Hats! advice with repair ??

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purrfectvintage1

Registered Guest
Righty oh, I have just been given a fantastic collection of hats all shoved into a carrier bag and sadly most are damaged in some way. I don't have them to hand but I do remember a felt one with moth (?) holes, a couple of squashed ones (mainly straw) and a gorgeous feather one with feathers dropping off as soon as you look at it!
How do you reshape hats? what do I need? where do I start? what about the whole feather thing?..........................
Any help or advice would be really really apprecaited as I love hats but steer clear of damaged ones as they scare me LOL! :help: sharon xx
 
STEAMING!! (I'm not shouting!!) Just that I've had tremendous luck with it, and am excited about it!! Recovered a few hats that way! One was a fabulous wide brimmed straw hat that melted back to it's original state!!

I was/am SO HAPPY, to see them "new" again!! Just beware, and try to follow the original lines of the hat. I've had a couple that looked like they may go one way, and truly went the other! Plan your steaming, before you steam!

Sandi
 
Yes, we need to see some of the hats you have. If the hats are 'early' vintage make sure you look at good references for shape and style. If you have hats that are badly damaged but the trimmings can be saved remove them. Felt hats with moth holes are pretty much toast and unless they are interesting in themselves should be recycled/thrown out. Theatre groups sometimes need hats.

If you can find hat blocks great or at least a hat stand to hold the hat when reshaping. Felt and straw hats should be steamed. You hold the hat over the steamer head to start the remodelling and return the hat to its original shape. It will often find its own way home. When the hat looks right place it on the hat block to set the shape. Milliners have many blocks in various sizes which makes the process easier.

Watch out for water marks when steaming felt and put a sock over the steamer head for safety. When your hat has been steamed stuff the crown with tissue paper to hold its shape and store it like that. Floral trims should be steamed. Feathers can also be steamed but if the spines are broken remove and if badly damaged dispose of.

You can use kettles to steam trims and I've use them for hats when no steamer was available.
 
Thank you all for your help so far. I will try and get some pics sorted out over the weekend as you guys seem to be right up on your hats :sunshine:

Also how do I stick feathers back in place and how do i prevent more falling out? :cursing:

More feathers on the floor than in a pillow factory now LOL!

I was looking at the wooden blocks but they are quiet hard to get hold of even on ebay they seem to be mainly in the US.......if anyone in the UK has any reasonably priced ones I'd be interested. (thanks in advance)

Oh and what is the info on Mitzi Lorenz hats? I have a lovely one but I've stored it badly and it's a little squished now.....will sort pic out!

Sharon xxx
 
when steaming, be careful with net veils! I managed to ruin a very pretty 50's hat by melting the veil with my steamer...
 
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