First Attempt at Cocked Hat

[SgtErv]

I'm just beginning to get into the handmade stuff, and this was my first attempt at a cocked hat. I was going to go with a plain one with a wide brim, but I'm leery of the flash getting in my face. I'm putting another lace in the front sections, just haven't determined if I want it to the front or rear of the existing one.

The lining was tricky, not poking through the whole hat, but a round needle helped a lot. Trimmed about a half inch off the brim all around

Probably not the best, but it's a start, and not bad for a $30 hat blank from Crazy Crow. Fits slightly loose like I wanted, and I'm in the process of waterproofing

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

My hat's off to you :hatsoff:

 

[SgtErv]

Thanks. It's quite comfy. Sure beats a kevlar. I d have gotten farmer floppy hat route, but the flash scares me in that configuration

Now to grimy it up a bit :rotf:

 

[rfisher]

looks good! I recon more than one fella back in the day styled his own cocked hat and I recon yours would fit in just fine at any event. :hatsoff:

 

[Don Steele]

I recently acquired a similar hat in nicely woven straw. It will need some kind of liner inside. What material did you use for yours..???
Thanks.

This is my first try for a hat. I went with Straw to go with my whole Southern Mountain look. Probably leave it "floppy", but will have to pin up the front brim for shooting, or most likely give up my eyebrows. :redface:

 

[SgtErv]

I used Onsaburg cotton, most folks prefer linen. I had a strip left from hemming a shirt, so I repurposed it. Doing a linen head scarf and neck tie soon. I used waxed linen thread to secure it. Michaels has a needle assortment in the leather section that includes one that's a semi-circle shape. I'd definitely suggest it, because the liner was mighty tricky

Yeah, I value my eyebrows too haha.

 

[Tallswife]

Beautiful work!

 

[Dave Marsh]

How are you waterproofing it?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Silky921]

Looks good. Should be pretty happy with it.

 

[SgtErv]

Thanks everyone.

I'm trying out the spray on silicon stuff like you get at shoe stores. Not sure if it'll work or not but worth a try

 

[George]

SgtErv, if you ever get in the mood to make another one, you aren't locked into the tricorn style. These might give you some other ideas. They are mentions of cocked hats gleaned from my database, mostly from 18th-century newspapers. BTW, I've never found the use of the term 'tricorn' in the writings of the 18th century. (I haven't seen it all. :wink: )

an old beaver hat, not cocked
small fur hat, generally cocked
hat cocked close
a cocked Hat
an old castor hat, cocked behind, and bound round with black serrit
felt hat, cocked up with pins
small wool hat, cocked much in the beau order
Felt Hat, sharp cocked
a small three cocked Hat
felt hat, full cocked
wool hat, cocked all round
castor hat, lately dressed and cocked smart
felt hat, cocked up very tight
hat cocked three ways
beaver hat, cocked on two sides
felt hat, cocked two ways
felt hat, cocked sharp in the French fashion
Cumberland cocked
small felt hat, cocked up all round
generally full cocked
fine hat, cut and cocked in the macaroni figure
felt hat remarkably stiff, and generally wears it with two sides cocked
two felt hats, one of which he wears cocked
wool Hat, cocked with white Cord
a 3 cocked hat, with a silver button and loop
small hat, fiercely cocked
mens black and beaver hats cocked and round
new wool hat, and wore it sometimes cocked
a cocked hat flopped down before
castor hat fan-tailed, cocked in the military fashion
wool hat cocked up at the sides

It is said that several Gentlemen, remarkable for their elegance of dress, intend shortly
to appear in hats cocked in an entire new fashion, which, in compliment to his Danish
Majesty, is to be called the King of Denmark's cock.

Spence

 

[SgtErv]

George, you've truly got a masterful database. Great work! I heartily appreciate your sharing the wealth - truly - research of this caliber is a painstaking process and I think I can speak for many of us when I say we value your input here tremendously.

So many choices....reckon I'll have to see how I feel after a particularly hot day at the fort haha

 

[George]

There are many other variations, too. Many had a "button and loop" on one side which cocked that side.

"has a silver button and loop to his hat."
"a white hat, with a blue silk lining, a silver basket button and loop"
"a good fur hat , scalloped, with a yellow loop and button"

Materials were imported for hat makers, too.

"Linings for Hat makers with Looping and buttons"

Cockades, linings of various fabrics and colors, bindings for the edge of the brim, hat bands... the sky's the limit. :grin:

Spence

 

[Barry Stewart]

Nice job, looks great! Should protect your head from the elements nicely. I for one find it very satisfying to make my own equipment.

 

[Grumpa]

Nicely done. :hatsoff:

As Spence said, the sky's the limit. Your cocked hat is PC/HC, and the loops could be undone to let the brim down to provide protection from the elements.

There were probably more simple hats like yours worn in the hills of Virginia than all the fancy ones we see in the catalogs. I like it.

Richard/Grumpa

 

[Twisted_1in66]

During the 18th ct. the Virginia Round Hat was common both in the militia and in the Continental line troops. It was basically a round hat that was folded up on the left side so you didn't knock it off when you "shouldered arms". The gun or rifle was carried against the left shoulder then, not the right shoulder like it is now.

There were a lot of longhunters and others who wore simple round hats with a wide brim and rather than buy a new hat for the militia or line troops, they just folded up a side so it didn't get knocked off when they shouldered their rifle or musket. Usually either a buck tail or some feathers were put in the folded up part.

I'm wearing one in my avatar but you can't see the folded up side from that shot.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[BillinOregon]

Spence, wouldn't it be wonderful to actually see those hats mentioned in your database?

 

[SgtErv]

On really sunny days or days when I'm not shooting I'm probably going to take the loops out and let the brim down. I didn't form it with steam for that very purpose, actually. I'm a bit scared to shoot with a wide brim, though. Heck, I thought they cocked up one side for that reason, actually. Does the flash get deflected back to you with a brim?

By the way, the silicone shoe waterproofing spray worked pretty well from a test. I just splashed some water on there and it beaded off real well and it still allows it to breathe. Might be a different story in a downpour, of course.

 

[ZUG]

Funny you should bring up hats -- I just finished off this one the other day. I purchased the blank about a year ago and deceided to finish it. I have a larger brimmed one that I use most often but I wanted a smaller brimmed one -- by the way the flash of the pan does not bother me a bit with the larger brimmed hat which has a 3-1/2" brim - this one is 2-3/4". I got the trim from Jo-Ann's.

 

[George]

Both my felt hats were made from pretty cheap blanks I got from a local Mom & Pop BP shop we used to have. I blocked my 3-cock hat into shape, but wanted it tighter, so I put an invisible stitch in to hold it.





I put a button and loop on my round hat so I could let the side down if needed.







Neither are lined, and that hasn't been a problem.

The flash reflecting from the brim is a non-problem in my experience.

Spence