Can a felt brim edge be modified?

Rick Blaine · Apr 14, 2012

Imo

worthlesswithoutpics!

zetwal · Apr 14, 2012

:cheer2:

randooch · Apr 14, 2012

Here are two close-ups of the way the top looks, one with harsh lighting, the other in a bit of shade. No sponging or brushing yet:

Here's the overall look to show improved (IMO) proportions:

Input/comments/criticism welcome.

Baron Kurtz · Apr 14, 2012

Interesting idea. You could buy some thread and hand stitch a couple rows of stitching for a real brim edge treatment?

bk

Lt. Bob · Apr 14, 2012

I'm honestly really surprised. I would've thought that the felt would be stretched at the old edge resulting in a bump when leveled out. Insted, it looks like it just left a slight compressed line from the stitching. That should come clean out with a little brushing (if you want it to, I agree that it makes a cool look as is).
Overall I think it turned out really nice; good job Randall!

scottyrocks · Apr 14, 2012

Yes, it looks great. In fact, if you just showed the hat without mentioning what you did, I don't know that I would've noticed.

At least not right away.

Chepstow · Apr 14, 2012

Randall, thats a good Idea and looks not bad. Good job done, Randall.

feltfan · Apr 14, 2012

I'm surprised the color matches. I'd have expected some fading on the areas exposed to sun.

randooch · Apr 14, 2012

Baron Kurtz said:
Interesting idea. You could buy some thread and hand stitch a couple rows of stitching for a real brim edge treatment?

bk

I may just try that, Baron, go for the Playboy look.

Lt. Bob said:
I'm honestly really surprised. I would've thought that the felt would be stretched at the old edge resulting in a bump when leveled out. Insted, it looks like it just left a slight compressed line from the stitching. That should come clean out with a little brushing (if you want it to, I agree that it makes a cool look as is).
Overall I think it turned out really nice; good job Randall!

scottyrocks said:
Yes, it looks great. In fact, if you just showed the hat without mentioning what you did, I don't know that I would've noticed.

At least not right away.

Thanks, guys.

feltfan said:
I'm surprised the color matches. I'd have expected some fading on the areas exposed to sun.

Me too. I'm sure that would be the case with some hats.

(Thanks for the search-n-merge, Rusty!)

-30- · Dec 11, 2012

I have an idea:

Given hat for hat, (Size, color, crown, width of brim, bash, dents, inner & outer bands/material.) why can it not

be arranged for a "I'll trade you mine for yours."? They who want a finished edge exchanges the unbound hat for

their ideal and the raw edge model enters a new and wanted home.

Regards,
-29.5-

hatsandcanes · May 10, 2020

Hello,
I had a hat refurbished and they added binding to the brim. It was a good job, however, I think I like the hat better with a raw brim. I was wondering if I removed the binding would the needle holes be very visible? If so, could you steam iron the edge to help?
What options do I have with the exception of trimming the brim?
Has anyone ever tried anything like this?
Thanks in advance,
Randy

T Jones · May 10, 2020

hatsandcanes said:
Hello,
I had a hat refurbished and they added binding to the brim. It was a good job, however, I think I like the hat better with a raw brim. I was wondering if I removed the binding would the needle holes be very visible? If so, could you steam iron the edge to help?
What options do I have with the exception of trimming the brim?
Has anyone ever tried anything like this?
Thanks in advance,
Randy

I've done that with several donor hats and reused the bindings on my conversions. Every binding that I removed you could see the stitch holes in the brims of the hats I took them from along with an impression of the bindings. But, my donors were trashed vintage hats and the bindings were on them for quite a while before I removed them.

hatsandcanes · May 10, 2020

Thank you T!
I thought maybe since it has not been worn and only refurbished a couple months ago that it might be possible.
Any other advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks much,
Randy

T Jones · May 11, 2020

hatsandcanes said:
Thank you T!
I thought maybe since it has not been worn and only refurbished a couple months ago that it might be possible.
Any other advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks much,
Randy

You're welcome hc. I have to add that one of the brim bindings I removed and reused on one of my conversions was from a modern fake Stetson Whippet. The felt quality and workmanship was so poor that I stripped it down and reused the sweat, the liner, the ribbon, and the brim binding , (which were decent quality), on a few of my conversions. When I removed the brim binding the stitch holes and an impression of the binding was visible on the brim. The hat was probably a few months old. I don't want to advise you either way, only to say, it's a roll of the dice. If you think it's worth the risk, give it a try. If you think you can live with the binding, leave it on. Do have a picture of the hat?

hatsandcanes · May 11, 2020

hatsandcanes · May 11, 2020

I will probably leave it alone. I had asked for a binding that would be as close to the felt color as possible. To my surprise when it came back black!
I appreciate your advice very much and many thanks,
Randy

belfastboy · May 11, 2020

hatsandcanes said:
I will probably leave it alone. I had asked for a binding that would be as close to the felt color as possible. To my surprise when it came back black!
I appreciate your advice very much and many thanks,
Randy

While it may not be to your taste....it does look good in the picture!

moehawk · May 12, 2020

I rhink the best option would be to leave it as is and have a new hat made just like it with a raw brim. Then another in grey, and one in dark brown, and one in olive, and one more maybe....

Tukwila · May 12, 2020

hatsandcanes said:
I will probably leave it alone. I had asked for a binding that would be as close to the felt color as possible. To my surprise when it came back black!
I appreciate your advice very much and many thanks,
Randy

If it really bugs you, I'd send it back to the hatter to have the felt matching brim binding put on.... take off the black and sew on the matching. Imo, they should do it no charge.

T Jones · May 12, 2020

Tukwila said:
If it really bugs you, I'd send it back to the hatter to have the felt matching brim binding put on.... take off the black and sew on the matching. Imo, they should do it no charge.

Yes, and especially after he told the Hatters that he wanted a brim binding to match the felt color as close as possible. The black brim binding isn't even close. I definitely see his complaint.

Can a felt brim edge be modified?

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