The Conversion Corral

[Lon Goval]

Conversions for women

Nice liner (and notes) Stoney!

I'm in the process of converting some Western hats into Fedoras. I'm sticking with ones that fit so I don't have to deal with the sweatband. At this point I'm just reshaping the hats. Not trimming brims, washing or anything major. If I have a bit of luck, I'll move on to more abitious work like brim ribbon. I'm still looking for local ribbon sources and I want to put wind trolleys on them. I haven't really used them, but I like the look.

Any comments on conversions I make for my wife. We are both amateur musicians and usually wear hats at open mics and performances around town. Does anyone put the bow on the right side like most women's hats, or do you just leave them on the left? She gets all my ebay mistakes (bad sizing listings-hats and Hawaiian shirts) since she is 2 sizes smaller. She has more vintage hats that fit than I do now.

I'm looking for sources of the trolley cord as well (preferably not the elastic type).

Keep the conversion photos and info coming.

Thanks, Ralph

 

[indycop]

Nice liner (and notes) Stoney!

I'm in the process of converting some Western hats into Fedoras. I'm sticking with ones that fit so I don't have to deal with the sweatband. At this point I'm just reshaping the hats. Not trimming brims, washing or anything major. If I have a bit of luck, I'll move on to more abitious work like brim ribbon. I'm still looking for local ribbon sources and I want to put wind trolleys on them. I haven't really used them, but I like the look.

Any comments on conversions I make for my wife. We are both amateur musicians and usually wear hats at open mics and performances around town. Does anyone put the bow on the right side like most women's hats, or do you just leave them on the left? She gets all my ebay mistakes (bad sizing listings-hats and Hawaiian shirts) since she is 2 sizes smaller. She has more vintage hats that fit than I do now.

I'm looking for sources of the trolley cord as well (preferably not the elastic type).

Keep the conversion photos and info coming.

Thanks, Ralph

All of Deelovely's are on the left except for Panams and one Akubra that I changed the ribbon on.

 

[Stoney]

Any comments on conversions I make for my wife. We are both amateur musicians and usually wear hats at open mics and performances around town. Does anyone put the bow on the right side like most women's hats, or do you just leave them on the left?

I'm looking for sources of the trolley cord as well (preferably not the elastic type).

Thanks, Ralph

Ralph,

For a womens hat, I would probably put the bow on the right side myself, but I think this is a question for ladies of the lounge to answer.

As to wind cord, check your local crafts store, take the hat along with you so you can match colors. Look for braided cord in a color that matches the color of the ribbon or felt of the hat. As for a button...Use a small amount of matching ribbon to cover an ordinary button that you attach to the end of the cord. If you can't find any ribbon that matches the one on your hat you can always replace the ribbon with some from the craft store and use the same ribbon to cover the button.

I used this for a guide.

http://www.marquise.de/en/themes/howto/knoepfe.shtml

This is a graphic from the above page that shows how to sew fabric over a button.

I also apply a little super glue to the back of the button after sewing the ribbon over it. This keeps the fabric from unraveling. And another tip.. Cut the fabric sightly larger than the instructions indicate when using ribbon to cover a button as the material will fray when you are sewing it.

Another option is to use a decorative button, with a shank. I have one hat with an antique brass button with the image of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, that looks pretty cool.

 

[Lancealot]

Nice job Stoney.

 

[HamletJSD]

I am not sure if my "Snowy River-to-fedora" counts as a conversion, but I realized that I never posted the finished pics from months ago.

In another thread I had posted the product of cutting down the brim, reshaping it, and re-blocking the crown (in my own home-made fashion). BUT, it still had the thin leather band that made it more cowboy than anything else, so here are a couple of quick shots with the new ribbon.

I still keep the brim turned down in the back. For some reason it just looks best that way on this hat.

 

[HamletJSD]

Correction ( :eusa_doh: After a search to find the other thread I posted this hat in, the other pics were before I did anything with the crown. So there is a lot of "new" stuff to see in this verion.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

HamletJSD, Looking really good!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[citRon]

I am not sure if my "Snowy River-to-fedora" counts as a conversion, but I realized that I never posted the finished pics from months ago.

In another thread I had posted the product of cutting down the brim, reshaping it, and re-blocking the crown (in my own home-made fashion). BUT, it still had the thin leather band that made it more cowboy than anything else, so here are a couple of quick shots with the new ribbon.

I still keep the brim turned down in the back. For some reason it just looks best that way on this hat.

That is simply beautiful!! What width is that ribbon? What color is that Snowy River? Oh- if you can help out us 'searching challenged', post a link to your previous work.
Outstanding!!

 

[HamletJSD]

That is simply beautiful!! What width is that ribbon? What color is that Snowy River? Oh- if you can help out us 'searching challenged', post a link to your previous work.
Outstanding!!

Couldn't find the other link now that some time has passed, but I hadn't posted any real "before pics" as a good Lounger should've ...

But thank you for your kindness This ribbon is just above 1 1/4", stolen from another hat I hadn't been wearing. The brim is 2 3/4", which is wider than I thought I'd like, BUT it's a significant cutting from the Snowy River's original 3 1/4"+ and I'm not sure I'd like it much shorter. The color is something like coffee with a light shot of milk (official scientific observation). It's basically some variation of the typical Akubra "Fawn," but I don't know which color exactly because it was purchased on eBay.

Thanks again!

 

[bolthead]

Here's my Entry.....

I guess I qualify to be a member now as well......[huh]

Before....

After....

I went from a Brim width of almost 4" to 2 5/8".
Crown is now 4 1/2" front, and 3 1/2" back.

 

[Hatsquad]

This is my 7x Stetson bought by me in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1989. Very nice beaver felt, but quite stiff, as western hats are. I converted it recently by trimming the brim and changing the ribbon, but left the Cattleman's crease because a) the crown is so stiff I didn't want to ruin the hat and b) I like it, I'm a cowboy at heart.
Before:

After:

Regards, Gerry

 

[RBH]

Regards, Gerry

Wow Gerry, I think it looks super!
If you look at old photos from the 30's I believe you will fine a few fedoras with just that shape.
Thats a great looking hat and a job well done!
Can you show us a shot of it on?

 

[gtdean48]

My attempt at conversion...

I started with a vintage 3X Stetson western, going for an Outback look with 2 3/4 brim, diamond crease. Don't beat me too badly cuz I forgot to take any before photos. :eusa_doh: [huh]

 

[carter]

I'm glad to see some new posts on this thread. There is some incredible work displayed here. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[RBH]

I'm glad to see some new posts on this thread. There is some incredible work displayed here. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Sure is!!!

looks great GT!!!

 

[gtdean48]

...looks great GT!!!

Thanks Rusty, thought you'd like that ribbon = doesn't get any thinner than that for me!

 

[citRon]

This was one of my first, done last winter. Resistol stagecoach, resized from 7 1/4 to 7 1/8, new ribbon, brim cut down to 2 5/8".

How did you size it down? This might be a way for me to get a hat I like, 7 1/8 seems to be too popluar.

 

[gtdean48]

I started with a vintage 3X Stetson western, going for an Outback look with 2 3/4 brim, diamond crease. Don't beat me too badly cuz I forgot to take any before photos. :eusa_doh: [huh]

Besides the ribbon & the feather, this is close to what my "before" hat looked like...

 

[citRon]

Besides the ribbon & the feather, this is close to what my "before" hat looked like...

How tall was the crown on it before you changed it?

 

[gtdean48]

How tall was the crown on it before you changed it?

About 5 1/2", that shot makes it look taller...