Recent content by tnitz

Good comparison images Thanks - I really think the comparison will be handy for some new to creases. I typically crease similar to your silverbelly and the "distortions" to the crown (tapering in on sides) are precisely what mine do as well, it's systematic of the crease. My bluegrass has a...

Precedents? I haven't researched this and won't have time for a while, but my memory of the disdain US soldiers had for the slouch hat introduced in the 1870s suggest, to me, that they simply were reacting as much to the concept of a soft felt hat as anything else. I often wonder to what...

Willow / Bluegrass - Colored Vegetation... Can someone verbally describe the difference between bluegrass and willow, the colors, for me? Neophyte's picture of his squatter looks about the same as the bluegrass Camp Draft sitting here.

Outerwear I usually matched my hats to my outerwear which kept it simple. Today I do color coordinate. But for what it's worth: Tan London Fog trench coat and silverbelly fedora Dark Grey or Black or Navy Woolen overcoat and black homburg (or other) A white panama for summer wear I...

Yep I think that looks better, myself. Nothing wrong with the vertical crease, I just think this looks better on this hat. And I didn't mention before, the proportions suit you.

Leather helmets > Fiberglass A few years ago two members of our department ordered leather helmets that are still approved. I never looked that closely at them so can't say how they were made, but they are spendy. Not long before that I saw two leather helmets at a flea market in the area -...

Looking good, but... As with all things, this is just my opinion. Both looked good and you did a nice job smoothing out the rear. What I don't like about the second crease is the sharp crease you have running vertically. It's not that it's overused, it's that on your hat you have a distinct...

Confused... Neophyte, are you turning the brim down all the way or is that an optical illusion? If so, then I take it you simply want to slightly curl the sides (an old trick that avoids the peak formed when an LO puts on a round hat). As already mentioned, you can massage those side curls in...

Lazy Man's Reblocking I apologize upfront that I can't post images - I just can't get it to work. What follows is something I've been doing recently. You can choose for yourself whether or not it's worth trying. I've been happy with the results. A month ago I ordered and received a...

Ribbon I really liked the color of the Carbon Grey Fed III I had, but it never worked out and went into trash...I got frustrated. So my next plan is to get a Glen Grey Camp Draft this fall but I want to put a wider ribbon on it (I know, blasphemy!). Has anyone ordered the ribbon from Hats...

Brim curl I had a DM Squatter that I was able to nearly flatten the brim on. The ribbon binding is the limiting factor. I will tell you what I do, but you need to decide for yourself if you are willing to risk it. First, kinda decide how you want the brim to look. Do you want a flat curl all...

Felt in Sun I, (like many of the cowboys around here - I'm not one) wear a silverbelly hat in the summer - it keeps the intense sun off your head and out of your eyes. Most summers I have worn a straw hat while working down at the rodeo grounds, weedeating. It's an old beater and the only...

Spot shrinking I have carefully applied steam to just the sweat area to shrink a hat and also to avoid shrinking the upper crown. I can't say I ever accomplished reverse taper, but I have successfully steamed the lower crown, ribbon/sweat area without affecting the top of the crown...

Liner needed... I hope I'm not breaking protocol here - but thought I'd ask: I need an Akubra liner for a military slouch I've converted. I'd prefer the gold one, but will take anything. Anyone got a spare?

Bluegrass... Arrived last night! Wow! I honestly had no idea what a wonderful color it would be. None of the images I looked at were even close. I would describe it as a dusty peppermint or something. Maybe there's a better name for the color. It is truly blue-green, along the lines of fresh...