King’s Umbrella Hat Company

[The Lost Cowboy]

Updates as a hat is being made are always fun. My King’s Umbrella felt is pounced and blocked and the brim is cut. We’re waiting on the ribbon to arrive (we’re looking at a light blue option).

Meanwhile this other ribbon in the photo also looks quite lovely - Alan said it is called “sea haze” and is “in the grey-green-blue family.”

I’m very pleased with the block and brim break here. This is a 5-3/4 inch crown with dimensional brim.

 

[hambone71]

Updates as a hat is being made are always fun. My King’s Umbrella felt is pounced and blocked and the brim is cut. We’re waiting on the ribbon to arrive (we’re looking at a light blue option).

Meanwhile this other ribbon in the photo also looks quite lovely - Alan said it is called “sea haze” and is “in the grey-green-blue family.”

I’m very pleased with the block and brim break here. This is a 5-3/4 inch crown with dimensional brim.
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View attachment 587377

I can already tell, it's gonna be a good one. Mines next on the block. I'm excited about the fancy hat box too, and the fancy calligraphy.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I can already tell, it's gonna be a good one. Mines next on the block. I'm excited about the fancy hat box too, and the fancy calligraphy.

I have to admit the box was the final straw on this decision. I hope Alan isn't losing money on this start up (I mean, free shipping on top of everything else?) and I wonder how long he will be able to provide the fancy boxes (maybe forever, what do I know?), but I sure hope I get one!

 

[hambone71]

I have to admit the box was the final straw on this decision. I hope Alan isn't losing money on this start up (I mean, free shipping on top of everything else?) and I wonder how long he will be able to provide the fancy boxes (maybe forever, what do I know?), but I sure hope I get one!

He must not have a lot if money in those "barn find" felt bodies. I hope he has quite a few left, though, because I may need another one.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

He must not have a lot if money in those "barn find" felt bodies. I hope he has quite a few left, though, because I may need another one.

Doh! I gotta stop! I still can’t work and I need to sell off some oversized hats to pay for this one. But I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines!

 

[hambone71]

Doh! I gotta stop! I still can’t work and I need to sell off some oversized hats to pay for this one. But I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines!

Yeah, stopping sounds like a good idea for me too.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Yeah, stopping sounds like a good idea for me too.

Really my problem is that I get bored and go on eBay just to “look”. Yeah, we all know where that leads!

So I gotta keep as active as I can, which is a challenge with this illness but I’m learning.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

He must not have a lot if money in those "barn find" felt bodies. I hope he has quite a few left, though, because I may need another one.

He’s already out of hat bodies big enough to make hats in my size. I’m thinking of sending him a FEPSA felt body, but then I’m trying to not buy more hats for the rest of the year…except for those already in the works.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

He’s already out of hat bodies big enough to make hats in my size. I’m thinking of sending him a FEPSA felt body, but then I’m trying to not buy more hats for the rest of the year…except for those already in the works.

For the rest of the year?!! :O

 

[deadlyhandsome]

For the rest of the year?!! :O

Well, I think I have a half dozen or more “in the works” so those don’t count.

 

[Rmccamey]

Well, I think I have a half dozen or more “in the works” so those don’t count.

Me too! What he said!!!

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Well, I think I have a half dozen or more “in the works” so those don’t count.

Half dozen is respectful. Actually, maybe I will make that my goal as well from now on: a limit of 7 new hats a year (that I actually keep, that is). I like that.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Not the final bow work, just a quick mock-up from Alan to verify ribbon choice and bow style. I love this - simple and light and it stops just short of Miami Vice (in my opinion, at least).

A matching whippet style brim binding to be added as well and we are just now talking wind cords. Hooyah!

 

[Rmccamey]

What a beautiful color combination. I'm not big into blue but that is a fantastic look.

Not the final bow work, just a quick mock-up from Alan to verify ribbon choice and bow style. I love this - simple and light and it stops just short of Miami Vice (in my opinion, at least).

A matching whippet style brim binding to be added as well and are are just now talking wind cords. Hooyah!

View attachment 589247

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

What a beautiful color combination. I'm not big into blue but that is a fantastic look.

Thank you Randy! Alan had a deep blue ribbon that was too bold and then a number of pastel blues that made it very Miami Vice. This one was the obvious choice and I'm very happy with it, so thank you for your encouraging comment!

 

[hambone71]

Not the final bow work, just a quick mock-up from Alan to verify ribbon choice and bow style. I love this - simple and light and it stops just short of Miami Vice (in my opinion, at least).

A matching whippet style brim binding to be added as well and we are just now talking wind cords. Hooyah!

View attachment 589247

That is gonna be one sweet hat, my friend. Did Alan say if he had more Bone felts? The more I look at this, the more I likes!

Mine is off the block and ready for the brim binding.

 

[hambone71]

I have landed on this ribbon color and also nix'd the brim binding. I have opted for a raw edge instead. If the binding were a closer match to the felt, I'd move forward with it but ultimately, I felt I may have too many browns going on.

We're also in discussion of a frayed rear bow. Not quite sold on that yet.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have landed on this ribbon color and also nix'd the brim binding. I have opted for a raw edge instead. If the binding were a closer match to the felt, I'd move forward with it but ultimately, I felt I may have too many browns going on.

We're also in discussion of a frayed rear bow. Not quite sold on that yet.

View attachment 589403

I rarely opt for raw brim edges, but they can be just the ticket. I wonder if anyone is offering a wafer brim edge…?

 

[belfastboy]

I rarely opt for raw brim edges, but they can be just the ticket. I wonder if anyone is offering a wafer brim edge…?

It is possible it just depends on how much the hatter sands down the brim edge. A brim plater helps as well as the hydraulic pressure does compress the felt. I think a brim plater is on most hatters wish list but at $12-15 grand out of most or our capabilities. I think at the very least hatters sand down the hard right angle that the rounding jack produces on the cut.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It is possible it just depends on how much the hatter sands down the brim edge. A brim plater helps as well as the hydraulic pressure does compress the felt. I think a brim plater is on most hatters wish list but at $12-15 grand out of most or our capabilities. I think at the very least hatters sand down the hard right angle that the rounding jack produces on the cut.

Are they really that expensive? I didn’t think they would be cheap, but that’s ridiculous. I know Kevin @ChicagoWayVito has one among with a full set of sized plates. I’m going to as Gannon for a wafer edge on my first hat from him using FEPSA rabbit felt.