Deerstalker

**HippieLee** · 20th January 14, 03:47 PM

Just out of curiosity what are mass-produced hat brims made from? I don't have a lot of baseball hats but I've had a few over the years and I always curved them and they usually stay curved. I guess nowadays the cool thing is to wear the brim flat (on ball caps - not any other kind that I know of) but I never liked that look on me.

So what material provides the sweet spot of rigidity and bendiness and not-get-ruined-in-the-rainability?

Man the more I stare at that deerstalker the more I like it. I love the fabric and the look of the whole thing. Really great job!

**Hawk** · 20th January 14, 08:55 PM

Usonian....Very nice work sir....Where did you acquire the material?

Hawk

**ratspike** · 20th January 14, 11:11 PM

HippieLee, TimTex interfacing is a pretty standard go-to for super stiff cap brims. Medium-ish craft interfacing is another common choice.

**MNlad** · 21st January 14, 09:01 AM

Very sharp.

**Liam** · 21st January 14, 09:42 AM

You could try cutting out a brim stiffener from empty plastic milk jugs or vinegar bottles.

**Thomas H** · 21st January 14, 10:05 AM

Well done Sir , and thank you for the link to the pattern

**RGRatSea** · 21st January 14, 10:31 AM

As an astronomer I found it necessary to trim back the bills on a few of my caps including a nice warm one. The bills tended to bang into the telescope tube and induce vibrations. The stiffener material was a plastic of about 1/16th to 3/32nds of an inch in thickness. I used a bandsaw to cut away the excess length and resealed the edges. I believe the curve was built in as the cut-off bit of visor remains bent. I have always admired the deer stalker for style and function. I had one but it was a size too small and alas, has left.

You did a nice job on the one you made, though the ear flap ties do seem better when made of ribbon. On the other hand, I admire the Scottish thriftiness of using what you have and getting the job done. A classy, practical hat. Particularly when you consider the climate that inspired the design.

Ryc

**usonian** · 21st January 14, 10:32 AM

Thank you, everyone! I was going for a trim, "sharper" look compared to some of the more cartoonish examples I've seen online with very tall crowns and/or very long peaks, and I was pretty pleased with the results. I modified the crown and earflaps of the Simplicity 2517 pattern (which I happened to have already) to make them a little bit shorter, and based the peaks on one from another cap I already owned - smaller than the Simplicity pattern. I'll have to try milk jug plastic next time around, or maybe pick up some Timtex, which I see can be purchased in small quantities on Amazon.

Hawk, the fabric is a wool/poly blend (I'm pretty sure it's a blend) from Jo-Ann fabrics. If I recall correctly its regular price was $14.99/yard USD but I got it for $5.99/yard - either on sale or with a coupon. But I'm also thinking caps like this would be a perfect project for upcycling tweed thrift shop jackets, particularly ones with moth holes or worn cuffs that can't really be used as jackets anymore; just cut around the problem areas.