What I learned on a Saturday afternoon ...

[billysmom]

I picked up an old and very worn Stetson as an experimental subject. Its dissection and lessons learned follow:

Before:

Dissection under weigh:

Further experiments:

Reconstructed:

 

[billysmom]

Lessons learned:

1. Magnifying lenses are really useful when you're over a certain age.

2. Naptha is best used outside.

3. Dawn dishwashing liquid needs to be well diluted before using on felt. Otherwise you're going to rinse forever.

4. Ribbon does shrink to fit with steam.

5. Don't spritz water on ribbon while ironing. It will leave a water mark.

6. Press the liner before sewing it back in.

7. A stretched-out hat can be shrunk back to size. But don't sew the ribbon on until the hat's back in its desired dimensions.

Altogether a fun project. My hat(s)' off to you professionals who can create such wonderful objects with straight lines and flowing curves!

Sue

 

[Garrett]

Nice work, Sue :eusa_clap

 

[Blackthorn]

Very nice, Billysmom! Keep up the good work.

 

[RBH]

SUPER WORK!!!!

 

[M6Classic]

Sue
__________________
Life's too short to live in Dallas!

It is what I used to say when I lived down in what I considered the South...at least south of the Mason/Dixon Line, in Baltimore...

Life is too long to live in Washington!

Buzz

 

[bolthead]

Great job......:eusa_clap

 

[handlebar bart]

I'm impressed. Looks great

 

[billysmom]

Thank you all for the encouragement. This will be my lid for TCU games. (Should go well with my raccoon coat for a period look if it ever gets that cool during football season!)

Sue

 

[jazzncocktails]

Thank you all for the encouragement. This will be my lid for TCU games. (Should go well with my raccoon coat for a period look if it ever gets that cool during football season!)

Sue

Very cool...especially reproducing the ribbon in another color! And good for you for braving the naptha...I've wanted to clean some hat but soaking a hat in that stuff just freaks me out!

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Definitely use Naptha outdoors. It's very dangerous stuff to breath and very flammable. I will use indoors only to spot clean but soaking should be outside and away from ignition sources.

As for eyes, I use one of those magnification headsets like engravers wear when I do the sewing on old hats.

Ironing is best with a damp hanky over the ribbon rather than water sprayed on the ribbon and direct ironing.

I really, really like how blue ribbons look next to taupes, warm greys and light or medium browns on vintage hats. Yours looks good, billysmom.