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belfastboy · Mar 30, 2019

Rmccamey said:
Any ideas on the going rate to replace a thin ribbon with a 1.5 inch grosgrain?

I have paid $25 at the low end and $30 at the high end. Having no hatter near me it is the postage that costs me just as much as the ribbon. I have also had hatters make me a ribbon/bow, leaving it open ended, they mail it to me and I do the attaching to the hat. I think that cost me $15 or $20.

Rmccamey · Mar 30, 2019

Good info, thank you sir. I have a few hats I need to change ribbons on... make them look new again without the cost of a whole new hat.

drmaxtejeda · Mar 30, 2019

belfastboy said:
I do let the weather dictate to at least some degree. Living up here in the northwest it is a 10 month a year (at least) felt hat climate and the risk of rain keeps my panamas on the shelf for all but the 6 weeks of summer here. I have a couple of light weight felts that are wearable into the summer months on all but the hottest of days. One of the compensations for living in a moderate rain belt climate.

Six weeks of summer !!! [emoji33] [emoji33] [emoji33] . And that's "moderate"?
To me, you're practically an eskimo. [emoji2]

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Woodtroll · Mar 30, 2019

Rmccamey said:
Good info, thank you sir. I have a few hats I need to change ribbons on... make them look new again without the cost of a whole new hat.

Randy, if you're at all handy with your fingers and can sew on a button, it's not that hard to learn to make a basic ribbon. (Now, some of those works of art that I see on here are a different story! I mean to take nothing away from those ribbon artists by saying, "This is easy!" I'm talking about very basic bows.) Especially if you have a tall, straight crown or you use a 1" or narrower ribbon, where you don't have to steam-iron-curl the ribbon, it only takes some practice to make a decent looking basic hat ribbon. If you are able to do it yourself, you can save a LOT of money in back and forth shipping costs. As Belfastboy mentioned, getting one "pre-made" and installing it yourself is another option that will save shipping.

Now, getting just the right ribbon to do it yourself can be as elusive as figuring out what color a hat is really going to turn out to be...

Good luck!
Regan

Rmccamey · Mar 30, 2019

Yes, thank you Regan. That is an area where I need to take some of my beater hats and do some practice!

I am fortunate to have a few hatters wihin 100 miles, so I'll probably check with at least one of them in person. That would save me shipping if nothing else.

Woodtroll said:
Randy, if you're at all handy with your fingers and can sew on a button, it's not that hard to learn to make a basic ribbon. (Now, some of those works of art that I see on here are a different story! I mean to take nothing away from those ribbon artists by saying, "This is easy!" I'm talking about very basic bows.) Especially if you have a tall, straight crown or you use a 1" or narrower ribbon, where you don't have to steam-iron-curl the ribbon, it only takes some practice to make a decent looking basic hat ribbon. If you are able to do it yourself, you can save a LOT of money in back and forth shipping costs. As Belfastboy mentioned, getting one "pre-made" and installing it yourself is another option that will save shipping.

Now, getting just the right ribbon to do it yourself can be as elusive as figuring out what color a hat is really going to turn out to be...

Good luck!
Regan

Rmccamey · Mar 30, 2019

...and you are correct. Matching the hat color to the ribbon color has become that "thing" that keeps me awake at nights!

Woodtroll said:
Randy, if you're at all handy with your fingers and can sew on a button, it's not that hard to learn to make a basic ribbon. (Now, some of those works of art that I see on here are a different story! I mean to take nothing away from those ribbon artists by saying, "This is easy!" I'm talking about very basic bows.) Especially if you have a tall, straight crown or you use a 1" or narrower ribbon, where you don't have to steam-iron-curl the ribbon, it only takes some practice to make a decent looking basic hat ribbon. If you are able to do it yourself, you can save a LOT of money in back and forth shipping costs. As Belfastboy mentioned, getting one "pre-made" and installing it yourself is another option that will save shipping.

Now, getting just the right ribbon to do it yourself can be as elusive as figuring out what color a hat is really going to turn out to be...

Good luck!
Regan

belfastboy · Mar 30, 2019

drmaxtejeda said:
Six weeks of summer !!! [emoji33] [emoji33] [emoji33] . And that's "moderate"?
To me, you're practically an eskimo. [emoji2]

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

A few years back we did a bike tour in Cuba. Our guide promised to take us to the beach but he began to equivocate as the temperature was only 24 C and far too cold to go to the beach in his opinion. We had to explain to him that where we came from that was a hot summer's day and if we waited for it to get hotter we risked never getting to the beach. He relented.

Bill Hughes · Mar 30, 2019

What is a good thread to use when restitching sweatbands on felts? Do you use the same for straws? I’ve noticed a clear (looks like fishing line) on some customs I have.

deadlyhandsome · Mar 31, 2019

Bill Hughes said:
What is a good thread to use when restitching sweatbands on felts? Do you use the same for straws? I’ve noticed a clear (looks like fishing line) on some customs I have.

I’m curious too. I don’t like the monofilament look.

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scottyrocks · Mar 31, 2019

I use upholstery thread.

If you're using a simple needle and not a stitich awl, do not double up the thread. Use a single length. Otherwise it will most likely show through the ribbon when it's put on.

humanshoes · Mar 31, 2019

All I've ever used for sweatband installation is upholstery thread. Hell, if it'll hold a couch together it should hold a sweatband in. That clear monofilament line that most of the big name hat makers are using to attach ribbons makes sense, I suppose, on the production line where time is money and the thread doesn't have to be changed out for different color ribbons, but to me it's just a short cut and I don't much care for it. I use good quality, dual duty thread for attaching ribbons. The good ladies at the fabric store know that when they see me coming in with a ribbon sample that they will be called upon to help me match up just the right thread color.

scottyrocks · Mar 31, 2019

Yes, I don't use upholstery thread for attaching ribbon. It's too thick and way too visible. Regular thread of a matching color is virtually invisible if you make the stitch small enough.

tsores · Apr 3, 2019

Where does one get a gold impression on the sweatband such as "Made Especially for..."? Or, how do I do it myself?

Steinbockhase · Apr 3, 2019

tsores said:
Where does one get a gold impression on the sweatband such as "Made Especially for..."? Or, how do I do it myself?

I guess you could do it yourself with tools from an old printing press. Putting the individual metal letters on a stamp and then using pressure to imprint the leather sweatband. Afterwards using a paint brush and gold color to fill the letter imprints on the sweatband. Sounds complicated and probably is difficult to get a professional looking result

Best bet is to find somebody who offers this kind of service.

drmaxtejeda · Apr 4, 2019

I wonder which brand this liner is from... No other markings

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Woodtroll · Apr 4, 2019

tsores said:
Where does one get a gold impression on the sweatband such as "Made Especially for..."? Or, how do I do it myself?

The foil (gold or silver) embossing of leather is typically done with heat and pressure, using a thin foil of the color you are after. I would that assume hatbands are, or at least could be, done the same way. An “at home” method would be to get a tool similar to the following, and have a custom stamp made:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/271602...earch_query=hot+foil+stamp&ref=sr_gallery-1-4

Not a small investment, but if you had multiple hats you wanted to “brand” it might be worth it. I know nothing about that particular tool, and offer it only as an example.

Good luck,
Regan

deadlyhandsome · Apr 4, 2019

I know I’ve read it here somewhere, but I can’t find it: If ends of the sweatband, where they butt together, are not sewn is this indicative of a certain era?

Thanks.

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Bill Hughes · Apr 4, 2019

deadlyhandsome said:
I know I’ve read it here somewhere, but I can’t find it: If ends of the sweatband, where they butt together, are not sewn is this indicative of a certain era?

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My understanding is generally that’s indicative of pre-1930s.

deadlyhandsome · Apr 4, 2019

Bill Hughes said:
My understanding is generally that’s indicative of pre-1930s.

Wow! My hat just became a lot more interesting. Thank you.

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Tukwila · Apr 4, 2019

deadlyhandsome said:
Wow! My hat just became a lot more interesting. Thank you.

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Yeah, "old."

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