deanglen
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- 3,159
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- Fenton, Michigan, USA
This is turning out easier than I thought, and thanks to Dinerman's hat posted today, I am firmly convinced that I have discovered the secret of the dimpled, uneven dent. First, the pictorial evidence. My Dobbs.
Now. How did I do it? The answer was right on the tips of my fingers. Steam the dent, then press in the dent with one hand on the outside, and one on the inside and where the fingers indent the felt, it creates the unique dents with dimples The cupping of the dent comes from closing the fingers ever so slightly. The results are satisfying.
I beleve it was done this way, regardless of the felt thickness, because hats were once sold open crowned and rather than pay for blocking in the dents, the owner pressed them firmly into the sides, especially after center denting the crown, which would also not require a block. My Dobbs now has a diamond bash just because I wanted to do it, but done by hand with steam.
Steam isn't even necessary, I did with out steam intially, the degree of pressure needed to have the felt hold the dents insured that the finger tip dimples would be visible. I steamed them simply to hold the look better. The dent cupping came naturaly from the fingers moving toward the thumbs slightly. I submit that this answers all my questions about the look.
Most modern hats are sold blocked, and many vintage hats are blocked in refurbishment. The look would be eliminated by that. Aside from blocking, finger pressure would provide an easily renewable bashing as it might gradually fadeas the felt would try to return to its original domed open crown shape.
dean
Now. How did I do it? The answer was right on the tips of my fingers. Steam the dent, then press in the dent with one hand on the outside, and one on the inside and where the fingers indent the felt, it creates the unique dents with dimples The cupping of the dent comes from closing the fingers ever so slightly. The results are satisfying.
I beleve it was done this way, regardless of the felt thickness, because hats were once sold open crowned and rather than pay for blocking in the dents, the owner pressed them firmly into the sides, especially after center denting the crown, which would also not require a block. My Dobbs now has a diamond bash just because I wanted to do it, but done by hand with steam.
Steam isn't even necessary, I did with out steam intially, the degree of pressure needed to have the felt hold the dents insured that the finger tip dimples would be visible. I steamed them simply to hold the look better. The dent cupping came naturaly from the fingers moving toward the thumbs slightly. I submit that this answers all my questions about the look.
Most modern hats are sold blocked, and many vintage hats are blocked in refurbishment. The look would be eliminated by that. Aside from blocking, finger pressure would provide an easily renewable bashing as it might gradually fadeas the felt would try to return to its original domed open crown shape.
dean
