Club Obi Wan

Here's a question for those more knowledgeable than I; Can the taper in a hat be reduced by storing it upside down, resting on the crown? I ask, because I have 2006 AB, one from the infamous "Ford Felt" run, that I parked about eighteen months ago, (don't worry, I was not without chapeau, I just decided to wear the snot out of my KOTCS AB). When I put my FF AB into storage, it had a slight taper. I stored it in the box that Steve shipped it in. The crown barely rested on the bottom of the box. Fast forward to about a week ago when I decided to pull it out and decide if I wanted to wear it, or finally get it cleaned and re-blocked. When I pulled it out of the box, I thought I was seeing things, and I'm still not sure, but the taper that was in it seems to be almost gone. Is this possible?

I never knew hats "tapered" until I started researching on fedoras. That is the one thing I hate about them. We always worry with it being sa, but whats it matter? its just going to taper and shrink up anyways..lol

Gavity effects hats. Crown and brim. The rule is always store them upside down.

Hmmmm... I think I need to try this. My Fed IV has slightly tapered already. The weather over here has taken it's toll on the hat.

Kim Hoffman wrote:Gavity effects hats. Crown and brim. The rule is always store them upside down.

Ive heard this..I cant believe its looked at as "ok" to sit the hat on the crown rather than the brim? Its just strange...And whats the real reason for doing so?

fenris wrote:Hmmmm... I think I need to try this. My Fed IV has slightly tapered already. The weather over here has taken it's toll on the hat.

Yeah, I've had mine for almost 2 years and it's starting to show some taper as well. It's also gotten a tad tight, so I see a reblock and stretching in the near future. But the upside-down trick might help for the short term, until I can bring myself to send it off...

Nope, do not place them upside down. Especially when wet. A hat stand or a hook or a cost rack or a good hat box.


If it's true tapper a reblock is needed. Some times the creases get sunk in when the hat is handled to much or gets wet. Then you really just need to re crease the hat properly.

Storing hats upside down will also protect the brim. If you like the shape of the brim, the flowing curve, from stern to aft, the dip towards the eyes - placing the hat rightside up on a surface will flatten it out. Sweatbands, in warmer climates, tend to shrink and will alter a hat's shape. Wipe them clean periodically. Remember, it's not the age it's the milage.

Well, I kinda reblocked my Fed IV last night... I punched out the creases, thoroughly wet the hat, flipped out the sweatband and put it on the styro block I made a few years back. I let it sit upside down overnight on a towel.

This morning I recreased the hat and found that the old taper was kinda gone.

All the hat needed was a reshaping, I guess. I couldn't recrease the hat before as whatever crease I put in it results in it reverting to the old crease... Since the "reblocked" hat was wet and had dried on the block, it was more receptive to taking (and holding) the new creases I put in.

fenris wrote:Well, I kinda reblocked my Fed IV last night... I punched out the creases, thoroughly wet the hat, flipped out the sweatband and put it on the styro block I made a few years back. I let it sit upside down overnight on a towel.

This morning I recreased the hat and found that the old taper was kinda gone.

All the hat needed was a reshaping, I guess. I couldn't recrease the hat before as whatever crease I put in it results in it reverting to the old crease... Since the "reblocked" hat was wet and had dried on the block, it was more receptive to taking (and holding) the new creases I put in.

Now that you've already completed the project I'll ask this: before and after pics?

Didn't get to take before pics... Sorry.

To take the weight off the crown and brim, I use one of these: