stiffener

Hello everyone, I just made my first hat, and it has some really bad white spots and discoloration, I believe from the stiffener. I used dewaxed shellac flakes in alcohol. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting rid of it, or ideas what caused it?

Hi, new here and love this site. I'm making a fedora of sorts out of a wool felt hood with mild stiffener. I steam it and shape it then as I try to work on it the felt goes soft. I steam it again then it gets soft again. Does it just need additional stiffener? I have a good 190 proof shellac...