Teardrop Workshop

univibe88 · Apr 13, 2009

Instant Classic :eusa_clap

This should be a sticky.

feltfan · Apr 13, 2009

jimmy the lid said:
I'm not completely sure how to answer this one, feltfan, but I'll give it a go.

That's exactly what I was wondering. Thanks.
I'm just amazed at the uniformity of the effect you
get, across a variety of hats. I was hoping you'd indicate
for which felt it works best. Your instructions are good
and clear and I'm sure many of us can follow them. But
I'm not sure we'll have the same uniformity of result.

Thanks so much for taking the time.

chanteuseCarey · Apr 13, 2009

thanks Jazznc and JimmytL for the teardrop tutorial

I printed this one out. Very helpful.

jimmy the lid said:
A fellow Lounger recently asked me for some advice on doing a teardrop crease. I wrote a fairly detailed response, and thought it might be of more general interest. So, here goes...

UWS Cowboy · Apr 13, 2009

Perfect tear drops. I tried to do it about a week ago to a hat but it kept slipping into a diamond.

jimmy the lid · Apr 13, 2009

kaosharper1 said:
Jimmy:

Does a lightweight felt like a Borsalino Alessando make a difference as opposed to more of a "dress weight" felt? I would think that the lightweights probably don't need steam.

For me, using steam helps to accomplish the objective of elevating the top of the crown so that it isn't sitting directly in contact with the top of my noggin. So, even on lightweight felts, I do use steam in order to "set" the "inner teardrop" in order to accomplish this. Hope that addresses your question.

Cheers,
JtL

RBH · Apr 14, 2009

jimmy the lid said:
.... the "inner teardrop"......
Cheers,
JtL

YES ... GRASSHOPPER..

YOU MUST LISTEN TO YOUR INNER TEARDROP!

jimmy the lid · Apr 14, 2009

lol lol lol

jimmy the lid · Apr 14, 2009

feltfan said:
That's exactly what I was wondering. Thanks.
I'm just amazed at the uniformity of the effect you
get, across a variety of hats. I was hoping you'd indicate
for which felt it works best. Your instructions are good
and clear and I'm sure many of us can follow them. But
I'm not sure we'll have the same uniformity of result.

Thanks so much for taking the time.

Thanks for that, feltfan.

I think that medium weight felt is probably the best bet in terms of being easier to shape with consistency. Dress weight felt also works well, but simply requires gentler handling during the process. It's the lightweight felts that pose the biggest challenge.

Cheers,
JtL

CRH · Apr 14, 2009

jimmy the lid said:
...It's the lightweight felts that pose the biggest challenge.

That would explain why I'm having fits getting the dome on my Squatter featherweight to stay up. I seems to have mysteriously morphed into a pseudo teardrop[huh].

Midwest Boater · Nov 2, 2009

thanks for the well done instructions.
i have a felt hat being shipped and this thread realy has me stoked.

Dogface · Dec 30, 2009

OK...looks like what I want in my fedoras...but what is the difference between the teardrop and the C crown ? They both look the same to me. [huh]

FWIW, I have bookmarked this thread so I can always find it

theinterchange · Dec 30, 2009

RBH said:
YES ... GRASSHOPPER..[/SIZ

YOU MUST LISTEN TO YOUR INNER TEARDROP!

What is... inner teardrop?"

Great tutorial, I've always been mystified [no play on words with the Kung Fu reference] by doing a good teardrop by hand.

Randy

jimmy the lid · Dec 30, 2009

Dogface said:
OK...looks like what I want in my fedoras...but what is the difference between the teardrop and the C crown ? They both look the same to me. [huh]

First off, Midwest Boater, Dogface and theinterchange -- glad you are finding this thread helpful!

Dogface, to answer your question -- the terms "C-crown" and "Teardrop" are generally used interchangeably. Nevertheless, and with thanks to Art Fawcett for chiming in on this topic many moons ago, there is a very subtle difference between a C-crown and a Teardrop. On a C-crown, think of the sides of the hat as forming an upside down "V." The end points of the "V" are joined by a "C." Thus, in a C-crown, there are discernible end points that are joined by the rounded "C" portion of the crown. In contrast, in a Teardrop, these end points of the "V" are moved in somewhat so that there is a continuous flow -- a smooth curve, if you will, without the discernible end points of the "V."

Here is a photo of a C-crown. The photo shows the factory crease on a vintage Adam. Note how you can make out the two components -- the "V" and the "C" -- very easily:

On a Teardrop, however, the lines are more fluid (pun intended...

):

As advertised, it's pretty subtle, but I hope what I'm saying is clear.

*****************************************

Since we're talkin' Teardrops -- here is one I creased today:

Cheers,
JtL

Aureliano · Dec 30, 2009

Perfection, Jimmy.

Dogface · Dec 30, 2009

Thanks, Jimmy, for the explanation. Such a subtle difference but noticeable once you point it out.

jimmy the lid · Jan 14, 2010

Thanks, guys. Just re-discovered this photo today, so thought I'd add it here:

Cheers,
JtL

Greyfox · Mar 22, 2010

I had an opportunity to watch Jimmy do this on two hats at the Monteagle gathering this past weekend. He has this down to a science and the process is as he described in the original post in this thread. Seems easy enough as I watched and listened to him. But I got to tell you, this man is the Hat Whisperer. He flat out "talked" one the hats into this crease as it was being quite difficult. A Master at work.:eusa_clap

indycop · Mar 22, 2010

That would be these 2 I believe. Funny, he did them after imbibing with Sam.lol

Recent acquisition from Tom

And Akubra Boss of the plains,
before in the rain;

After

;

Dave E · Mar 22, 2010

This is a great tutorial, I've been referring to it as I gradually get my FedIV how I want it. So far, the only thing I'm having trouble with is getting the centre dome to sit up again (and that might be down to unreliable methods of delivering steam as much as anything).

jimmy the lid · Mar 22, 2010

indycop said:
That would be these 2 I believe. Funny, he did them after imbibing with Sam.lol

Honestly, IC -- after making the acquaintance of Sam throughout the evening, and, given the low lighting conditions in the cabin, I'm just amazed that these didn't come out as trapezoid creases...

And thanks for the kind words, Grayfox.

Cheers,
JtL

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