Hat Rolling

[Jrchloe]

I know you can get your hat rolled many places but what if you go to horse shows where there just aren't any habit makers, tack stores or vendors that can do it; how can a person roll their hat at home?

[Renae]

There are still dry cleaners who know how to poperly shape and clean a hat. Also western wear shops can do the job. It really only needs to be done once or twicea year if you take good care of your hat.

[AlbertaSaddler]

I work at a western shop and the steamers there are awesome! Ask nice and they may spray some stiffener on the hat when finished for you.

At home shaping is easy enough, just a bit more time consuming. The stove kettles that whistle work the best, get it boiling like mad, and the steam pumping out. Then hold the brim to the steam-you'll have to hold it for awhile as the kettle isn't as pressurized like an industrial one. Get it so it's almost too hot to touch, then roll the brim as tight as you like it. Hold it there until it's cold.

Spray the hat with copius amounts of hair spray (felt stiffener is just strong hairspray BTW). Make sure to test the hair spray in an inconspicous place, it can darken the felt sometimes. Then make sure you use a nylon (I use old panty hose) and wrap it around to hold the brim while stored.