Ok we’re fixing the hat. Or at least we’re trying! But before we do, let’s gather some information.

The hat that doesn’t fit measures just a hair under 25 inches (measuring on the outside of the hat, right where the brim turns up to make the top part of the hat). The hat that does fit measures just a hair under 26 inches at the same spot. So that means I only really need about an extra three quarters of an inch.

The head form measures a hair under 27 inches at the widest bit, which is a bit wider than I want.

So my plan is to soak the hat in warm water (probably with the fold-y bits at the top clipped in place so I don’t lose that shape), and I mean really really soak it, not just splash it (I sometimes see folks block lightly dampened wool as opposed to actually completely soaked wool, and it doesn’t work nearly as well, so I’m extrapolating here, even though this is a man-made fiber not a natural one…a full soak seems unlikely to hurt and it might help). Then I’m going to stretch the ever living snot out of it and wedge it as far down on the head form as I can. Like to the ‘stitches are creaking’ stage of things. Then I’ll let it dry in the shade.

If that gets me enough room, great, success! If it doesn’t, and if it feels like the ribbon trim on the outside or the sweatband on the inside are preventing the stretch, I will investigate what would be involved in removing them. I don’t think it will be the sweat band causing a problem as it is elastic and therefore stretchy, but the ribbon might be an issue. But I’d rather risk needing to do it twice rather than take the trim off if I don’t actually need to, because we all know it won’t go back on the same.

Either way, I’ll measure it again once it’s dried this first time and see how much room we got and report back!