From Homburg to Fedora conversion pic

[fedoralover]

This was an open crown homburg before I removed the edge binding, ironed the brim, cut it down and reshaped it over a teapot.

fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

Not bad at all. Looks good on your arm.
Was the ribbon like that originally?

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

I didn't change the ribbon, it was a double bow on the front and back.

fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

Yeah that is unusual then. Was this a Dobbs, Mallory or Portis? They did different special touches like that. That is why I like their hats when I can find them in my size.

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

Actually it was an off brand, "Barcellino" the felt is really thick. I don't think it was an especially high quality hat, but it is still better than anything new.

fedoralover

 

[Canadave]

Looks great! How did you "cut it down"?

David

 

[jamespowers]

Steak knife.

 

[fedoralover]

I marked it with tailor's chalk all the way around at the width I wanted, (2 5/8ths) and then with some very sharp scissors and a very steady hand I cut it and then sanded the edge. I've done it before so I've had some practice. Here's another angle

fedoralover

 

[Canadave]

...with some very sharp scissors and a very steady hand I cut it and then sanded the edge...

Wow, that seems pretty brave to me.

David

 

[MKL]

Nice job on the hat. Looks great!

What grade/grades of sandpaper did you use?

Thanks.

MKL

 

[fedoralover]

Because this felt is pretty thick I started with 80 grit and then finished with 220. This was just on the edge of the brim not the top of the brim. I'm not a pro hatter so there is probably a better way to do it but the end result turned out fairly decent. Sometimes the hats we see aren't exactly the way we like them so we don't get them. In some hats I've found I can make some modifications myself and they turn out to be just what I want.

fedoralover

 

[Victor]

I've done the same myself. its not that difficult. just have a steady hand when cutting with the scissors and sand off the bumps. Its not rocket science, just remember that its better to cut off too little than too much!