How to reshape a crushed vintage hat! ||

My first video on my channel--I'll show you how to use steam to reshape a crushed vintage hat. We'll learn about using an industrial hat steamer and talk about alternatives you may have in your kitchen that you can use to do this technique!
As a theatrical milliner, I do this all the time to spruce up old hats from our costume stock and give them a whole new look for the stage! As a bonus, learn how to use an industrial hat steamer, although if you don't have this equipment, you can use a clothing steamer or a tea kettle as a source of steam.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:56 Industrial hat steamer tutorial
2:20 Refreshing the crushed hat
#millinery #vintagehats #steamer

[@faithyalana]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! It's definitely appreciated

[@LaBricoleuse]

You're welcome! Happy to share and I hope it is useful!

[@denisewallace7519]

great tutorial Rachel❤️

[@LaBricoleuse]

denise Wallace thanks Denise! ❤️

[@hsama]

I use the same method, but I thought It only worked with synthetics.

[@LaBricoleuse]

I have had good luck steaming and reshaping wool, cotton buckram, and both natural and synthetic straw!

[@kenyamccrary2355]

Alternative: if you have no hat steamer, maybe try putting on a put of boiling hot water, make certain hat is larger than the pot of course, so that it sits atop the pot.
Set the hat on pot, set grocery bag atop hat(such as seen in the video), allow the steak from pot to rise, and it should do the same as the hat steamer.
Good luck!

[@onlyonethingisneedful]

It looks amazing! Any tips on how to clean a smudge off of a felt hat?

[@LaBricoleuse]

What color felt, and what color smudge?

[@onlyonethingisneedful]

@@LaBricoleuse the hat is a maroon/burgundy and the smudge is a dark brown. It's not very large but I sure don't want to ruin it

[@LaBricoleuse]

@@onlyonethingisneedful I would start with a soft bristle toothbrush some gentle soap/water (Castile or Ivory maybe? Not sure if you have those wherever you are)
Not scrubbing vigorously, just seeing if you can gently spot-clean it, then wiping it area with a damp cloth.

[@onlyonethingisneedful]

@@LaBricoleuse thank you so much! I'll try that 😊

[@LaBricoleuse]

@@onlyonethingisneedful you’re welcome! I hope it works out!

[@Sewicked]

For folks who don't have a head form, any suggestions for alternatives?

[@LaBricoleuse]

Do you have a tailor's ham? You can stand that up on its end and use it in a pinch.
I also have a colleague who made her own canvas head using a pattern for a coif as a starting point. She filled it up with a blend of Poly-Fil and doll filler (those plastic pellets).

[@Sewicked]

@@LaBricoleuse I do have a ham! Thank you.