First DIY attempt

[Wil Tam]

Okay be brutal, here are some pictures of my first attempt of fabricating & attaching a ribbon to a hat. The creating part wasn't a problem at all... but the attaching part gave me some issues because I had a difficult time tapering the top part of the band so that it would be tight with the crown. So any tips from you gurus out there ... Art ... TonyB & whoever has done this type of project before would be of great help.

The ribbon is 2.25 inch wide .. the hat is a tan velour Cavanaugh that originally had an ugly brown 4 count twisted cord ribbon that was falling off anyway. The hat was a prime candidate for a starter project. I'm sort of happy with the end product, but know that I can do much better.

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[Jauntyone]

Great work! The ribbon looks really well done; I think I detect the influence of a certain custom hatter in the bow...
The only suggestion I can offer is that a slightly narrower ribbon might go better on this hat.
But a really sharp job:eusa_clap

(edited for spelling)

 

[Lefty]

I agree with Jaunty. From what I can see, it looks good, but is a bit wide for that hat. There do seem to be a few dips at the top of the ribbon on the side opposite the bow (where it's tacked to the hat?).

The bow does resemble the one on Art's Jazzman, which was influenced by the styles of the C&K that Garret recently posted and Wildroot's 30s Stetson, and would probably look better on a similarly proportioned hat. .

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Nice job but the ribbon is clearly the focal point.

 

[Art Fawcett]

First, "A" for effort Wil.

Unfortunately, you chose probably the most difficult ribbon width to work with. The narrower the ribbon, the easier it is to "swirl" the ribbon prior to installing it. This is one of those cases where a picture would be worth a thousand words but, before installing the ribbon you have to put a curve in it with your iron. This curve ( swirl) will follow the natural taper of the hat as it goes up the crown. The taller you go, the more swirl required for a tight fit. I don't have a video camera but here is where it would come in handy.
From a design standpoint I agree that it is too much ribbon for the crown. Do you have anyhting about 2/3 that width?

 

[citRon]

I'm no expert; he just spoke ^^^^^, but I like the overly wide ribbon on that one. The bow makes it look a bit heavy though. What about a simple back bow? That way you have the wide ribbon but with a smoother, cleaner profile. [huh]

 

[Wil Tam]

AHHHH

Thanks for the feedback guys!

First, "A" for effort Wil.

Unfortunately, you chose probably the most difficult ribbon width to work with. The narrower the ribbon, the easier it is to "swirl" the ribbon prior to installing it. This is one of those cases where a picture would be worth a thousand words but, before installing the ribbon you have to put a curve in it with your iron. This curve ( swirl) will follow the natural taper of the hat as it goes up the crown. The taller you go, the more swirl required for a tight fit. I don't have a video camera but here is where it would come in handy.
From a design standpoint I agree that it is too much ribbon for the crown. Do you have anything about 2/3 that width?

Unfortunately I don't have any thinner ribbon plus I didn't do the curve with the iron, do you pull as you iron to achieve the curve .. but I do have an idea though since I now have a good amount of the this wide ribbon to go through .. I can try to pleat it .. what do you think?

And yes there are dips on top of the band .. how can I fix that?

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[HarpPlayerGene]

I'd like to hear what RBH thinks of that one...

 

[Wil Tam]

Down & Dirty Fix

Okay I just adjusted the ribbon by tilting the bow and I tucked the top of the band in .. viola! The slack & dips are gone .. not great but I'm learning, which is what I wanted .. knowledge is good



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[tonyb]

Happen to know the the fiber composition of that ribbon, Wil? Where'd ya get it?

I like the style of the bow. And the color is nice. Like the others, I think it's a bit on the wide side, but, heck, it's just a hat, right? And it's kinda fun to play around with it, right?

I'd be interested in seeing how you went about this project. I don't know that my way of doing it (which is forever evolving, based on what I learn through trial and lots of error) is the "right" way, but I find I can get the ribbon to fit tightly by tacking it on first at the front bottom, then front top, and then at the back, pulling the ribbon snugly and holding it to the body with a stick pin while I make the rear stitches. The top rear stitch I the last I do before stitching on the bow.

From that front view it appears that you have a bit of a pucker in the band ribbon (it ain't like the factories don't routinely turn out hats that way) and that the bow isn't as tight as it might be.

Real good first attempt, though. I find the ribbon work the most pleasant part of the process (usually, although it can have its frustrating moments too). It's where the hat crafter's individual style can really show.

About the only advice I can offer without reservation is that you procure the best ribbon you can find. The difference between the good stuff and the lesser variety may be wasted on people who think high-quality hats are made of wool, but man, it's readily apparent to a hat guy. In a side-by-side comparison it's as obvious as can be.

 

[bolthead]

I agree....

I think a Back bow would look great with that width ribbon. [huh]

 

[tonyb]

I think a Back bow would look great with that width ribbon. [huh]

Ditto. That hadn't occurred to me, but yeah, I agree.

 

[carter]

Before - wide ribbon

After - narrower ribbon

Will, I applaud your effort. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
While folding the ribbon probably isn't normally done, it does work.
I agree regarding a back bow. It would add a somewhat sleeker look to this hat. However, the hat looks good as you have it.
Let's see it on your noggin.

 

[Anachronism]

it's definitely wearable. That's the one thing you have to be wary of with DIY anything, so many times the finished product begs the question

"did you make that yourself"

This doesn't do that. That's a good thing.

 

[Wil Tam]

**

Happen to know the the fiber composition of that ribbon, Wil? Where'd ya get it?

I like the style of the bow. And the color is nice. Like the others, I think it's a bit on the wide side, but, heck, it's just a hat, right? And it's kinda fun to play around with it, right?

I'd be interested in seeing how you went about this project. I don't know that my way of doing it (which is forever evolving, based on what I learn through trial and lots of error) is the "right" way, but I find I can get the ribbon to fit tightly by tacking it on first at the front bottom, then front top, and then at the back, pulling the ribbon snugly and holding it to the body with a stick pin while I make the rear stitches. The top rear stitch I the last I do before stitching on the bow.

From that front view it appears that you have a bit of a pucker in the band ribbon (it ain't like the factories don't routinely turn out hats that way) and that the bow isn't as tight as it might be.

Real good first attempt, though. I find the ribbon work the most pleasant part of the process (usually, although it can have its frustrating moments too). It's where the hat crafter's individual style can really show.

About the only advice I can offer without reservation is that you procure the best ribbon you can find. The difference between the good stuff and the lesser variety may be wasted on people who think high-quality hats are made of wool, but man, it's readily apparent to a hat guy. In a side-by-side comparison it's as obvious as can be.

I purchased the ribbon from Ribbon Retreat & ordered too much of the 2.25" in brown, millennium gray & black ... 15 yards of each .. about $30 with s/h .. I could dye the gray ribbon with RIT so I'm okay with it, but the other two are too dark. I still have a few more projects in the works that will require the black & brown... but I'll probably never use it all.

hmm .. I started this project because it had an ugly ribbon on it

I got my iron hot .. then cut a 26" length for the band .. a 12" length for the bow & a 6" length for the knot.

[I skipped the curving with the iron bit because I didn't know that part .. I do now though :eusa_doh: ]

Folded the ends then ironed .. made the bow & the knot .. attached the long length to the hat starting from where the bow would be then worked around toward the front .. tacking it down every 3" or so, till the ends met, then cut off the excess & finished tacking. then I attached the bow.

I'll try your method on my next one.

The learning process is cool. regardless of how frustrating it is.

I don't know how to make a back bow yet ... because I have not seen one yet. I copy from stuff that I have & I don't own a hat that has one.

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[bolthead]

I don't know how to make a back bow yet ... because I have not seen one yet. I copy from stuff that I have & I don't own a hat that has one.

Here's one I have, a Resistol, I have another Dobbs I'll have to look for a pic.....

I think it would be a bit difficult if you don't have a sewing machine because of the cross pattern stitching on the Bow itself? [huh]

 

[bolthead]

another....

here's the Dobbs I was telling you about, it's a little different in that it has no Cross stitching in it, just pleated and sewn straight down.

 

[Wil Tam]

I think it would be a bit difficult if you don't have a sewing machine because of the cross pattern stitching on the Bow itself? [huh]

Yeah I don't think that I'll be able to make one of those since we don't have a sewing machine in the apartment anymore, we did before the renovation ... had an open house sale because we needed the extra cash for the new stuff and it got scooped up,

Okay here are some pics of the lid on my noggin

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[zetwal]

What material is considered the best for grosgrain hat ribbons? Would it be silk or cotton or both or something else all together? Thanks

 

[bolthead]

Looks good on....:eusa_clap


Although I'm curious as to what you'd look like in a wide brim, taller (untapered) Crown? [huh]