Home blocking? a panama

[frijoli]

This may be posted already but I can't find it. Yes, I bought a cheap panama and it's shaped badly. I would like to give it a nice crown, but didn't know if this was possible at home.
Any thoughts?

I am new to hats in general, because I never thought I could get away with the look. I bought a straw hat while in the Caribbean on vacation to keep the heat off my head, and have had nothing but compliments ever since.
The bad thing is now I can't help but buy more! I now have a straw, a Panama, and two cheap Fedoras.

Clay

 

[Art Fawcett]

Welcome to the Lounge Frijoli,

I'm sure as this thread ages you'll get some useful answers but I can tell you from experience, shaping a panama without equipment & shaped blocks is a real bear. I personally can't do it and be happy with the results, but let's see what others experiences have been.

 

[frijoli]

Welcome to the Lounge Frijoli,

I'm sure as this thread ages you'll get some useful answers but I can tell you from experience, shaping a panama without equipment & shaped blocks is a real bear. I personally can't do it and be happy with the results, but let's see what others experiences have been.

Thanks Art.
I was afraid of that. The hat cost a lot less than the price of what people charge to re-block one. I just want it "fixed" to the point I can wear it, and it not long stupid. You know like while walking the dog, or working outside.

I'm going to buy another one when I get the money.

Clay

 

[frijoli]

I'll send pics when I get home.

 

[frijoli]

pics

Here is the result. Keep in mind this hat was an ebay cheapo. Like 20 bucks new.
It was supposed to be a fedora style, but it came in a crumpled mess of an optimo, wavy and creased brim.

Here is what I did with it until I buy a new Panama Bob!

 

[swisslet]

I bought a Panama in person from Otavalo market in Ecuador, and when I took it home, I rolled it up and put it in a box.... and then I forgot all about it for about another 6 months until the sun came out (finally) in dreary old England. When I took it out of the box, it was so warped that I was worried I would have irretrievably ruined my properly authentic Panama.

However, a little patient steaming and shaping has retrieved it to the point where it is wearable, and I think with a bit more shaping it will be back to where it was before. Mine is quite a fine grain, good quality hat though, and I don't know if that makes a difference to the reshaping. I bet it does to some extent.

It *can* be done, as I think you've proved with your photos there too. Good job!

I'm actually also going to try gently stretching this hat too. It was always a touch on the small side (these Ecuadorians and their small heads!), so I'm going to try a proper hat stretcher on it over a long period of time to see if I can't open it out a little.

ST

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Here is the result. Keep in mind this hat was an ebay cheapo. Like 20 bucks new.
It was supposed to be a fedora style, but it came in a crumpled mess of an optimo, wavy and creased brim.

Here is what I did with it until I buy a new Panama Bob!

I can't get the first pic, but I can tell you the three other shots look fabulous! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[frijoli]

Thanks!


I wanted a fedora style but ended up with a cross between a plantation style crown, but a bent brim.

 

[univibe88]

It looks darn good. :eusa_clap

 

[feltfan]

Thanks!


I wanted a fedora style but ended up with a cross between a plantation style crown, but a bent brim.

Looks just fine to me. Pretty nice, actually.

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

Thanks!


I wanted a fedora style but ended up with a cross between a plantation style crown, but a bent brim.

Looks like you did a great job on the Panama looks nice. :eusa_clap You will be quite pleased when you get your Panama Hat from Panama Bob. He has some great 7 1/4 I just got four from him on OFAS. I also have one on order and I know it will be worth the wait.

 

[BobC]

I wanted a fedora style but ended up with a cross between a plantation style crown, but a bent brim.[/QUOTE]

It looks good to me. I like the plantation block, but I'm not as excited about the wide brims they always seem to have.

By the way, what is OFAS?

 

[Feraud]

By the way, what is OFAS?

Our Favorite Auction Site. Ebay.

 

[Art Fawcett]

You're hired!!! When can you start?

 

[Panamabob]

That is terrific! I get questions daily about rolling hats. DON'T DO IT!

 

[frijoli]

Well I'm honored by the responses!

My wife likes it too.

Clay

PS. DO NOT ROLL YOUR HATS

 

[Woodfluter]

Frijoli, I can see some of what you are trying to fix, but that's just because I'm obsessive-compulsive and have a weirdly accurate eye for proportions and symmetry. Trust me, nobody else is going to notice and anything remaining is not of any real signifigance at all. You did a great job with it and it really does look good on you. I think the plantation style with that telescope crown and wide, curved brim suits you very well.

Wear it in health!
- Bill

 

[frijoli]

Frijoli, I can see some of what you are trying to fix, - Bill

You can definitely see it, but was unwearable before!

I think the plantation style with that telescope crown and wide, curved brim suits you very well.

Wear it in health!
- Bill

Thanks for the compliments. my Panamabobs, will have slightly smaller brims me thinks, and NOT rolled!

Clay