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.
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!
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.
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.
