Club Obi Wan

It is hotter than blue blazes in eastern NC and I REALLY want a straw Indy. Funds are low and I can't afford a PB straw (which I really like) so I have resorted to fashioning my own.
So far I have bought a $10 straw hat from Sam Walton's evil empire. I have reblocked the hat (I have been in possession of an antique hat block for years and never even known what it was untill I became a COW member). I have bashed the hat in an acceptable raiders style. I have purchased one of Todd's ribbons to place on the hat. I am going to replace that no good "one size fits all" sweatband with a leather sweatband.
OK...heres where I gots a question. The brim of this straw is more like an "outback" hat. Way too big for a fedora style. I can easily cut the brim dimensionally, but how do I finish the edge so it won't ravel and fray. I want an indy style straw hat not a swiss family robinson castaway hat!!!!
Help me

ps. Admin if this does not belong here feel free to move it.

Hey there,

With any woven edge hat you will be hard pressed to get it to not come apart if you cut it, depending upon the weave. You might be able to stitch a ribbon to the edge, though I admit I've never tried it.

I am working on a Brown Indy Straw. I hope to have more information on it in the next week or two.

I say, if the hat you have isn't expensive, go for it and have some fun.

JJ

Hollowpond wrote:It is hotter than blue blazes in eastern NC and I REALLY want a straw Indy. Funds are low and I can't afford a PB straw (which I really like) so I have resorted to fashioning my own.
So far I have bought a $10 straw hat from Sam Walton's evil empire. I have reblocked the hat (I have been in possession of an antique hat block for years and never even known what it was untill I became a COW member). I have bashed the hat in an acceptable raiders style. I have purchased one of Todd's ribbons to place on the hat. I am going to replace that no good "one size fits all" sweatband with a leather sweatband.
OK...heres where I gots a question. The brim of this straw is more like an "outback" hat. Way too big for a fedora style. I can easily cut the brim dimensionally, but how do I finish the edge so it won't ravel and fray. I want an indy style straw hat not a swiss family robinson castaway hat!!!!
Help me

ps. Admin if this does not belong here feel free to move it.

Thanks Jersey!!!

Truth be told this question was sort of directed towards you. I think that is exactly what I'm gonna try to do. this hat's brim is folded under around a piece of what appears to be a thick piece of monofiliament and then stitched. I may just try that technique. Like you say, worst case scenario I'm out 10 bucks.

While i've got you here...I've seen in other posts where you use a perforated leather sweatband. Would you sell a couple of these to COW member? If so just PM me. Thanks again!!!!

The straw will come apart on you if you simply cut it and then try to make a new edge to the brim. Instead, try this:

Trace out the "new" brim location by making pencil tick marks around the brim at the appropriate "radii" from the crown. Be sure to add appropriately for seam allowance for the fold over.

Stitch the brim circumfrence at what will be the new edge. This holds the straw in place for cutting.

Cut carefully "outside" the new edge stitching.

Stitch down a thin flexible rod or wire --see below (you can reuse the old one) periodically around and along the underside of the brim a little in from the outer edge (remember this additional space is the seam allowance).

Fold the raw edge over the stitched-down wire and stitch through the brim to secure it all the way around. This can be done with a machine but by hand would be safer.
Moistening the edge may make folding it over without cracking it easier.
The thin rod is not always necessary; it is in some hats to prevent cracking the straw if it is forced into too tight a radius. Also, it is often a coated metal wire in cowboy straw hats so that the brim can be held in swoops.

Good luck.

I'm definately trying it! Its not a wire though...i have had el cheapo straw cowboy hats with wire in the brims, but this one has like a piece of plastic monofilament type line in the brim.
I'm going to set up a simple ratio of circumference of the brim to length of the current piece of plastic to the new circumference of the brim and cut the monofilament to that length and sew it in.
Hopefully i will be able to post pics soon and brag on what a wonderful craftsman I am (If not...this thread never occured )