OK, I reblocked a hat.

Using the fine size 7 block I got from Fedora, I managed to reblock my Royal Stetson Vitafelt. Not only does the hat have absolutely no taper now, but it's also a size 7 (it was 6-3/4).


You can see before and after photos here:

http://public.fotki.com/havershaw/reblocked_hats/

I promise, it's the same hat.

Somehow I lost some crown height, although I kept the brim exactly the same (I kept where the brim starts in the same spot). The crown was not really all athat tall to begin with. I'll probably put a narrower black ribbon on there.

But the hat is beautiful. The only thing that was sort of crappy was that the sweatband I had was, of course, 6-3/4, so I had to leave a gap at the back of it, as it was now too small for me. Fits great, though!

If you scroll through there, you can also see photos of my precious '54 Cavanagh which I put on the block this morning. It was tapered worse than the VitaFelt, and wouldn't hold a bash (the felt is a super thin and floppy summerweight). Hopefully, it'll be much improved when it gets off the block. As you might recall, the Cavanagh had a hole in the crown where the front pinch had been. Originally, I was only going to put it on the block just up to the hole, so that the hole wouldn't get stretched. But while I was doing it, I noticed I accidentally got it past there, with no ill effects, so I just put the hat all the way on the block. I think the bottom of the hat may have been heavily stretched at one point, as the bottom of the crown still doesn't really stick to the block. hope it shrinks to there a little better. Maybe if I put the new ribbon on really tight, it'll help to keep that in shape.

Man, I love reblocking hats.

They look fantastic!! I sent you a PM to help you out on shrinking the sweatband area to fit the block. How does this block fit your head? I have stretched healthy sweatbands out to fit, just by soaking them in woolite and water and then easing it very gently over the block. You just want to push it down far enough so it won't be too large. After I let it dry real well on the block, I treat the back side with leather treatment, working it in with my fingers. I then put it back on the block and let it cure for awhile. OF course, you don't want any residue of the treatment to ever get on the felt, so make sure you wipe it down good. I have had real good success with this method, as long as the leather is still supple and has integrity. Sort of like shoe stretching that folks use to have done to their shoes in the old days. regards, Fedora

WOW

Now, look at that!

What a nice demonstration of before and after.

Now just watch out not pull all your hats over the block, unless you're going for clones

I can imagine that with this succes, reblocking can become quite addictive.

Regards,

Marc