What is your favorite hat crease?

T Jones · Apr 28, 2015

Daniele, moehawk, RJR, suitedcboy, thanks guys. I really appreciate the comments.

On a side note, my good friend, John Galt, did the conversion work on the Stetson Nutria and gave it to me as a gift. I just did the creasing and the ribbon work on it.

Thundercolt · Apr 28, 2015

T Jones said:
I like both the C-Crown and Center Dent creases. Like others here, I also prefer to do my own creasing by hand, as well as doing my own ribbon work...

Center Dent, Stetson Nutria Conversion...

C-Crown, Royal Stetson...

Center Dent, Resistol Stagecoach conversion...

C-Crown, Bradford OR clone...

Center Dent, Resistol Stagecoach

Another Stagecoach, Center Dent...

C-Crown, Resistol Stagecoach conversion...

and one I'm still working on. Just need to trim the tails and sew on the ribbon. Center Dent, Unknown Western brand...

Center Dent, another Stagecoach conversion...

with ribbon and bow...

Nice hat collection TJ, very impressive work.

T Jones · Apr 28, 2015

Thundercolt said:
Nice hat collection TJ, very impressive work.

Thanks buddy.

ChicagoWayVito · May 21, 2015

Hat Crease References?

Are there any references for the different types of hat creases? Something that at least shows the top view, a side view and tells you the name of the crease.
I found this old thread which was a pretty good start: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?9833-Hat-creases and found this on western hats: http://www.davebrownhats.com/western_hats.htm (Disclaimer: I am no way affiliated with Dave Brown and am not endorsing him. Just liked the reference even if the images are small).

WesternHatWearer · May 21, 2015

ChicagoWayVito said:
Are there any references for the different types of hat creases? Something that at least shows the top view, a side view and tells you the name of the crease.
I found this old thread which was a pretty good start: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?9833-Hat-creases and found this on western hats: http://www.davebrownhats.com/western_hats.htm (Disclaimer: I am no way affiliated with Dave Brown and am not endorsing him. Just liked the reference even if the images are small).

These two charts are very similar but perhaps they help.

These are mainly aimed at individuals who wear western hats but many of these are also seen in other types of hats.

moontheloon · Aug 1, 2015

I had to revive this thread when I found this pic

this was taken in a pool hall in NYC in 1943 .

look at all those fantastic creases !!!!!

mayserwegener · Aug 1, 2015

Fantastic!

mayserwegener · Aug 1, 2015

By Excelsior Crease Clip, Germany, made of Aluminum, probably 1930s.

sergejvandervreede · Aug 1, 2015

moontheloon said:
I had to revive this thread when I found this pic

this was taken in a pool hall in NYC in 1943 .... hats with the owners name tagged to it

look at all those fantastic creases !!!!!

Very cool. Goes to show how many individual styles there were.

g.durand · Aug 1, 2015

In photographs from the '20s through the '50s and in film noir movies from the late '40s through the early '50s what strikes me is the asymmetry in well worn hats and the varieties of creases. I'm fascinated by pictures of hats worn by the Roosevelts and Harry Truman, for example, and how worn and irregularly shaped some of the their hats were. These were men of state and of international renown and many of their hats were mis-shapen and beaten. It seems as if men didn't take their hats too seriously. They just wore them, and wore them out.

As for my favorite crease, I don't really have one. I'm generally partial to diamond creases with snapped down brims, cattlemen's creases with brims in a slight western roll, or a slight teardrop with a reverse front pinch, brim up. Each one works with a particular hat. Someone once told me each hat has a shape it wants to be, so I play around with creases until I think the hat looks best. Some hats look good to me in a couple of creases, some look good with only one, and some don't look good no matter what. Those are the ones I need to sell. [huh]

Lean'n'mean · Aug 1, 2015

g.durand said:
These were men of state and of international renown and many of their hats were mis-shapen and beaten. It seems as if men didn't take their hats too seriously. They just wore them, and wore them out.

On the contrary, if they didn't care about their hats they would have worn standard off the rack lids. Public image is all important & if you want to come across as a cool dude then sporting a hat that has 'character' also implies that the wearer has character too & been around the block a few times..

T Jones · Aug 1, 2015

moontheloon said:
I had to revive this thread when I found this pic

this was taken in a pool hall in NYC in 1943 .... hats with the owners name tagged to it

look at all those fantastic creases !!!!!

Are those thumb tacks pushed into the brims on some of those hats?

Fastuni · Aug 1, 2015

Shows how utilitarian hats were (widely) seen back then.
I guess most here would get a heartstroke if someone pushed a tack into the brim.

Those creases are great.

Lean'n'mean · Aug 1, 2015

T Jones said:
Are those thumb tacks pushed into the brims on some of those hats?

Something had to keep the hats in place while the glue dried

Lean'n'mean · Aug 1, 2015

Ladies used to use hat pins, some of thoses things were massive & must have left pretty big holes in the felt.........I suppose it was a good reason to buy new hats on a regular basis

mind you, if they had worn hats that fitted them, they wouldn't have needed hat pins.

fabiovenhorst · Aug 3, 2015

Center dent and diamond are my favourites

emigran · Aug 3, 2015

Great thread...
I'm actually surprised at the mixed variety of choices noted...
Out of 7 bespoke hats I have 5 diamond. 1 Milan c-crown and 1 center dent which I "Indy-fied" ... I like a narrow front pinch as well...
Virtually all are 5 3/4 or 6 OC straight sides and no brim wider than 2/3/8. My fave is probably a diamond like the avatar

PS Moon... great photo thanks for that one...!!!

RJR · Aug 3, 2015

I tend to favor center dent.

Fed in a Fedora · Aug 3, 2015

Not necessarily my favorite creases, but the ones which do best for me with these particular hats...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l202/CrackStock/Hats/Hat%20Creases_zpsjl6ko1dh.jpg

I also vary between turning the front and rear down or just the front.

Special thanks to Jimmy The Lid for his tutorial and comments on hat shaping. I went my own way, but he started me on the path and the influence is clear. Also look up the Roy Rogers video where he shapes a hat in his shower.

Fed

Frunobulax · Aug 3, 2015

And sometimes the hat tells you what crease it wants...

What is your favorite hat crease?

I'll Lock Up

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One Too Many

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I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

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Practically Family

Practically Family

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