How do I care for my felt hat?
Posted on April 11th, 2008 in Hat How-To's, Library by admin. Subscribe to this author's posts.
How do I care for my felt hat?
Use clean hands when handling your hat and always hold the hat by the front and back of the brim, just next to the crown. Though you have no doubt seen it done in the movies a million times, never handle your hat by pinching the front of the crown! This will warp the shape of the hat and the dirt and grease from your fingers will eventually leave stains and break down the fibers of the felt. Save that movie star maneuver only for those moments when you really need to create an impression on someone (and not on your hat).
When removing your hat, place it on a hook, a stand, a mannequin head (if you’ve got one) or even an upside down bowl or cup – anything to prevent the brim from touching the counter or table surface. If nothing of the sort is handy, simply place your hat upside down. Besides preserving the shape of your hat brim, legend has it that this ” holds the luck in “.
What do you do if your hat happens to get wet? Take a clean dry towel, either white or one that has been washed many times – so that the color won’t bleed into your hat. Stuff the crown of the hat with the towel, filling it out into its original shape. Put it up on a stand, hook or tall glass so that the brim s off of the ground and let it air dry naturally. Don’t put it near a source of heat. If it dries too quickly, it will shrink, requiring an emergency visit to your local hat shop for servicing.
- Julia Michaelis
September 3rd, 2010 at 5:49 pm
In films I see people wearing felt fedoras in the rain all the time without concern. Are there fedoras that are better suited for rainy weather that look like felt?
October 11th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Hi Jay,
Indeed, the film people are often seen haphazardly bashing, tugging, dancing on, throwing, wearing in the rain their beautiful fedora hats. Tut tut. Keep in mind, they had a stock of several hats for the making of the film as none could possibly survive such abuse.
However, a good fur felt hat should be just fine in the rain if treated with a product such as Nikwax. A couple of layers of that will help protect the fur. When you are caught out in the rain, yes, your hat will get wet but fear not. Your hat will retain its glory if you stuff it with paper or hang it on a hook and leave it dry at room temperature. Heat will only distort its shape as it dries.
Once dry it may need a little re-shaping with some steam and running the brim between your thumb and index finger followed by a little buff with a hat brush.
Fur felt hats are not cheap. They are a high quality product and should be treated as such. With a little care they can last for many, many years.
Akubras are arguably among the most hard wearing.
Wool felt hats are fabulous and will do a great job seeing you through winter, however, they do not have the same longevity of life.
February 1st, 2011 at 10:38 pm
I have made the mistake of leaving my hat sitting on it’s brim! It’s a cloche and now the brim is curved up a bit. Help! What do I do?
February 5th, 2011 at 5:42 am
Hi Jessica,
Yes, that is very annoying and something many of us can relate to!
Is it a fur felt? If so, you should be able to try to reshape it by holding it over some steam and rubbing out and creases. The steam loosens and relaxes the fibers and it will be somewhat malleable while warm.
If it is straw though, I am afraid there is very little can be done with damaged straw.
Hope that helps!
EH