Felt hat blank help

[Sean Gadhar]

I took the wife to Fort Bridger Rendezvous (her 1st big Rendezvous) and she asked me about hat blanks. I started pointing out all the hats she was seeing people wear that started as similar blanks. Well the Rende Bug bit her and now "we are going to craft our own hats" She pick up 2 inexpensive (I think $30-40 for both together) blanks.

I have been using the search but have yet to find a good instruction on or video on getting from blank to hat.

What hat you might ask, :idunno: (you got a wife right? You know how this works.) Likely if it stops looking like a blank & starts looking something like a hat she saw at Fort Bridger, she will be happy & want to go to more Rendezvous (my end goal).

Thanks for any help & no I don't know what kind of felt, as it was "a little surprise for us" :grin: Really I'm Just happy she had fun & I want her/us to get a hat out of it to remember by.

 

[necchi]

I really don't know, most of those are worn just as they come and we tease folks about a mushroom top.

I use secondhand store Cowboy hat's that I refurb like these;

Cowboy hats can be too tall, the ones in the photo I cut the top off about an inch above the brim,, then cut down the top, hot water soak, stretched it and sewed it back on, the "hat band" covers the stitching.
I do know an important part of these is a relatively firm leather (sometimes light leather around plastic) head band that's sewn inside the hat. It's that headband that fit's snuggly around your head and holds the hat on. There's plenty of extra brim material that can come off the blank (it's easier to take a little at a time then try to put some back on.) There is always a break in period for that heavy leather band to fit yer head. Getting caught in the rain helps.
And as that headband breaks in, pieces of felt or heavy fabric can be added between the headband and the felt hat,, front/back or at the sides to get that fit just right.
It's that broke in fit that makes a good hat so personal and coveted, a good hat will stay on your head in a 20mph wind!

Steam is the key to shaping felt hat's. Directed steam from a teapot or hand held clothing wrinkle remover is better than an open pot.

Have her go to stores (new or second hand) and look at the insides of made hats.

 

[Luke MacGillie]

As far as Im concerned, Id rather start with good raw materials than have to use plastic to end up with something that looks period. That is just me.

I like to stiffen my crowns, use shellac and brush it into the felt. For a quick touchup, aquanet or some other hairspray from the 80's will work, just make sure you brush it in after spraying it on. Then a proper lining, or at the very least a good drawstring headband will make the wear of the hat much more enjoyable, and probably keep you from having excess dye from cheap blanks run down your face the first time you wear it in the rain.

The liner can be whipstiched around the base of the interior crown, then the top for the drawstring is just folded over, whipstiched as well, then the drawstring added. you can adjust how high or low you want the hat to set on your head.

 

[necchi]

Just teasing you with the Oxymoron,,

than have to use plastic to end up with something that looks period.

aquanet or some other hairspray from the 80's will work,

:hmm:
:haha:

 

[Oudoceus]

No need to resort to plastic when something PC/HC like Aquanet will do! :rotf:

 

[Luke MacGillie]

well I guess the modern made shellac is pretty wrong as well.......Heck the beaver were not trapped in the period....

What is hairspray anyway? Sure aint a plastic milk jug cut up for a headband.....

 

[necchi]

:haha:
I wasn't suggesting to use plastic ,, really. :wink:
Just relating what I've seen done.
You certainly won't find any plastic on/in a new Stetson or Baily

 

[omarick1948]

Sorry, Stetson AND Baily use synthetic (Nylon) threads in their hats band and crown stitching! Always have since about 1960.

Rick

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Actually, Luke, if you get true shellac, it's alcohol (and maybe some MEK) with dissolved tree scrapings...even today. So other than the Methyl Ethyl Ketone...it's the same stuff.

LD

 

[Luke MacGillie]

And hair spray is gum arabic dissolved in a solvent and made to work in a spray can.....

Both shellac and gum arabic are used in period recipies for hat stiffening.

I wonder if folks get bent out of shape that their browning solution comes in a plastic bottle....... :stir:

 

[omarick1948]

I think that it gets down right silly every couple of years that all of the so-called purists of historic history come out of the woodwork debating all of the authenticity of "this" or "that"! Hell people! We are all hypocrites on being PC or HC, as we can't help to not be. If a person has a Pace Maker should they be allowed at a strictly PC/HC activity? What about modern medical equipment or prescription medications? If there's a medical situation or emergency in camp, would we stop a Physician/Nurse attending the function from rendering ad because there probably wasn't a Doctor available at a Rendezvous or wilderness camp gathering? How did all of the Purists get to that Rendezvous, by Mule the animal or Mule with cruise control. We suppose to be a family oriented pastime, but does mom or dad relish having that little one(s) wearing nothing but a breech cloth with no Pampers diaper allowed in camp. I think not!
I'm not going to change anybodies mind here, but it just tickles me as well as also ticks me off a little, when someone starts the PC/HC debating.

I'm all for a person who wants all of their clothing, guns and accutrements to be as authentic as possible, but that is that individuals choice and interest___not everyone's choice.

See how silly we get and yes we are a bunch of Hypocrites!

Rick

 

[Jaeger]

You put the ball in the bullseye, Horner. My motto: "If ya can't see it, it ain't there".

 

[Sean Gadhar]

Actually, Luke, if you get true shellac, it's alcohol (and maybe some MEK) with dissolved tree scrapings...even today. So other than the Methyl Ethyl Ketone...it's the same stuff.

LD

Sorry Dave But it is so rare that I know something about something in crafting I just had to point out, you are so almost right, but maybe just a bit off. Shellac is indeed scraped off trees, however it is not tree scrapings. It is a resin that is secreted by the female lac (a bug) on to the trees.

 

[necchi]

Sorry, Stetson AND Baily use synthetic (Nylon) threads in their hats band and crown stitching!

Ahww, the thread!
I forgot about that, :redface:
:wink:

 

[Wes/Tex]

I'm not going to change anybodies mind here, but it just tickles me as well as also ticks me off a little, when someone starts the PC/HC debating.
Rick

When the subject comes up, I always smile recalling this...
"Political Correctness is a theory fostered by a delusional and illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, that holds forth the proposition that is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." :wink:

 

[Rick Boylan]

I'm stealing that one to add to my collection of quotes. That's a keeper. :grin:

 

[Dave Marsh]

My new favorite quote as well. :thumbsup: Back to the subject that started this thread. I have a hat blank that I would like to finish as well. Should the edge of the brim have some sort of binding sewed on? How wide should a brim be as a rule? What type of hat band was common?? Any insights appreciated.

Dave

 

[George]

When the subject comes up, I always smile recalling this...
"Political Correctness is a theory fostered by a delusional and illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, that holds forth the proposition that is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." :wink:

You understand that PC as used in these discussions means Period Correct, not Politically Correct, I'm sure. I hope everyone does.

Spence

 

[Rick Boylan]

Yup. :thumbsup:

 

[crockett]

There are a lot of details of which I don't know. The fur companies had wool blanks in their inventory lists. From Nathaniel Wyeth's diary these hats were so hard they could about stop a bullet. Since they were cheap equipment for the trapping parties odds are they might have been pretty plain. The issues are: sweatband, liner, headband, chin strap, binding around the brim's edge.
In order to keep the shape of the crown from over expanding after some time you just about have to sew in a sweatband. Chin straps are shown in a painting or two and it would seem that in the wide open spaces a hat would easily blow away without one. There are paintings where a feather or two or a foxtail "brush" or pipe is shown. The trouble is who wore such hats with feathers or foxtails? Those of European descent or mixed? I don't know if any original hats are in any museums. The answers may be lost to time.
On the shellac. I doubt mountain men did much to "fix up" their hats. Cowboys, if their Stetsons get to beat up go to a western wear retailer that offers a re-blocking service (used to be about $10). There is some sort of spray they use and they'll put whatever crease (Ft. Worth, Montana Peak etc.) the owner wants.