Budget fedora mark II

[enigmata_wood]

following my original post...
viewtopic.php?t=33549
...and being a perfectionist on a budget, I had another go at improving the bash on my cheap wool felt DF.
I went looking for items in the house I could use to make a temporary stretching block.
I followed the same process as before but added the step of letting the hat dry completely over my 'stretcher' before steaming in the new bash.
I also didnt make the creases quite as sharp.
Here are the pictures.
http://www.freewebs.com/hersir-irminsul ... splays.htm
not bad?

[mark seven]

That's amazing EW! ,what a transformation! ,I've always loved the texture of wool..I have an old well-loved(but recently neglected) vintage wool felt hat and you've inspired me now to brush off the dust and have a go at re-blocking it ,thanks for sharing!

[Indiana Strones]

Good job, but I think you have to replace the ribbon now.

[Solent MKIII]

Yeah, that ribbon looks like it just woke up from a three-day binge! Did you remove the
sweatband before the reblock? Great bash too, BTW. :junior:

[jacksdad]

great job and the ribbon looks like a young indiana jones ribbon now, was that done on purpose,hat looks great.

[theinterchange]

I don't believe I've seen a wool DP that looks as good as that one does. Had to be a booger getting the factory creases out?

[enigmata_wood]

It was easier than I expected getting the creases out but then I'm as stubourn as they were -- and of course very strong from all that bruising with Nazis.
I removed the ribbon for Mark I but left it on for mark II mainly because I had just finished hand stitching it in place, (I convinced myself it could do with some 'patination').
The ribbon supplied wasn't quality, I suspect polyester not silk. but for added character it's OK.
Well I wanted a hat with character and got more than I bargained for --the following day it got mangled in a bicycle wheel and though it kept it's shape the oil-stains and one deep scratch are beyond repair.
Now normally that would p*&@#s me off but as I now know I can replace it for £30 any time, it's cool.
By the way a little bird tells me [my dolly bird actually] there may be a replacement Akubra Federation IV arriving round my birthday (Hssssh! I think she doesn't know how cheap the DP was)