The cowboy hat is the final icon of the American western traditions and individualism. It has unbelievable fashion and essential safeguard against the severe summer sun whether you are taking a job in an expansive cattle ranch in Texas or attending a country music festival on the weekend in Nashville. The cowboy hats made of straw are the only way to go in the warm seasons all over the United States since they are extremely light and breathable. Purchasing a brand new hat as of the box implies that it will be in a generic and somewhat flat factory form. You must be aware of how to bend a straw cowboy hat to provide it with that natural customized appearance that best suits you, and your own face shape. It may appear that the modification process is too complex at the very beginning but it is not so difficult as it is rather simple in case of learning the basic principles. All you require is a bit of hot steam and a bit of determined patience and you can shape your favourite headwear to the ideal southern fashion. You will be taken through every single step of the shaping process by this all-inclusive guide in order to achieve a professional appearance in the comfort of your own kitchen.
What You need to know about Your Straw Cowboy Hat.
You have to know what type of hat you are dealing with at this particular moment before you begin bending and shaping it. There are several types of base materials of straw cowboy hats and each particular type responds to heat and moisture somewhat differently. Shantung straw is very popular across the United States since it is very strong, and the premium finish is very smooth. It is a high performance woven paper yarn which happens to be technical but forms well when subjected to constant steam. Another excellent piece of headwear is palm leaf hats which can be used in heavy outdoor activities in such states as Arizona and New Mexico. Palm leaf in fact needs to be soaked in lukewarm water as opposed to using steam to soften and plump its form. A hat made of palm leaves can be successfully submerged in a bucket of water and molded to the appropriate form. Natural straw is also used in woven form and this must be handled very gently using steam as it will break the dry fibres easily.
Another thing you should not forget to look at before you start the project is the outer edge of your brim hat. A typical straw hat in the modern period has a thin wire of metal, which is entirely concealed within the outer edge of the woven hat. A wire brim is so easy to form and the wire will hold its new form automatically without having to use any chemical stiffening spray. Hats that are made of hats with no wire also make you physically hold the straw in your fingers as it cools and dries to successfully fix the brand new shape. Being aware of what you are using means that you do not go and spoil an expensive western attire.
Getting Ready to Hate Your Straw Hat.
The first secret of achieving a wonderful end result without ruining the hat is preparation. You must collect some household common objects even before you start the heating process. A good supply of hot steam is the one and the only thing you require. A typical handheld garment steamer is a perfect match and can give a constant supply of non-hazardous directional heat. A plain old-fashioned metal tea kettle simmering on your stove is the old-fashioned way of the American cowboy and that is as good as any. All you need is to ensure that the kettle has a small hole that would channel the steam to a straight upward flow.
A clean flat surface to work over such as a kitchen island or a strong workbench in your garage should also be cleared. You should have a clean dry cotton towel that should be used to clean your hands regularly and mop up any heavy condensation that drips off the hat. The number of safety considerations is high in this case since hot steam may cause serious skin burns in a very short period of time. You must also put in serious consideration the use of a pair of thin leather work gloves to cover your hands when working near the hot moisture. Ensure that you move out of the immediate surroundings any kind of clutter to have ample physical space to move about the hat around the steam source. This is to ensure that you do not bake dirt into the straw fibers by always ensuring that your hat is thoroughly cleaned and free of heavy ranch dust before putting it under steam.
Straw hat Straw hat steaming.
The basic trick of working with stiff straw is the use of steam, which does not break or crack it. The steam permeates the woven design of the straw material very fast and thoroughly softens the natural or synthetic fibers. The material is easily bendable and it is easy because of this moisture. Switch on your garment steamer or boil your kitchen tea kettle till you have a strong steady column of white steam. Somehow keep your hat stuck on with the top crown when it is on the outer brim. Take that part of the hat which you wish to shape and place it right over the rising steam.
To prevent saturation of the straw, you desire to hold it four to six inches away out of the active spout. Allow the hot steam to blow straight on the target area between ten and fifteen seconds. You will actually feel that the straw in your hands has been made quite soft and much more flexible. Leaving the hat in the steam too long may cause the straw to become too wet and hence lose its structural integrity as a core. With a hat you must never attempt to steam it at once, but in small portions. Steam the right side front of the brim and form it all the way then proceed to the left side. This method is much more controlled with regard to the final appearance and the straw does not cool down and you get a decent opportunity to shape it.
How to Bend the Brim of your Cowboy Hat.
The first thing that people see is the brim which determines all the attitude of your western hat. There are a few popular American fashions which you can use depending on your own preference. The classical style of cattleman has a slight gentle curve on the side and a fairly flat front profile. The classic George Strait style is extremely comparable but has a bit more rolled edges to be seen as a classic country music style. In case you would like something more contemporary and aggressive rodeo appearance, you can choose a sharp taco roll with the sides of the taco being rolled up and tight to the top.
Put the steam on the right hand side of the brim first and then it is well softened. Roll the edge with your fingers and thumbs to the angle that you want. Even constant pressure should be applied by both hands so that the new curve is entirely smooth and has no sharp ugly crimps. Keep the straw in the same position when you remove it out of the source of steam. The hot straw needs to be allowed to cool down and you have to keep it very still in the meantime. Cooling normally requires half a minute to thirty seconds. Once the straw attains regular room temperature the new custom shape will drop in. This is exactly the same process to be repeated on the left of the brim. You can look on the hat directly on the front to ensure that the sides are perfectly symmetrical and even. There is always more steam that can be applied and a second attempt can be made when one particular side is a little off balance.
Bending the Crown to a Personalized Appeal.
There are lots of conventional cowboys who would not in any way want the factory crown to be left alone yet a personalized custom touch is always welcome. The crown is that high part of the hat which rests upon your head directly. Classic cattleman crease is the most prevalent shape in the entire country with a deep center crease running directly down the middle and two smaller parallel dents on the sides. The other well-known style is the historic Gus crease with the high sloping back and the pinched front that will provide an excellent vintage trail driver appearance.
Steaming the top crown is a very delicate and considered exercise since excessive pressure to the down will cause the inside area of the sweatband to distort, and hence fit the hat very loosely on the head. Grasp the hat by the brim and point the steam deep into the inner crown of the hat. You may also meticulously steam the outside on the particular spots that you are actively wishing to fold. With your powerful thumbs press the crease in the middle downwards gradually when the straw is very soft. Poke your fingers at the front or sides to make those traditional great dimples. And never pull inwards in order to make the outer ridges sharp. You must not put the whole crown on your head, till it is quite cool. There are even those who enjoy wearing the hat in the place it is slightly warm in order to have the bottom of the crown to fit to the individual skull shape.
Storing and Putting on Your model hat.
The hat does not necessarily become your custom work when it appears nice in your hands. The hat must be made to fit well so that it retains its new belligerent nature several years straight. Put the hat on a proper hat rack that is either made of wood or metal so that the hat cools off and dries fully. Always lay a warm or moist cowboy hat down on its brim, on a table or a bed. Such an innocent error will immediately level the gorgeous curves you have taken a long time to create. Whenever a hat rack is not availed, you should always put the hat on its top crown but upside down.
In order to make the hat stiff, you may apply a chemical stiffening spray when it is totally dry to touch. Hat stiffener is easily found in the majority of the conventional western wear shops in the country. A coating of stiffener will securely attached the fibers of straws and will make your own shape much stronger against strong wind and sudden rains. Allow dry time of the clear spray to take place overnight in a well ventilated room or garage. The correct storage during the cold winter off season is also of paramount use as far as longevity is concerned. It is important to keep your hat in a cool and dry environment free of direct exposure to harsh sunlight in order to ensure that the delicate straw does not develop brittle nature nor the colors fade away too soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time that a straw hat takes to shape? A typical straw hat requires approximately twenty to thirty minutes of time to be fully formed right at its beginning to the end. Being slow and working step by step in small bits is certainly the surest way to bring the best results possible.
Is it possible to remake my hat in case I commit a mistake? Yes you can by no means refashion your hat with concern. The particular part should be steamed once more until the straw is soft, and it is easy to remove any error that might have been made previously and begin bending in a new direction entirely. Straw is a lenient material provided that it is not allowed to dry up and physically crack.
Should I put on hat stiffener? Hat stiffener is not very essential particularly when your hat has a metal wire brim of great strength. It has very high recommendations to unwired natural hats since it contributes a lot in tying the sharp creases and tight curves during windy outdoor days.
Is it possible to use a hairdryer to make my hat? A normal hairdryer is only able to give heat but not the important wet moisture which is required to actually soften the tight straw fibers. A hairdryer may in fact have a destructive effect on the straw, peeling it as it gets populated. The hot steam or warm water must always be used.
What is the way of forming a palm leaf hat? The palm leaf hats are quite special and must be soaked in lukewarm water other than being steamed. Put the whole brim into the clean sink or huge tub few minutes till it becomes all soft then bend it just to your taste.
Final Thought
The skills of making a straw cowboy hat are a very fulfilling personal achievement that will automatically identify you to the traditions of the ancient western America. A tailor-made hat is more attractive and it is much more comfortable in such long cruel summer days. You have plenty of time with the hot steam, and you must not fear in experimenting till you are sure to get the very western style you will best suit you.
