A very silly hat

[tombear]

A while back I made a 7 panel skull cap for a friend, upholstery leather outer, wool inner. He liked it so much for working at a country park as a volunteer that he asked me for another but with a brim to keep the rain from running into his eyes and down his neck.

I immediately cut out the parts, then forgot all about it for a year then spent 14 hours solid (finished at 2.30 AM on the day before we set off to visit him) sewing it with thick linen thread and a good old UK made needle (one did the whole job) .

It fits and he likes it so it was worth it. Personally I wouldn't be seen about town with it but for working out in the sticks ...

The stitches are doubled back every few inches to stop any runs and I've since added a one inch diameter circle of leather to the apex to cover the central join and rubbed in a lot of Nikwax water proofing goo into the the topside. In real life the linings less pink and more bright red. The brims slightly lobsided so we have called the wider bit the back. When in doubt pretend its intentional!

ATB

Tom

 

[Dreadhead]

man that's a whole load of work, it's anything but silly top job mate

 

[crosslandkelly]

Nicely done, if your friend likes it, that's all that matters.

 

[redneck]

I like it...

 

[bilmo-p5]

Hmm, Maun Industries tools; good stuff.

Nice hat, too.

 

[middlewolf]

Actually, appearance aside, you might have just "created a monster". That looks very practical and even more-so with a little wider brim if it can be stiffened if needed. The way things go today on-line don't be surprised if it pops up on the web. Won't be by me but who knows.

 

[KenThis]

I really like it, it puts me in mind of a helmet, would be interested in seeing it on the head and possibly with a wider brim.

 

[tombear]

Cheers! I'm afraid I won't be seeing it again for a few months until I next go over to see him but on if does look quite helmet like, something like a leather version of the classic medeival soup bowl helmet that in cheap films is often the shell of a Tommy helmet polished down to the bare metal , you know the sort. The size of the brim was specified by the end user so the whole thing could be crushed into a pocket of his work jacket. The leather and wool are quite thick so it gives him a touch of bump protection when they don't have to wear helmets. He's 6 foot 7 when he slouches and not the most spatially aware so door frames and low branches are not his friends!

i myself won't be making another as it took about 15 hours to cut out , mark the stitches with a wheel, poke through with a diamond awl and saddle stitch the leather parts together. The lining was back stitched together and whip stitched in place.

Its quite a tight fit but if it blows off in use ill take over a couple of bits of leather with eyelets in them that I can sew on so he can tie a chin cord to them. I don't think it will need it myself.

ATB

Tom

 

[Robson Valley]

Reminds me of the commercial fishermen's hats, the "sou'westers."
They have a long bill at the back to keep the water out of your neck. Good chin cords.

 

[GGTBod]

I like it reckon it would suit me when wearing my twodogs

 

[Leshy]

Not my style. ... but that is a proper job! 👍

How you even find the time to make that ,is anyone's guess...

I bet your garden is keeping you busy right now!
Look forward to hearing what you're growing this year!
All the best