In collaboration with London Recycles & London Repair Week we will be running a series of events on how to care & repair your hats. Here are some tips to help you…

Measuring for the Perfect Fit

To measure your head, place a tape measure around the widest part of your head, ensuring it follows the line where your hat would naturally sit. Bring the ends of the tape together at the front of your head. Hat sizes are typically measured in inches rather than centimetres.

For measuring the hat size itself, insert a pin on the inner edge of the hat to mark the starting point. Then, wrap the tape measure around the crown, aligning it back to the pin.

Hat Storage

To ensure your hats remain in excellent condition, store them properly. The best option is to keep them in their original hat box, lined with acid-free tissue paper. Place the box in a cool, dry space at room temperature. Avoid storing hats in damp areas or in the attic, as this can lead to damage.

For brimmed hats, always store upside down. And stuff the crown with tissue paper to keep the shape.

Resizing Hats

Tips and techniques for resizing hats to ensure a comfortable fit.

To make smaller: There are a few ways to reduce the size of the crown.

  • You can pad the crown with strips of foam
  • You can sew pleats into the inner ribbon
  • You can add an elastic or headband to help with the fit of the hat

Put the padding underneath the ribbon. Layering foam or wadding for the best fit.

To make bigger: Using steam, you can (carefully) stretch your hat.

If you have a hat stretcher (left) it’s easy to stretch a hat. If not, you can use steam from the kettle to soften the hat and can stretch the size (slightly).

Basic Hat Repair: 

Easy-to-follow steps for performing basic repairs on your hats at home.

Most dents or bent brims can be fixed with steam, using the steam from a kettle as before.

For bent brims of hats, you can iron (carefully) using a damp tea towel. Leave to dry fully until moving the hat.

For fur felt hats, like trilby’s, you can use a shoe brush to restore the finish

Retrimming hats…

Need your hat to match your outfit?

It’s very easy to retrim a hat for a quick refresh…

  • Change the petersham ribbon
  • Add a flower or bow
  • Add feathers in the colour of your dress

Some millinery supply companies that offer quick hat refresh materials:

Upcoming Events:

Join us on Saturday, 8th March 2025, for a hat repair drop-in day in partnership with London Repair Week.

Competition brief
To design and make a hat suitable for Royal Ascot, made entirely* from upcycled hats, either bought from a charity shop or simply second-hand hats.

Deadline
The deadline for entries is 30th April 2025.

An upcoming exhibition at Luton Hat Works in September 2025. See the British Hat Guild website for full details.

Any specific hat repair questions, please email us: Bee@Bee-smith.co.uk