Hardee Hat

[62nd Virginia]

Hi Group,

I just purchased a hardee hat that has not bee nshaped. I was wondering what is the best way to fold up the side of the hat? Do you use steam to shape it to the up position thne place the hardee badge. I was looking for some advice of the proper way to do it. Thanks...Tom

[cmshooter]

I haven't done a Hardee hat yet, but in making my Pony Express or Corporal Agarn hat, I use a pot of boiling water and steam it while turning the brim up. With my Agarn hat I actually used a pin and pinned the brim up to the crown for a while after steaming and it will set up. When you get it finished the best way to maintain the brim is to always store the hat upside down so the brim will not flatten out. I've also heard of folks using spray starch to keep brims in place and have a stronger hold. I always keep a cleaning brush around when I steam my hats, it's the perfect time to get some of the dirt and dust out of them and straighten the brim edges. Depending on the desired shape you might even be able to leave the pin in and not have to worry about the brim falling down and cover it with the badge if it even shows. I hope this helps.

[Choatecav]

Take a piece of 1/4 inch plywood and stand it on it's edge right along side the crown portion of the hat. Have the edge of the plywood running right along the crease that you wish to make. Apply steam on the underside along where the crease will be, but do not steam the inner hat band area. After applying a bit of steam, the crease will soften and you want to bend it up and straight against the plywood. Have the hat laying on a flat surface (with a towel on surface) and place something like a heavy book or box up against the upturned brim and against the plywood until it completely dries. You want the crease to be approx 1/4 inch from the bowl of the hat and not directly against it. Once dry, you can stitch a bit of thread to help hold it upright.

Mark

[KeithRK]

I'm curious, would the soldiers back then have gone through all this or would they have simply pinned up the brim?

[62nd Virginia]

Thanks for all the info, I will give the suggestions a try. I am also curious as well as to KEITHRK comment.

[cmshooter]

I found it very easy just to pin up the brim on my hat after about a year or re-steaming. You can't even tell the pin is there, especially with the cavalry insignia on the front. I thought about stitching mine, but never got around to doing it. I never wanted to stitch because it would be more permanent and harder if I ever wanted to change the hat band. I've been using a pin for the past 3 years now. Actually what I use is a sewing pin with a black end and it works VERY well. But when I do take it out to clean it or change the band, the brim stays in place, and will stay in place for a while. But with all the use it gets and ride time I use the pin to make it more stable. Plus since it's usually in hot and very humid conditions the brim will start to fall and droop a little without the pin. But if you just pin it without steaming you might get more of a rolled look that you want, and it will be harder on the pin. For a new and unformed hat I would suggest steaming it first and getting it a bit more pliable before pinning it.

[Choatecav]

According to Tim Bender, hat maker extraordinaire, you want to separate the bend from the joint where the brim and the crown meet. Otherwise, with extensive wear, it will weaken and tear at that point. That is the reason for the 1/4 inch separation.

Would they have just pinned it??? Some yes and some no. Remember, those of that era were well versed with wearing hats on a very regular basis and they knew how to care for them. Take note of some of the practices that modern military men use to modify their clothing (where permissible) and you will see that taking pains to make a proper crease in their hats in order to "look sharp" is not a stretch at all.

Mark

[Rob Weaver]

Agarn, I don't know why they say you're so dumb.
If you just fold up the brim, it will fold at the line of stitching where the hatband is stitched. Over time, that's going to become "tear along dotted line." If you steam the brim, it'll fold up more easily a little farther away from this weak point.
I don't recall ever reading about this level of hat maintenance from anyone who actually wore the silly thing. Probably because they didn't do it. If they needed a new hat, they got issued one. (They also wore them for months with little quicky repairs. Fred Ray wore his Gettysburg hat, with a great tear where he got hit with a ball, for months after his wounding. I think he replaced it in January 1864.)