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Where to get hat ribbon?

Duck

Practically Family
Messages
751
Location
Arkansas
Where does everyone get their hat ribbon? I have tried the local fabric store ribbon and I do not like the results. It is too thick and does not conform to the hat.
 

Joel Tunnah

Practically Family
Messages
524
Location
Brooklyn, NY
jkmribbon.com has only a $25 minimum order. As far as I know, Schiff will only sell directly to companies, not individuals.

JKM sells the Schiff 705 pattern cotton/rayon grosgrain ribbon, which to my eyes looks identical to the ribbon Akubra currently uses, and I personally have no problem using this on a hat - but this is not technically "millinery" grosgrain. The correct pattern is Schiff 50-7005, which I haven't been able to find for sale anywhere, for any money.

Apparently, Schiff also made ribbon for a company called Offray, which was labeled 705, but which was actually the 7005 pattern? I haven't been able to confirm this, or find any Offray branded cotton/rayon grosgrain for sale. It's all polyester.

Occasionally vintage ribbon is also on eBay, but usually is pink, and other useless colors.

Joel
 

Kevin Popejoy

One of the Regulars
Messages
106
Location
Columbia, MO
I've actually had pretty good luck with ribbon I've obtained from the local fabric store. Regarding the problem with ribbon conforming to the hat, there's a trick to it. After you cut your ribbon to length, steam iron it while encouraging it to form a long arc. Works a charm. You'd need to do this with vintage ribbon as well. It's not that it's modern...it's the nature of the material. In case you haven't seen it, here's a pretty decent explaination of the ribbon replacement process:

http://dalexs.whitvani.net/hat/hatpage.html

Cheers, Kevin
 

Davidson

One of the Regulars
Messages
153
Location
US
ebay Offray stretch grosgrain

I don't attach the band to the hat. Here's why:

1. I can easily change hatband colors (I like to color coordinate)
2. I can easily change hatband widths

My wife is kind enough to indulge me in making a number of colors. Unfortunately Offray only makes 3/8 and 7/8 widths. But 3/8 fits the thin ribbon look fine, and 7/8 is a good mid width. I miss having 1 3/8, though, then I would be set.

I'll post some pics in a new thread when I hit 15 posts and can put in images.
 

HDRnR

A-List Customer
Messages
362
Location
Jersey
Is there a place that sells the ribbon pre tied so i can just put it on the hat? I doubt I could ever get it to look right doing it myself.
 

Stoney

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Currently on the East Coast
You don't tie a knot in it. Here is link that I saw in another thread that provides a how to. It's really very easy. If you can do a simple tacking stitch you have all the skill you will require.

http://dalexs.whitvani.net/hat/hatpage.html

I don't slide my bows over the ribbon, but tack them on top. Make sure if you do this that you
reduce the height of the band ribbon, where the center of the bow will be, to ensure that the center knot covers all of the band ribbon at the top.
 

HDRnR

A-List Customer
Messages
362
Location
Jersey
Stoney...Thanks for the info. I like a wide ribbon and wouldn't mind replacing some of the narrow one I have.
 

Elaina

One Too Many

Prof Branestawm

Familiar Face
Messages
84
Location
Cambridge
Stoney said:
You don't tie a knot in it. Here is link that I saw in another thread that provides a how to. It's really very easy. If you can do a simple tacking stitch you have all the skill you will require.

http://dalexs.whitvani.net/hat/hatpage.html

I don't slide my bows over the ribbon, but tack them on top. Make sure if you do this that you
reduce the height of the band ribbon, where the center of the bow will be, to ensure that the center knot covers all of the band ribbon at the top.

That's a useful link. I've replaced ribbons on a panama (a nice thick black one) and a black fedora (the same ribbon, but folded and ironed in half to make a thin one) using that method, with the bow tacked on top.
 

ItsJacob

New in Town
Messages
11
Location
Nashville, TN
Hey y'all. Im looking for a supplier of 2 ply ribbon, or 2 cord as Ive read its also called. I cant find the stuff for sale anywhere. Its like its owned exclusively by Stetson or something. I would like to use it on the western hats that I make but my searches have bore no fruit.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,600
Location
Central Ohio
Hey y'all. Im looking for a supplier of 2 ply ribbon, or 2 cord as Ive read its also called. I cant find the stuff for sale anywhere. Its like its owned exclusively by Stetson or something. I would like to use it on the western hats that I make but my searches have bore no fruit.
Good luck with that. I've been looking for 2 ply ribbon, myself, for Westerns. According to a source that I use it looks like ribbon manufacturing here in the U.S. has about dried up. It's going get harder to find grosgrain of any kind here.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,279
Location
New Forest
My wife is having a wedding hat made by a milliner who specialises in ladies hats only. I asked the milliner if she could fit a new hatband to a black fedora of mine, she did, and what a fine job she made of it. Reading about the supply problems on this thread I just text her and asked where she bought her supplies. She told that they came from a millinery supplier called Randall Ribbons, but added that they have a minimum order policy, you have to buy at least five metres, that's sixteen feet four inches in imperial. Here's their website.
https://randallribbons.co.uk/
 

Talbot

One Too Many
Messages
1,855
Location
Melbourne Australia
I did a search, but came up empty handed. This must have been covered before.

I recently picked up a cocoanut straw 'pork pie' to replace my old casual Sam Snead style Lee.

The hat is OK, but it has a really ugly pastel plaid band. Local haberdashers carry only solid colours.

Where can I find a selection of striped ribbons to give it the vintage feel I want?

Many thanks for any assistance
 

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