Stiffening the brim?

[toxo]

Been messing with hats lately. This one is a commission.

I had some cheap chrome tan and I wanted something to throw on when I need to go to the car in the rain. The one I've had for years has a wire brim and each time I need it I have to spend five minutes getting it back into shape before I can wear it.This chrome tan is ideal but being 3mm and heavy it's as floppy as a floppy thing and the brim hangs down around my shoulders. The question is, will a couple rows of stitches firm it up or will I have to use a wire? Doesn't have to be rigid, just keep a rough shape..

[fredk]

If you don't want to wire it, sew on an edge piece, folded over top to bottom, made of thin veg tan. Wet it after its sewn on, then let it dry with weights on it to keep if flat, or any shape you want. When dry seal it well. That should stiffen the brim and make it keep its shape but also be very flexible

[toxo]

6 hours ago, fredk said:

If you don't want to wire it, sew on an edge piece, folded over top to bottom, made of thin veg tan. Wet it after its sewn on, then let it dry with weights on it to keep if flat, or any shape you want. When dry seal it well. That should stiffen the brim and make it keep its shape but also be very flexible

Thanks Fred. Was looking for a quick fix really and asking out of curiosity. I guess I'll sew a couple of rows and if thet's not enough I'll bind it.

[chuck123wapati]

those are nice what weight leather and type is best? 

[toxo]

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

those are nice what weight leather and type is best? 

The stiff one is 2.2mm/2.4mm veg tan. The floppy one is around 3mm chrome tan. I got a whole 25sq ft side for £50 delivered here in the UK

 

[chuck123wapati]

37 minutes ago, toxo said:

The stiff one is 2.2mm/2.4mm veg tan. The floppy one is around 3mm chrome tan. I got a whole 25sq ft side for £50 delivered here in the UK

 

Thank you i love this hat style its now officially on my bucket list. lol. 

[toxo]

3 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

Thank you i love this hat style its now officially on my bucket list. lol. 

It is kinda cool isn't it. Be sure to use the veg tan Chuck and don't do what I did and cut out the top first only to find I could've cut the top out of what's left after you cut out the brim

Re; stiffening the brim... sewing doesn't work   Still it answered a question. I'm now looking for a strip of veg tan. I think I have some black somewhere.

[chuck123wapati]

6 minutes ago, toxo said:

It is kinda cool isn't it. Be sure to use the veg tan Chuck and don't do what I did and cut out the top first only to find I could've cut the top out of what's left after you cut out the brim

Re; stiffening the brim... sewing doesn't work   Still it answered a question. I'm now looking for a strip of veg tan. I think I have some black somewhere.

Great tips Toxo thanks I think i have enough 2mm right now for 1 and maybe a snakeskin hat band lol.

[Sturme]

instead of using wire, try some really thick weedeater plastic.

[toxo]

37 minutes ago, Sturme said:

instead of using wire, try some really thick weedeater plastic.

Of course! Thanks Sturme,   I used some piping stuff on the sils hat a couple of months ago. Don't get old mate

So I could skive down some of the same stuff and use piping or use veg tan on it's own. I think the veg tans gonna win. Less work.