brim shaping

Colorado Craft · Post by **Colorado Craft** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:53 pm

Does anyone know how to shape a brim like in Crystal Skull? I've tried steaming and I think I'm getting the front alright but I am not sure what to do with the sides and the back.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:00 pm

First, what kind of hat are you working with?

If its a good quality fur felt (Rabbit or Beaver) then from what I have seen, the sides and back have a gentle curl up. I would place the hat on your head and with both hands gently curl the sides up while sweeping your hands from front to back until you like the look. When ever you take the hat out to wear, give it the same treatment and it will begin to hold that shape with in a few wears. Hope that helps some.

Colorado Craft · Post by **Colorado Craft** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:32 pm

I'm working with a federation IV standard

Scott63 · Post by **Scott63** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:11 pm

When my Fed IV arrived the box was smashed flat and the right side of the brim was bent completely out of shape. I used some steam and the kitchen countertop to get it back into shape. After steaming the brim with a teakettle, I sat the hat on the countertop letting the front hang over the edge (basically from where I wanted the downward break of the brim to begin in front) and then pressed the sides of the brim back into shape using my palm. It worked really well.

Scott

Colorado Craft · Post by **Colorado Craft** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:45 pm

Does anyone know how to get the brim to fold up in the back like in this picture?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29150334@N07/

gabrielle · Post by **gabrielle** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:32 pm

Colorado Craft wrote:Does anyone know how to get the brim to fold up in the back like in this picture?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29150334@N07/

Spray it with distilled water and work it with your hands until you get the curl you want, then place it on the crown to dry...

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:25 pm

Colorado Craft wrote:Does anyone know how to get the brim to fold up in the back like in this picture?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29150334@N07/

What Gabrielle said will work fine, but might require more elbow grease to get just so.

For the best curl of that kind that I ever got, I dampened the brim (use water you can trust, like distilled) and flattened it under books first. Then I wet it again and worked the curl I wanted into the brim with my fingers.

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:06 am

You could also try ironing the brim. I ironed the brim on my Fed III regular, with no negative results. I just took a piece of fabric that I tore off an old T-shirt and put it between the iron and the felt. I set the iron on there for a few seconds to soften the felt stiffener, then (quickly) shaped it with my hands, the way I wanted it. Then the felt became stiff again and it was in the shape I wanted it. (you may have to try it a few times, but you should eventually get it right.) Hope that helped some.

Colorado Craft · Post by **Colorado Craft** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:07 am

What do you mean by flattening the brim under some newspapers?

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:43 pm

Not newspapers! You'll get ink on your hat. Ewww! Books or magazines, or something else clean, flat, and heavy enough to hold the brim down. I'll try to take a picture in sunlight tomorrow as a visual aid.

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:01 pm

A little slow on the draw, but here you go;
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb36 ... CF2074.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb36 ... CF2075.jpg

Just ignore the fact that it's an ugly straw hat.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:31 pm

Man, that's an ugly straw!