I made a hatband - Opinions please?

[Warbaby]

I found some Petersham ribbon at a local fabric store and made a new band for my Resistol. This is my first attempt at making a band and I'd appreciate your opinions both regarding the band itself and how it works on the hat. You may recall that I posted a photo of this hat several months ago with a question about moth damage (which makes it a good candidate for my hat mod experiments.

Here's the hat in its original state:

It looked a little too much like the sort of hat a Texas businessman would wear, so I rebashed it:

I still wasn't entirely happy with that skinny band, so I tried my hand at making a wide band for it.

It took awhile to figure out a way to get the band to lay flat with the taper of the crown, but I solved the problem by turning under the bottom edge with a long taper about 1/4" where the ends meet inside the bow. Is this the right way to do it or is there a better way? Should the bow be pressed flat or left with the ends slightly raised and rounded? I haven't stitched it in place yet, so I can easily remake it if it isn't right.

 

[AlanC]

You're on a one man mission to stop the thin ribbon, aren't you? lol

 

[Dinerman]

It doesn't look bad with that width ribbon, but the bow needs serious work. Try putting a pleat in the middle tie to make it narrower, pressing the bow so it's not puffy, and sewing it down. The ends of the bow should be the same width as the ribbon. There's a good thread on ribbon and bow replacement that should help you.

 

[GWD]

I agree, the center wrap of the bow needs to be thinner. Nevertheless, it's better than I could do. Good Job!

 

[jpbales]

it's interesting to see how big a change in the overall look of the hat you can make just by changing the ribbon and the bash. it looks like you're on the right track to me

 

[Slim Portly]

Bravo! That looks amazing! Both the new bash and the ribbon are top notch.

 

[tonyb]

Any idea of that ribbon's composition? If it's synthetic, it'll be harder to work with than the rayon/cotton blend ribbon, which isn't as commonly available as the polyester stuff.

Most (but not all) men's hat ribbon has a smooth, "finished" edge, whereas the one you have there appears serrated. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it isn't what is typically used. I believe that what you have there is commonly called grosgrain "belting." I happen to have some, purchased before I got hip to the various types of grosgrain. It is often used for bands on women's hats, and for sweatbands, also on women's hats, usually. But ... I happen to have a vintage Stetson Flagship with a serrated ribbon (original to the hat, I have every reason to believe), so it isn't that the stuff hasn't been used on men's hats.


As to the bow ...

Start over. Examine the bows on a few hats to get a better sense of how they are made. There are several types of bows, and some of them are quite elaborate and therefore time-consuming to fabricate. But most are simple and can be made rather easily. I assume that you got that ribbon on the cheap, so go ahead and play with it. Get some thread that matches and teach yourself a few tricks. If you have some beater lids you don't mind experimenting with, get out the X-Acto knife and remove the bands and bows. You'll probably have an "aha" moment or two.

I find bow fabricating kinda fun and satisfying. I've wasted some ribbon and a few of my early attempts were far from stellar, but it didn't take long to figure out where the problems typically arise and how to avoid them. And you can always take consolation in knowing that many factory-made hats have pretty crummy bows, with parts showing that shouldn't be showing and big ol' clunky-lookin' stitches that any self-respecting custom hat maker would never tolerate.

That ribbon is a good color and width for that hat.

 

[carter]

Bow construction aside, that new ribbon adds a certain panache to your Resistol. Congratulations on your first foray into making that hat your own creation. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[tonyb]

^^ True, dat.

 

[Warbaby]

Thanks, guys, for the comments (and compliments!). I'm going to spend some time perfecting that bow and will post pix when I get something I think is right. I like the overall look of the black band, though - it seems more like my kind of hat.

AlanC - lol lol lol

tonyb - Yes, you're right about the ribbon. The lady in the fabric store said it was a type of ribbon used on women's hats - but it was the closest thing they had to a ribbon that would work as a hatband. Petersham, she called it. It feels a bit heavier and stiffer than the ribbon I've seen on other hats, but it's the only hatband ribbon that I'm going to find here in the wilds of Vancouver Island. I'm going to pick up some more this week to practice with. Not very expensive - $6.75 per meter, but it's currently on sale for half-price.

 

[Warbaby]

I just discovered that the 'Post the pins on your fedora' thread is a great resource for studying hat band bows - dozens of photos of all sorts of pleats, tucks, and proportions.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks, guys, for the comments (and compliments!). I'm going to spend some time perfecting that bow and will post pix when I get something I think is right. I like the overall look of the black band, though - it seems more like my kind of hat.

AlanC - lol lol lol

tonyb - Yes, you're right about the ribbon. The lady in the fabric store said it was a type of ribbon used on women's hats - but it was the closest thing they had to a ribbon that would work as a hatband. Petersham, she called it. It feels a bit heavier and stiffer than the ribbon I've seen on other hats, but it's the only hatband ribbon that I'm going to find here in the wilds of Vancouver Island. I'm going to pick up some more this week to practice with. Not very expensive - $6.75 per meter, but it's currently on sale for half-price.

To get a sense of how much that stuff is marked up for retail, check out the Schiff Ribbon website. Schiff sells to the trade only, but you can get very good prices on good ribbon (the cotton/rayon blend stuff) from online retailers, provided you buy more than most of us will likely ever use. (It's hardly a bargain if you don't use it, right?)

There are some eBay "stores" that offer shorter lengths at almost palatable prices, which may well be the best route for most do-it-yourselfers. But man, what a markup!

Don't know how things are up there on Vancouver Island, but around here I find old ribbon in places where old stuff is typically found -- antique and vintage shops and such. Seek and ye shall find (with any luck, anyway).

 

[tonyb]

I just discovered that the 'Post the pins on your fedora' thread is a great resource for studying hat band bows - dozens of photos of all sorts of pleats, tucks, and proportions.

The johnnyphi auction photos in the Merchants section show a wide variety of bow styles, too.

 

[Spats McGee]

I'd agree with some of the previous posters that the bow needs a little work. With that said, I like what you've done. The new ribbon makes a world of difference in the character of the hat.