Grosgrain ribbon composition

• Apr 23, 2008

• #1

tonyb

Messages

10,603

Location

My mother's basement

I know (thanks to JT) that for hat band purposes, grosgrain had better have at least some cotton content. For us, it's a rayon/cotton blend, right? That 100 percent polyester stuff will only lead to disappointment, right?
So what other blends might work? How 'bout silk/cotton blends? I ask because I have a line on some and I would of course rather not waste my dough on something I can't use.

 

• Apr 23, 2008

• #2

J.T.Marcus

Call Me a Cab

Messages

2,354

Location

Mineola, Texas

tonyb, Sorry. I have no experience with cotton blends other than cotton/rayon. In theory, it's the cotton that shrinks to fit the shape of the hat crown. Maybe someone else has tried what you're looking at. Good luck.

 

• Apr 23, 2008

• #3

carldelo

One Too Many

Messages

1,568

Location

Astoria, NYC

Doesn't spandex degrade pretty quickly? - within a couple of years, anyway. Might be an issue as hats are exposed to a good bit of UV radiation (unless you live in Seattle, of course)

 

• Jun 14, 2008

• #4

Feraud

Bartender

Messages

17,190

Location

Hardlucksville, NY

Having to frequently replace a hat ribbon does not lend iteself to outclassing vintage hats in any way. Technology is a good thing but relying on it for the sake of itself makes no sense.
Some of the older technologies have proven themselves over time.

 

• Jun 14, 2008

• #5

J

jeboat

One of the Regulars

Messages

154

Grosgrain ribbon

According to Art Fawcett the vintage ribbon that he uses is made with wood-based rayon while newer rayon is purely synthetic. The older ribbon conforms better than the newer stuff.

Art....??

jeboat

 

• Jun 25, 2008

• #6

S

SPRFINO

Familiar Face

Messages

69

Location

SF BAY AREA, CA

If you ever have an opportunity to inspect a ribbon off a hat you will see how much shaping is required to fit the contour of your hat.