I'm making a hat band

[MagicMan]

Sooo, I'm just getting into hats and picked up my first one - a Bailey Sperling in Lite Felt. While I appreciate the genuine leather band that came with it, I believe I can dress it up a bit. I'm a fairly experienced leatherworker, having done mostly holsters, belts, handbags, and wallets. Let's try a hat band.
Here's the Bailey now.

And here's the band that I'm working on. I'm waiting on some supplies to arrive before I finish it.

 

[belfastboy]

Sooo, I'm just getting into hats and picked up my first one - a Bailey Sperling in Lite Felt. While I appreciate the genuine leather band that came with it, I believe I can dress it up a bit. I'm a fairly experienced leatherworker, having done mostly holsters, belts, handbags, and wallets. Let's try a hat band.
Here's the Bailey now.
View attachment 283763
And here's the band that I'm working on. I'm waiting on some supplies to arrive before I finish it.
View attachment 283764

I have been making a few leather bands and for me it is a great entry point into leather work. I have done a few with random mottled finishes via a stamp. But am more attracted to a nice piece of leather plain......joined by thread and then the join hidden by a concho. I buy real buffalo nickel conchos on Etsy. The maker domes them and welds a Chicago screw back. I have yet to attempt a punched pattern....one day I will make the time. Your work looks great!

 

[MagicMan]

Thank you, sir.
I will have to look into those conchos.

 

[glider]

Tandy leather has about any kind of Concho you can imagine in there stores. Good quality and any hardware you might need.

 

[belfastboy]

Tandy leather has about any kind of Concho you can imagine in there stores. Good quality and any hardware you might need.

I buy my conchos from Tandy. Once in a while I will get a bad batch and the Chicago screw threads are wonky but for a few buck I just eat the loss. I really like the Etsy buffalo head/indian head nickel conchos as they are real nickels that the craftsman has somehow domed. They are pricey at about $24Canadian with the shipping but having the real deal is worth it to me.

 

[glider]

sounds cool

 

[BobHufford]

A shout out for a local biz ... www.springfieldleather.com

They do wholesale pricing for you guys who are resellers.

Concho pages:

https://springfieldleather.cld.bz/2020-Catalog-Springfield-Leather-Co/268/

No experience with the conchos, but these folks have been super nice and helpful when I've been in their ever-expanding store.

 

[glider]

I may need to make the trip down there to check them out.