The Conversion Corral

[deadlyhandsome]

This 3X Stetson Western thin ribbon conversion, I'm gonna call, 'Unfinished Buisness'. I started this one a few weeks ago but was never able to finish it. I held off showing it until now. For one, I can't find a matching 3/8 ribbon to bind the brim edge. Two, my back just aches too much right now for me to sit long enough to sew one on. So, I just popped it on a #810 flange and made it a thin ribbon with raw edge brim for now.

Before: It started off about two sizes too small and I blocked it up to a 7 1/4 to fit me. It was in pretty rough shape.

Embroidered 'Last Drop' liner that I was able to iron out and reuse, along with the original sweat band bow

On the block a few weeks back

After: I may or may not leave it as is with the raw edge. Just depends on what the ol' back can take sitting and sewing and if I can locate some matching 3/8 ribbon for the brim binding. All in all, I do like the crisp lines on this one and the clean look of a thin ribbon...

On the head from a few different angles...

Love it, Terry. I never get tired seeing old hats being reborn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Steve1857]

This 3X Stetson Western thin ribbon conversion, I'm gonna call, 'Unfinished Buisness'. I started this one a few weeks ago but was never able to finish it. I held off showing it until now. For one, I can't find a matching 3/8 ribbon to bind the brim edge. Two, my back just aches too much right now for me to sit long enough to sew one on. So, I just popped it on a #810 flange and made it a thin ribbon with raw edge brim for now.

Before: It started off about two sizes too small and I blocked it up to a 7 1/4 to fit me. It was in pretty rough shape.

Embroidered 'Last Drop' liner that I was able to iron out and reuse, along with the original sweat band bow

On the block a few weeks back

After: I may or may not leave it as is with the raw edge. Just depends on what the ol' back can take sitting and sewing and if I can locate some matching 3/8 ribbon for the brim binding. All in all, I do like the crisp lines on this one and the clean look of a thin ribbon...

On the head from a few different angles...

Terry, yet another great hat conversion on that Stetson. Super rake! Love it.
I'm worried about your health though. Stay well, friend, and lay off the hard work if you can.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[T Jones]

Love it, Terry. I never get tired seeing old hats being reborn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you Brent! Once I get to where I can sit long enough to sew on the brim binding I'll finish it, provided that I can find some matching 3/8 for it. In the meantime I'll wear it as is. I'm really liking this hat.

 

[T Jones]

Terry, yet another great hat conversion on that Stetson. Super rake! Love it.
I'm worried about your health though. Stay well, friend, and lay off the hard work if you can.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Thank you Steve! I gotta say, this hat has a real nice profile that I like. The crown, the flange...are really crisp. It's definitely a favorite.

Thank you buddy. I truly appreciate your concern. I'm confident, though, that I'll shortly be back at it full force! Thank you again buddy!

 

[jswindle2]

This 3X Stetson Western thin ribbon conversion, I'm gonna call, 'Unfinished Buisness'. I started this one a few weeks ago but was never able to finish it. I held off showing it until now. For one, I can't find a matching 3/8 ribbon to bind the brim edge. Two, my back just aches too much right now for me to sit long enough to sew one on. So, I just popped it on a #810 flange and made it a thin ribbon with raw edge brim for now.

Before: It started off about two sizes too small and I blocked it up to a 7 1/4 to fit me. It was in pretty rough shape.

Embroidered 'Last Drop' liner that I was able to iron out and reuse, along with the original sweat band bow

On the block a few weeks back

After: I may or may not leave it as is with the raw edge. Just depends on what the ol' back can take sitting and sewing and if I can locate some matching 3/8 ribbon for the brim binding. All in all, I do like the crisp lines on this one and the clean look of a thin ribbon...

On the head from a few different angles...

I think it looks great the way it is now, but of course, I'm open to having my mind changed.

 

[T Jones]

I think it looks great the way it is now, but of course, I'm open to having my mind changed.

Thank you buddy.

 

[dkstott]

Thought I'd share my conversion of my Stetson Roadster from having a thin leather hatband to having a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

Loving the new look of this hat.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

 

[Woodtroll]

Thought I'd share my conversion of my Stetson Roadster from having a thin leather hatband to having a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

Loving the new look of this hat.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

I like the change. Nice job!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thought I'd share my conversion of my Stetson Roadster from having a thin leather hatband to having a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

Loving the new look of this hat.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

Very nice. It’s amazing how such a small change completely changes the hat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bond]

Vintage Borsalino Homburg conversion to fedora. Basic conversion but instead of using a wider brim binding I choose a narrower binding to keep balance with the lower crown ht and mid width crown ribbon. The Homburg brim was trimmed about 1/8 on one side and about 1/4 on opposing side to get it even before binding. The hat was never really worn so the binding stitch holes from original binding were never really a problem. Color of the felt is called Mineral and is a real chameleon of a color as it alternates between grey and brown depending on the lighting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[steur]

Thought I'd share my conversion of my Stetson Roadster from having a thin leather hatband to having a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

Loving the new look of this hat.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

What a difference putting just a ribbon on can make! Vast improvement!

 

[T Jones]

Found this unfinished black Caxton that I started sometime back but never got around to completing yet. It started out as a butt ugly Western with a bound taco brim and a low horseshoe creased crown. The open crown, though, was 5 3/4. It'll be my version of a thin ribbon Strat clone once I get ambitious enough to finish it. I got as far as making up the brim binding. I just have to be able to sit long enough without back pain to sew it on. I have an appointment for Pain Management next week so hopefully I can get this done sooner than later. It was reblocked from a size 7 to a 7 1/4. The brim has been cut and flanged to 2 5/8. The crown is creased to my preferred teardrop and was blocked on the straight sided dome from Hat Shapers. It's creased to 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches in the back. It has a clean and crisp profile. I've always wanted a Stetson Stratoliner or a Borsa Alessandra thin ribbon but I could never afford one, I gave up ever trying to get one. So, I have to make my own version of one.

Here's what's done on it so far. I'll have more when I'm able to finish it, although I do have more pictures of this hat throughout its conversion process. Those I'll post at a later time. I didn't reuse the original brim binding or hat band because they were too wide for what I want to accomplish with this hat. They'll be saved for a future project.

 

[T Jones]

After some time I finally mustered up enough ambition and finished this Caxton that I started awhile back. The hat was originally a late '50s - early '60s black Western with a bound taco curved brim and with a low horseshoe creased crown. It also had a mid ribbon with a double tailed bow. It seemed liked it took me forever to get this finished. I started on this a good while back. It set aside for the longest time. It was a real pain work on with these back issues. It'll probably be a while before I sit down long enough to try and do this again, at least until I see how pain management works out for me.

Anyway, here's the specs on this Caxton Western.
1. It originally started out as a size 7. It's now been reblocked to a 7 1/4.
2. The open crown height is 5 3/4 inches tall and was blocked on my preferred straight sided dome.
3. It's been creased to my preferred Teardrop and is 4 3/4 at the pinch with the rake sloping to 4 inches in back.
4. It's a thin ribbon with a bound brim and also has a 3/8 ribbon with a Strat / OR style bow work.
5. The snap brim is 2 5/8 wide.
6. I was also able to reuse the original liner and sweatband bow, and I put the original manufacturers labels back into the hat...


Before:

Featuring my Rick Walker brim cutter and Rockwater band block

This was as far as I got until I later decided to get ambitious enough to finish it...

Hand sewing really sucks. Definitely a back breaker for me...

Finally finished...I'm done for awhile and I'm definitely going to be wearing this one a lot.

 

[Steve1857]

After some time I finally mustered up enough ambition and finished this Caxton that I started awhile back. The hat was originally a late '50s - early '60s black Western with a bound taco curved brim and with a low horseshoe creased crown. It also had a mid ribbon with a double tailed bow. It seemed liked it took me forever to get this finished. I started on this a good while back. It set aside for the longest time. It was a real pain work on with these back issues. It'll probably be a while before I sit down long enough to try and do this again, at least until I see how pain management works out for me.

Anyway, here's the specs on this Caxton Western.
1. It originally started out as a size 7. It's now been reblocked to a 7 1/4.
2. The open crown height is 5 3/4 inches tall and was blocked on my preferred straight sided dome.
3. It's been creased to my preferred Teardrop and is 4 3/4 at the pinch with the rake sloping to 4 inches in back.
4. It's a thin ribbon with a bound brim and also has a 3/8 ribbon with a Strat / OR style bow work.
5. The snap brim is 2 5/8 wide.
6. I was also able to reuse the original liner and sweatband bow, and I put the original manufacturers labels back into the hat...


Before:

Featuring my Rick Walker brim cutter and Rockwater band block

This was as far as I got until I later decided to get ambitious enough to finish it...

Hand sewing really sucks. Definitely a back breaker for me...

Finally finished...I'm done for awhile and I'm definitely going to be wearing this one a lot.

Yet again, another great job well executed, Terry. You really know how to bring a hat back to life.
Hope the medical fraternity can help put your back to rights just as well as you do hats my friend.
I'm rooting for you, not the only one for sure. Keep us posted as to how the treatment goes.
Meanwhile, just keep posting photos of your good self with your wonderful hats.
Very best wishes - Steve

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[T Jones]

Yet again, another great job well executed, Terry. You really know how to bring a hat back to life.
Hope the medical fraternity can help put your back to rights just as well as you do hats my friend.
I'm rooting for you, not the only one for sure. Keep us posted as to how the treatment goes.
Meanwhile, just keep posting photos of your good self with your wonderful hats.
Very best wishes - Steve

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Thank you buddy. I'm happy with the way it turned out. The profile is very crisp and it's hard to beat a thin ribbon for its clean and casual look.

Yeah, these back issues have definitely been a constant irritation. I'm pretty confident, though, that I'll get through it all after a bit of pain management. I'm just not looking forward to getting those pain shots in my back.

 

[Steve1857]

Thank you buddy. I'm happy with the way it turned out. The profile is very crisp and it's hard to beat a thin ribbon for its clean and casual look.

Yeah, these back issues have definitely been a constant irritation. I'm pretty confident, though, that I'll get through it all after a bit of pain management. I'm just not looking forward to getting those pain shots in my back.

I truly hope the pain of the shots will give some gain, Terry. You deserve it. Here's hoping the best for you, your dear wife, and your family in 2020. You enrich our world, my friend. Hope karma will enrich you back [emoji145]

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[T Jones]

I truly hope the pain of the shots will give some gain, Terry. You deserve it. Here's hoping the best for you, your dear wife, and your family in 2020. You enrich our world, my friend. Hope karma will enrich you back [emoji145]

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Thank you buddy. I really appreciate that...and I wish the very best for you and your family as well. On another note, the wife had a health scare a couple months back but recent test results have revealed very good news and things weren't what we first suspected. So, 2020 is getting off to a good start, better than what last year was for us.

 

[Steve1857]

Thank you buddy. I really appreciate that...and I wish the very best for you and your family as well. On another note, the wife had a health scare a couple months back but recent test results have revealed very good news and things weren't what we first suspected. So, 2020 is getting off to a good start, better than what last year was for us.

That is some good news, Terry. So happy to hear it!

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[Michael A]

After some time I finally mustered up enough ambition and finished this Caxton that I started awhile back. The hat was originally a late '50s - early '60s black Western with a bound taco curved brim and with a low horseshoe creased crown. It also had a mid ribbon with a double tailed bow. It seemed liked it took me forever to get this finished. I started on this a good while back. It set aside for the longest time. It was a real pain work on with these back issues. It'll probably be a while before I sit down long enough to try and do this again, at least until I see how pain management works out for me.

Anyway, here's the specs on this Caxton Western.
1. It originally started out as a size 7. It's now been reblocked to a 7 1/4.
2. The open crown height is 5 3/4 inches tall and was blocked on my preferred straight sided dome.
3. It's been creased to my preferred Teardrop and is 4 3/4 at the pinch with the rake sloping to 4 inches in back.
4. It's a thin ribbon with a bound brim and also has a 3/8 ribbon with a Strat / OR style bow work.
5. The snap brim is 2 5/8 wide.
6. I was also able to reuse the original liner and sweatband bow, and I put the original manufacturers labels back into the hat...


Before:

Featuring my Rick Walker brim cutter and Rockwater band block

This was as far as I got until I later decided to get ambitious enough to finish it...

Hand sewing really sucks. Definitely a back breaker for me...

Finally finished...I'm done for awhile and I'm definitely going to be wearing this one a lot.

Very nice work, Terry. That is a fine looking hat now. Hope the pain management comes through for you.

Michael

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

After some time I finally mustered up enough ambition and finished this Caxton that I started awhile back. The hat was originally a late '50s - early '60s black Western with a bound taco curved brim and with a low horseshoe creased crown. It also had a mid ribbon with a double tailed bow. It seemed liked it took me forever to get this finished. I started on this a good while back. It set aside for the longest time. It was a real pain work on with these back issues. It'll probably be a while before I sit down long enough to try and do this again, at least until I see how pain management works out for me.

Anyway, here's the specs on this Caxton Western.
1. It originally started out as a size 7. It's now been reblocked to a 7 1/4.
2. The open crown height is 5 3/4 inches tall and was blocked on my preferred straight sided dome.
3. It's been creased to my preferred Teardrop and is 4 3/4 at the pinch with the rake sloping to 4 inches in back.
4. It's a thin ribbon with a bound brim and also has a 3/8 ribbon with a Strat / OR style bow work.
5. The snap brim is 2 5/8 wide.
6. I was also able to reuse the original liner and sweatband bow, and I put the original manufacturers labels back into the hat...


Before:

Featuring my Rick Walker brim cutter and Rockwater band block

This was as far as I got until I later decided to get ambitious enough to finish it...

Hand sewing really sucks. Definitely a back breaker for me...

Finally finished...I'm done for awhile and I'm definitely going to be wearing this one a lot.

Another fine job Terry, as always.
Your preferred style is always recognizable.
I thought you got a sewing machine awhile back to alleviate all that hand stitching, no??
Be weller. Bowen