Thank you for your compliments!
I started with a panama hat body from Hatsupply.com, because it was the only place I know of where I could place an order online and pay online. Someday when I have the cash I'll move up in the world and buy a higher end hat body from Panama Bob.
I bought one of the 4-5" brim jobbies that are pretty much a 3" crowned capeline. They're not a very high quality weave, about what you see in a Stetson 'Retro' Panama Hat, so they're a little rough looking, especially at the edge of the brim, the weave gets a bit sloppy and loose. Once it was blocked on a 6" tall #52 block using a blocking cord and a pusher downer, I had 6" of crown and 3" of brim (3" Brim is good for Florida and tall crowns IMO). So there's plenty of canvas to paint, so to speak. After a few experiments (diamond crease, center dent, ect) I decided to crease nice deep teardrop and stuck with it.
I wish I had an underwelt brim shackle though, then I could maybe play around with brim lengths. But a 5" Crown and 3" brim will do the job, and look nice with my whites, blues and black dress clothes I have to wear to work. For my earth-tones I have a natural colored (tan) panama hat.
