Question for the sartorially wise

[pegkerr]

pameladean once said all knowledge is contained on LiveJournal, so I am asking for advice.

I have a lovely straw hat that got caught in the rain. It is no longer stiff, but comically droopy. How do I restiffen and block it? Do I use liquid starch, or . . . ? Ideas?

Comments

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

Apparently the trick is to use steam, and let it dry in the shape you want it to hold: http://vintagesewing.info/1950s/52-hmh/hmh-057.html

[misia.livejournal.com]

I have never had great success with steam blocking straw that has been badly bent and/or water damaged, it's needed something with a little more oomph. I know some folks who swear by it, I've just never gotten it to work the way I wanted it to. Still, it might be worth trying steam first, especially if you have blocking wires or some other means of forming it available and can block the brim to your desired shape so that it'll stay that way while it dries.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

It says "apply a coat of straw sizing and let it dry." What's that?

[misia.livejournal.com]

There is a product called Leko Gelatin Sizing that I use on my straw hats and other similar articles (raffia, woven paper, etc.) when they need reblocking. Do not get the Lacquer Sizing by mistake -- it's totally different stuff.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I have used Extra Super-Hold Aqua Net when I couldn't find any straw hat sizing, and it worked just fine.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

One of man's great inventions.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Where do you buy it? I've never seen it before.

[misia.livejournal.com]

Millinery shops (unsurprisingly). Big fabric stores sometimes have it too, but I don't know if the chains like JoAnn would carry it or not, I've never checked.

[cmpriest.livejournal.com]

Well, Old Navy has cute straw hats for less than ten bucks ;-)
That's my suggestion. But I'm lazy that way.

[scott-lynch.livejournal.com]

Set it down on a table beside a firm, dry straw hat. Sit down opposite from the soggy hat, turn a chair backwards, and sit in it with your arms crossed, leaning forward.

"Look, you've been a good hat, and it's not quite fair to call you a disappointment. But as you can see, I've got at least one other hat that isn't imitating cooked spaghetti. Now, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but perhaps you might consider shaping up."

Then pull out a handful of loose crushed straw from behind your back and place it nonchalantly on the table.

"All of our actions have consequences, dear. I'll let you decide where we go from here."

Leave the hat alone for the night.

It'll be bone-dry by morning, guaranteed.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

metaquotes!

Maybe I should threaten to give it to you to use as tinder the next time you torch a building just for practice . . .

[scott-lynch.livejournal.com]

Thank you, but for the sake of full disclosure, if I remember correctly I'm riffing on a bit from that Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman book from way back when.

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

When my straw cowboy hat got bent out of shape, my suitemate soaked it in a sink full of warm water, reshaped it, and let it dry upside down. Give it a few days to really dry and store carefully, and it should hold.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend starting with re-wetting and shaping and letting dry, myself. It's amazing how much a hat will spring back to its original shape given a wee bit of encouragement. You can always step up to sizing (or Aquanet) when .. er, if that doesn't work.

[yoshimi.livejournal.com]

i don't know the answer, but i agree with pameladean.

also, hi! i'm julie! and i added you as a friend!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Hi back atcha, and welcome to my LiveJournal.

[pameladean]

Just for the record, that's just my riff on an old saying, generally made into AKICIF -- All Knowledge Is Contained in Fandom.

P.