funky improvised hatbands?

[Richard]

Anybody ever use some funky improvised hatband material? I'm wondering if there's something out there lying aroudn that might look cool...

 

[Panamabob]

Old ties.

http://www.millerhats.com/accesories_index/case3.htm

 

[Canadave]

Sharpey changes his ribbons all the time. He may have some advice.

When doing so, is it best to sew them in? Any tips on that? How about making a bow?

David

 

[scotrace]

Me too

Sharpey changes his ribbons all the time. He may have some advice.

When doing so, is it best to sew them in? Any tips on that? How about making a bow?

David

I hope someone follows up on this - I'd like very much to learn!

David, May I PM you about your Panama?

 

[Richard]

old tie

hey i have the perfect old tie i hate wearing as a tie and have wanted to get rid of for a long time. i think it would excel as a hatband wher eit failed for me as a tie. it's black with musical notes on it. i hate them ties like that, but i think it would look sporty as a hatband. now, what the heck should I do with it? Just cut it down and attempt to sew it?

 

[Richard]

bolo tie

when i got home i rummaged around through some old junk. I found an old unused bolo tie. I took the clasp part off and just used the leather strap. looks pretty good!

 

[Panamabob]

My wife made some the other week...I'll get some photos up soon.

 

[BellyTank]

It's good to hear that someone is doing the unwanted-Christmas-gift-from-the Aunt-tie thing. Excellent use of otherwise useless silk-

B
T

 

[Richard]

question; going hatbandless

Question; i was trying out my panama hat with no hatband. it looks more beachy, less dressy, than weith a hatband. what message does the batbandless straw convey? I remember seeing one on the wall of the swordmaker in Kill Bill vol 1 and thinking it looked pretty good. is it just super casual?

 

[BellyTank]

Hand batless?

Maybe won't look so much like a 'Panama', not such a recognisable thing without some contrast and something to visually break it up... just a Panama blob?

B
T

 

[Panamabob]

I like the unusual. We have a Montecristi here at the school with an Hawaiaan lei on it.

I love what Art does with his hats.

The Optimo style seems to look best in a black ribbon, however.

Panama Blob....hey, I resemble that remark!>:cool2:

 

[BellyTank]

T'was but a jest- not an observation on your good self Sir Bob.

B
T

 

[Dave McCone]

I've had very good luck improvising hatbands.

Take one of your old hats with a fabric band, or a hatband that you don't really care for; carefully take it apart and figure out how they put it together. Iron the old hatband flat, and use it to make a paper template that you can then use to cut your own band out of the material of your choice.

Get out the iron, and attempt to duplicate the pleats in the band. Don't give up - it takes some patience but you can do it with an iron and an ironing board.

Take a good look at the hatband hook, and attempt to duplicate it using some wire; you may need to take a file to the end of the hook to put a point on it.

Most fabric hatbands seem to be finished with a metal staple on the hatband hook end; I've never been able to duplicate that but seem to do quite well with just needle and thread.

My wife is a quilter, so I either keep an eye out for fabrics that she has that I think might make an interesting band, or I end up looking at fabrics myself in the fabric store when she's getting her quilting stuff.

Personally, I tend to like batik fabric (often used in hawaiian-type shirts) since that makes a very colorful band that you won't usually see anywhere else -- but practically any fabric could work.

Hope this helps.

 

[Richard]

more garage rummaging

i found an old unused pair of silk brooks brothers black suspenders with an interesting black on black pattern that would look great! i just don't feel like doing it.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I like these!!

Sharpey changes his ribbons all the time. He may have some advice.

When doing so, is it best to sew them in? Any tips on that? How about making a bow?

David

Dave, I just use these from Miller hats.http://www.millerhats.com/accesories_index/case2.htm 2 pages of hat bands $5.00 each. It cost $20.00 plus postage for a hatter to change out a ribbon. I'll do this till I need a reblock.

 

[Richard]

cool thing about suspenders

if you have the kind witht he leather straps and clips, you can use the clip as an adjuster if you cut off the piece.

 

[Mycroft]

I know a guy who has a miniture leather belt on his hat, with silver buckel and tip on the end, like a miniture cowbow belt. He also owns a full size belt that is very similar. Talk about corodinating oufits.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

I was just in Miller, the bands are even nicer in person. They work out a lot better on a straw than a felt.