"Merry Christmas From Australia"

[Ugarte]

This was the message written on the lid of the box I got today from The Hattery. My Federation arrived to day!

And here, in excruciating excess, are a list of links to pics of the hat. I'm not in any of the pics actually wearing the Akubra. I'll post those after I've had a little practice.

Now, without further ado:

http://geocities.com/mark9117/open-1.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/open-2.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/open-3.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/open-4.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/inside.jpg

And for my first bash, ladies and gentlemen:

http://geocities.com/mark9117/bash-1.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/bash-2.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/side-2.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/side-3.jpg
http://geocities.com/mark9117/side-4.jpg

It's a learning experience. One of the things I've learned is that I am not a 7 3/8. More like 7 1/8 - 7 1/4. Fortunately some of the padding that came with the hat snugs it up just as it should be. I can wear this hat and if it shrinks a tiny bit, that's okay too.

I also learned that I am most surely a long oval.

So, comments? Criticisms? Advice?

Mark

 

[Jerekson]

Comments: Beautiful lid. Look at that stovepipe!!! There's nothing better to me than seeing a brand new Akubra in one of those familiar boxes.

Criticism: None really. My only concern is the top crease - you could try deepening it a bit so as to enhance the side profile.

Advice: As mentioned above, also you may or may not feel the need to pounce the felt thinner/smoother with sandpaper. I did this with my Akubra and it feels sooo much nicer and smoother now. It's also alot more pliable and holds a better crease - more like some vintage specimens.

 

[RBH]

Very nice hat...very good crease !!
:eusa_clap You did well!:eusa_clap

 

[Ugarte]

Comments: Beautiful lid. Look at that stovepipe!!! There's nothing better to me than seeing a brand new Akubra in one of those familiar boxes.

Criticism: None really. My only concern is the top crease - you could try deepening it a bit so as to enhance the side profile.

Thanks Jerekson. The crease is a work in progress. It looks a bit shallow on top to me too. I like the diamond, but given the ridge in the center of my skull, I may have to settle for a teardrop.

Advice: As mentioned above, also you may or may not feel the need to pounce the felt thinner/smoother with sandpaper. I did this with my Akubra and it feels sooo much nicer and smoother now. It's also alot more pliable and holds a better crease - more like some vintage specimens.

At some point, maybe. Right now, I'm liking it as it is. I'll sort out the crease as I go. I also notice the brim is not as "swoopy" as I'd like to wear it. I'm looking for advice on brim shaping on TFL.

Thanks again. I'm just trying to do this right.

Mark

 

[Ugarte]

Very nice hat...very good crease !!
:eusa_clap You did well!:eusa_clap

Thank you sir.

In the meantime, I notice geocities has choked my bandwidth. I'll resize some pics and attach them here.









It's actually darker than it appears here, almost the same color as the ribbon. It matches my wool topcoat very nicely.

My daughter had the unfortunate judgment to tell me it was "ugly" (yes, she actually said that). She's a good kid though and a quick reminder of her manners had her backpedaling.

The kids aren't used to lids. But they'll learn. :fedora:

Mark

 

[deelovely]

My daughter had the unfortunate judgment to tell me it was "ugly" (yes, she actually said that). She's a good kid though and a quick reminder of her manners had her backpedaling.
Mark

The horror!!

That is an awesome looking hat Ugarte!

 

[Ugarte]

That is an awesome looking hat Ugarte!

Thank you ma'am.

And right back at'cha.

Mark

 

[Rider]

Re the brim (and goodness knows I'm no expert in this), here's what I did. After I had a bash I knew I liked, I set it with steam. I sprayed the brim with a mist bottle of distilled water. I sat the hat on it's box with the front brim bent down, hanging over the edge. When the hat dried, I had the more dramatic bend of the brim I preferred.

 

[Ugarte]

Re the brim (and goodness knows I'm no expert in this), here's what I did. After I had a bash I knew I liked, I set it with steam. I sprayed the brim with a mist bottle of distilled water. I sat the hat on it's box with the front brim bent down, hanging over the edge. When the hat dried, I had the more dramatic bend of the brim I preferred.

Which segues nicely into the question I had about creating a "hard crease". Moisture, heat and time right?

Thanks Rider.

Mark

 

[Jerekson]

Well, I'll tell you what I did. I started out by soaking the brim all around, top and bottom, then lying it down on a flat tabletop. Then I pressed the brim flat with a set of textbooks A day of dryig under the books and wha la! Flat brim! All set for the hand curling.

 

[Ugarte]

Well, I'll tell you what I did. I started out by soaking the brim all around, top and bottom, then lying it down on a flat tabletop. Then I pressed the brim flat with a set of textbooks A day of dryig under the books and wha la! Flat brim! All set for the hand curling.

Jerekson: What is this "hand curling" of which you speak?



M.

 

[indycop]

Advice: As mentioned above, also you may or may not feel the need to pounce the felt thinner/smoother with sandpaper. I did this with my Akubra and it feels sooo much nicer and smoother now. It's also alot more pliable and holds a better crease - more like some vintage specimens.

How do you go about doing this?

 

[thunderw21]

Most excellent.

 

[indycop]

The hat looks great Ugarte!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap I suspect many here have experienced the joy of getting that familiar box!!
As for the brim I also just sprayed it with distilled water, bent it by hand how I wanted it and let it dry overnight with the brim hanging off the edge of a shelf. I did not do anything to the rear of the brim as it just snaps down when I want it to.
Oh, if you wear it much it WILL shrink so don't think you need a smaller size until you have broken this one in nicely! Sweat in it wear it in the rain, Akubra's are tough!

 

[Ugarte]

The hat looks great Ugarte!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap I suspect many here have experienced the joy of getting that familiar box!!
As for the brim I also just sprayed it with distilled water, bent it by hand how I wanted it and let it dry overnight with the brim hanging off the edge of a shelf. I did not do anything to the rear of the brim as it just snaps down when I want it to.

I'm going to have to make a note of that.

Also, I would take this opportunity to mention that the hat in your avatar (Adventurebilt?) looks great. I have been working with my bash and gone with a little bigger/deeper side dent. It looks and feels much more fedora-like, similar to your avatar.

M.

 

[indycop]

I'm going to have to make a note of that.

Also, I would take this opportunity to mention that the hat in your avatar (Adventurebilt?) looks great. I have been working with my bash and gone with a little bigger/deeper side dent. It looks and feels much more fedora-like, similar to your avatar.

M.

My akubra federation had the indy bash at first and then later I changed it to a diamond style. You can change and play with it without hurting it!! I even balled mine up once!
Oh, yes it is an adventurebilt in the avatar which is off to get a reblock right now!