Quick and easy way to make a Fedora fit better?

[Commander Quan]

I have 2 fedoras, neither of which were high end by any means, but I do like them. The issue is that since I bought them I've lost significant weight, and started buzzing my hair. No now instead of sitting where they should they fall down to my ears. Is there anyway I can get them to fit again? Has anyone tried using foam tape under the sweatband?

 

[Titan2T2]

Hello there fellow Fedora buff! Yes the foam one-sided tape works great, just make sure to buy or cut it about no more than a half inch or so. Everytime I make or purchase a new hat I have to keep it in there for about a month or so. What type of felt are they made of? Beaver and Rabbit do a good job of "sizing" themselves down after a while of normal wear (especially in hot weather).

 

[djh]

If you contact a hat shop, you should be able to get some cork strips which are perfect for placing under the sweatband of your hat.

 

[VMR357]

If you have a real hat shop around, a good hat maker can shrink or stretch a hat a little. They'll steam it a little which can tighten it up or after steaming and while it's still warm, they will put it on your head for a custom fit. Finding a hat maker isn't as easy as it was once however. Good luck.

A nice fedora is a handy thing to have around. I trade back and forth between a handmade fedora and an Open Road. I think I like the fedora better, but it's a close call.

 

[BladeOfAnduril]

You can certainly pad the sweatband. Another option (assuming the sweat band is leather) is to dampen the sweat and hat and place it over a lamp (with an incandescent light bulb) for 30 minutes or so. I've not personally tried this, but have heard of others having success shrinking hats this way. Just be careful, too long and you'll overdo it.

If your hat is wool, just wear it out in the rain a few times and it'll probably shrink on its own.

 

[Commander Quan]

Neither of these hat's are worth paying someone to alter. They are Daniel Cremieux from Dillards, and I paid >$30 for each of them, but I do like them. I do have a sheet of 1/8" cork that I needed for something else. That may be just the thing to get them to fit. Thanks.

 

[Commander Quan]

I put one strip of cork all the way around the inside of the band and now it fits perfectly. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

The hatters used felt strips for shimming the sweatbands. They had it as leftovers from making hats, but you can find it in the arts and crafts stores. Felt will work better than cork or foam tape.

Stan