearable hat again! One just needs to remember where it started, and the remaining warts dont seem so bad (either that or dont scrutinize underneath it too closely lol)

Project complete and on to the next one!

 

[Monte]

I have not seen this thread before. I didn't read all the pages, but what I've read was interesting. My most recent reshapes are a tall crown Resistol that looked bad its original cattlemens crease. I changed the shape quite a little. The other was an Agnoulita shaped to a cattlemens crease.

 

[Monte]

I was also thinking, people have so many hats, yet are willing to invest precious time into returning an unworn hat into something wearable which also looks great, and keeps the sun off your eyes. Something very tangible about this. Cool stuff. Reminds me of being in high-school, and stretching and reshaping a Resistol into something I wore for close to 30 years until it was lost. That was a good hat. Cheers.

 

[Monte]

I found another '90s Resistol, brushed it up, and now wear that just as proudly. It seems to be unworn and original so fine by me.

 

[TimmyV]

Here's a few pix of my latest "project hat" that I picked up pretty cheap on eBay. Unlined Mallory that came with the leather sweatband detached. From what I could tell in the ad I figured I was going to need to replace the old sweatband with a new one , thinking the leather had deteriorated to the point the sweatband had let go. I get some nice ones from Etsy that are made to my size and ready to sew in, so that wasn't going to be a problem. Was probably going to move the Mallory size tag to the new sweatband too, just to help give it a more vintage look.

This afternoon when the hat arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that the old leather sweatband was still in good shape, only the threads that had attached it to the hat were dry rotted away. Another nice surprise was seeing that it was an unreeded leather sweatband that still fit like a glove. So I am going to try and sew the original back in.

I've never did one of these and I'm sure it will be tedious trying to hit all those tiny little holes just right. Like everything else I do, I'm going to give it my best shot & we will see how it turns out.

Hope y'all have a good 'un !

 

[RickP]

Finally got around to doing a bit of work on the floppy old Moose River.

Added a ribbon binding to the brim and replaced the worn old skinny ribbon for one just a bit bigger. Silverbelly ribbon for band and edge. I Finally got that irritating moth nibble on the brim edge covered up after all these years Yeaaaa!

Sitting here waiting for the fingers to stop bleeding ( I stabbed myself about a dozen times lol. Haven't sewn the hatband and ribbon down yet because Im contemplating whether to go ahead and replace the old ripped sweatband while Its semi apart ( Both sides have bad tears.). Still have a bit to go, and still need to do some brim steaming and ironing on a few wonky spots... but I think it looks a bit more civilized. Doesnt remind me of Jed Clampett's hat so much anymore ( before pic included to show the difference).

Headed out back for a big Old Fashioned and some tobacco burning in one of the pipes.. Plan is to chill out and let the hat tell me if it wants a new sweatband in the morning

 

[RickP]

Here's a few pix of my latest "project hat" that I picked up pretty cheap on eBay. Unlined Mallory that came with the leather sweatband detached. From what I could tell in the ad I figured I was going to need to replace the old sweatband with a new one , thinking the leather had deteriorated to the point the sweatband had let go. I get some nice ones from Etsy that are made to my size and ready to sew in, so that wasn't going to be a problem. Was probably going to move the Mallory size tag to the new sweatband too, just to help give it a more vintage look.

This afternoon when the hat arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that the old leather sweatband was still in good shape, only the threads that had attached it to the hat were dry rotted away. Another nice surprise was seeing that it was an unreeded leather sweatband that still fit like a glove. So I am going to try and sew the original back in.

I've never did one of these and I'm sure it will be tedious trying to hit all those tiny little holes just right. Like everything else I do, I'm going to give it my best shot & we will see how it turns out.

Hope y'all have a good 'un !

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great news on the salvageable sweatband! Im confident you will be fine..... just watch the needles and fingertips... I fought THAT battle here today myself

 

[TimmyV]

Just a few shots showing the completed project. First time sewing in an unreeded sweatband and some of the stitches are slightly irregular but close enough for this old hillbilly. Lol.

 

[RickP]

Got a nice letter from up in Seattle today ... I had called David Morgan to see if they had any Akubra Hat band pins.. They found one in a drawer and sent it free.. Good customer service!

I needed on because I had a nice leather and feather hatband off of a Stetson Weekender, And an Akubra Coobalah that needed a nicer band. Perfect fit after a couple stitches and looks nice but that "STETSON" pin on the band just didnt look right. No problem because its now an Akubra! lol

Man this was the first time my Labrador hasnt turned his butt toward the camera in weeks lol

 

[Frontporchcharlie]

Got a nice letter from up in Seattle today ... I had called David Morgan to see if they had any Akubra Hat band pins.. They found one in a drawer and sent it free.. Good customer service!

I needed on because I had a nice leather and feather hatband off of a Stetson Weekender, And an Akubra Coobalah that needed a nicer band. Perfect fit after a couple stitches and looks nice but that "STETSON" pin on the band just didnt look right. No problem because its now an Akubra! lol

Man this was the first time my Labrador hasnt turned his butt toward the camera in weeks lol

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I had a similar experience with Stetson. I bought two straw Open Roads, both missing the JBS hat pin, from different vendors. Stetson sent me two for free, overnight shipping. I tell you this because it surprised me. Doesn’t surprise me from David Morgan.

 

[RickP]

I had a similar experience with Stetson. I bought two straw Open Roads, both missing the JBS hat pin, from different vendors. Stetson sent me two for free, overnight shipping. I tell you this because it surprised me. Doesn’t surprise me from David Morgan.

Makes me think I really should buy another hat from DM... My ex wife took me there and told me to pick out a hat for my birthday.. Picked up my Sage Lawson.... great hat. Maybe its time for a Campdraft? lol

 

[rogueclimber]

Just a few shots showing the completed project. First time sewing in an unreeded sweatband and some of the stitches are slightly irregular but close enough for this old hillbilly. Lol.

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I love how you attack these projects! Well done

 

[TimmyV]

I love how you attack these projects! Well done

Thanks Rob !! I appreciate it

 

[RickP]

I love how you attack these projects! Well done

I agree!

 

[RickP]

Well I finally did it.... after a few months of a crinkly, noisy cellophane headliner on a nice older 3x Open Road ( no metric sizing on tag so Im guessing early 70's or so), I finally removed the cellophane. Really clean headliner underneath, and now you cannot hear me put the hat on from across the room. I agonized on whether to do it, but finally decided the noise was too irritating to put up with. Wouldnt have done it if it was a rare or higher end hat in mint condition...but I got this to be a daily wear hat. Im much happier ( and quieter) now

 

[shopkin]

The cellophane was to keep Brylcreem from staining the liner. Now you will have to stop dressing your hair.

 

[RickP]

About a year ago I picked up a nice Navy Soverign Stetson something or other ( another victim of the Tag Removing bandit so I have no clue what it really was). Nice soft felt but had some wonky brim waves, and a rather casual cloth Panama looking hatband. Just not nearly nice enough for a Sovereign. I had JUST enough 1-1/2" navy grosgrain ( I had less than 2" left when I finished the ribbon. think Im going to quit buying a yard or two at a time and just buy a bigger roll lol). Got some brim straightening and crown steaming done so its a bit more civilized now.

Anyway its just about done and IMHO it looks a lot nicer with a ribbon. more like a dress hat and less like a beach cover. Going to do just a bit more brim work and steaming ironing before I sew the ribbon in later... I think the old band is going to get moved over to a straw that has a rather bland band. Nothing goes to waste around here! time to head out to the patio for a celebratory drink.

Interesting observation today... I evidently only stab the needle into my fingers when Im working on a tan or silverbelly hat. Work on a dark hat that doesnt show blood and I dont prick the fingers at all

 

[The Shoe]

About a year ago I picked up a nice Navy Soverign Stetson something or other ( another victim of the Tag Removing bandit so I have no clue what it really was). Nice soft felt but had some wonky brim waves, and a rather casual cloth Panama looking hatband. Just not nearly nice enough for a Sovereign. I had JUST enough 1-1/2" navy grosgrain ( I had less than 2" left when I finished the ribbon. think Im going to quit buying a yard or two at a time and just buy a bigger roll lol). Got some brim straightening and crown steaming done so its a bit more civilized now.

Anyway its just about done and IMHO it looks a lot nicer with a ribbon. more like a dress hat and less like a beach cover. Going to do just a bit more brim work and steaming ironing before I sew the ribbon in later... I think the old band is going to get moved over to a straw that has a rather bland band. Nothing goes to waste around here! time to head out to the patio for a celebratory drink.

Interesting observation today... I evidently only stab the needle into my fingers when Im working on a tan or silverbelly hat. Work on a dark hat that doesnt show blood and I dont prick the fingers at all

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Big improvement. Well done!

 

[rogueclimber]

About a year ago I picked up a nice Navy Soverign Stetson something or other ( another victim of the Tag Removing bandit so I have no clue what it really was). Nice soft felt but had some wonky brim waves, and a rather casual cloth Panama looking hatband. Just not nearly nice enough for a Sovereign. I had JUST enough 1-1/2" navy grosgrain ( I had less than 2" left when I finished the ribbon. think Im going to quit buying a yard or two at a time and just buy a bigger roll lol). Got some brim straightening and crown steaming done so its a bit more civilized now.

Anyway its just about done and IMHO it looks a lot nicer with a ribbon. more like a dress hat and less like a beach cover. Going to do just a bit more brim work and steaming ironing before I sew the ribbon in later... I think the old band is going to get moved over to a straw that has a rather bland band. Nothing goes to waste around here! time to head out to the patio for a celebratory drink.

Interesting observation today... I evidently only stab the needle into my fingers when Im working on a tan or silverbelly hat. Work on a dark hat that doesnt show blood and I dont prick the fingers at all

View attachment 646487 View attachment 646488 View attachment 646489

The blue on blue looks nice!

 

[TimmyV]

About a year ago I picked up a nice Navy Soverign Stetson something or other ( another victim of the Tag Removing bandit so I have no clue what it really was). Nice soft felt but had some wonky brim waves, and a rather casual cloth Panama looking hatband. Just not nearly nice enough for a Sovereign. I had JUST enough 1-1/2" navy grosgrain ( I had less than 2" left when I finished the ribbon. think Im going to quit buying a yard or two at a time and just buy a bigger roll lol). Got some brim straightening and crown steaming done so its a bit more civilized now.

Anyway its just about done and IMHO it looks a lot nicer with a ribbon. more like a dress hat and less like a beach cover. Going to do just a bit more brim work and steaming ironing before I sew the ribbon in later... I think the old band is going to get moved over to a straw that has a rather bland band. Nothing goes to waste around here! time to head out to the patio for a celebratory drink.

Interesting observation today... I evidently only stab the needle into my fingers when Im working on a tan or silverbelly hat. Work on a dark hat that doesnt show blood and I dont prick the fingers at all

View attachment 646487 View attachment 646488 View attachment 646489

Quite the improvement...nice job !