Hand Felted Alpaca Hats

[hatflick1]

http://www.longbranchfiber.com/id1.html

I never bought an alpaca hat before, but the Flat Top, stingy brim style is tempting for knockin' around.

Just thought I'd pass the site along

 

[bolthead]

I'm not sold on these yet, it's an interesting article, don't get me wrong, but I've heard a lot of negative feedback on them. I'm not surprised that they use scented water to steam them, because I hear they smell horrible. [huh]

 

[hatflick1]

Thanks for the advice. I don't want a hat smelling of the livestock that provided the fabric! Wool can be off putting enough when wet.

 

[randooch]

Fascinating! I asked about using alpaca wool for fedoras once, but I hadn't found this site. It would be interesting to email the folks and ask about the potential problem with "fragrance." Maybe I'll do just that, and let you folks know the outcome.

 

[gtdean48]

Then Buffalo felt hats would never sell if smelling like the animal when wet was a factor!

 

[randooch]

Elsa's reply about smells:

By the time I'm done with the hats there is no alpaca smell. The reason for steaming them with scented water is so that when they become damp or sweaty, they will not begin to smell or get musty. It is not a cure but a prevention that will hopefully slow down the normal wear and tear. And it keeps my steamer from getting musty smelling also.

They can certainly be rained on. They will shed water as they are felted very tightly. But you should air dry them so they don't get musty.They won't shrink and the band sewn in prevents them from stretching also, unless of course, you are pulling them onto a the wrong size head.

They are really pretty bomb proof. Thanks for asking about them. Let me know if there are any other questions.

Take care,
Elsa

 

[Lefty]

And it keeps my steamer from getting musty smelling also.

This statement seems questionable. I steam the hats, in part, because it keeps my steamer fresh? [huh] Also, I'm not sure if you used the word "musty" in your email to her, but she certainly seems concerned about it.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

This statement seems questionable. I steam the hats, in part, because it keeps my steamer fresh? [huh] Also, I'm not sure if you used the word "musty" in your email to her, but she certainly seems concerned about it.

I am careful with my "dress" hats. The "Alpaca Stench" seems to have an acquired flavor of its own I will stay down wind, thank youlol lol

 

[randooch]

This statement seems questionable. I steam the hats, in part, because it keeps my steamer fresh? [huh] Also, I'm not sure if you used the word "musty" in your email to her, but she certainly seems concerned about it.

I asked her if exposure to rain would make the hat stink or shrink. I purposefully kept the query lowbrow in order to get a candid response. I also told her that I'd be sharing her answer on FL, which I thought was fair. The word "musty" caught my attention, too. Perhaps these hats are perfect for dry, cold days.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I have a U.S. made, alpaca felt fedora from the 1950s. Luckily, it doesn't smell, wet or dry.

 

[bolthead]

I have a U.S. made, alpaca felt fedora from the 1950s. Luckily, it doesn't smell, wet or dry.

worthlesswithoutpics

 

[Marc Chevalier]

No luck, Bolthead: pics aren't olefactory.

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