There is nothing like a nice handband to perk up an otherwise nondescript hat.
This article focuses mainly on hatbands but you will see that many of the example hats also have stampede strings. In case you are not familiar with them, they are basically a chinstrap fastener that can be used either under the chin or at the back of the head to help hold a hat on in the wind or during a stampede !!! They are usually left loose until needed as shown by Tom Selleck – sigh!
QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER, Tom Selleck, 1990. (c) MGM.
Stampede strings can be a simple leather “string” (on less expensive hats), braided leather (often kangaroo on Australian hats), braided horse hair with tassels (popular on US Western hats) and other materials.
There are various ways of attaching stampede strings to hats. Most of the hats shown here use the method where the stampede string encircles the crown and then passes through holes on either side of the brim. But there are other ways to attach them. I will leave that for you to research – there are many helpful how-to articles on the internet.
So on to the “embellishment” portion of this post – the hatband !!
Most hats come with a ribbon band of some kind, narrow to wide. Depending on the hat, this might look the best. Simple. Elegant.
Other hats look great with a touch of horsehair either as a separate hatband or as part of the stampede string.
Almost any hat looks good with a concho belt hat band and some look good with beaded hat bands.
Following are some hat “case histories” with some information to help you decide if and how you might want to dress up your hat.
By the way………hatbands are not just for western hats…………they look great on most panama straw hats as well, as one of the examples below will show. Maybe even on a fedora for the adventurous !
One thing to keep in mind as you add a hatband – the proper way to set a western hat down when you are not wearing it is upside down. (If you lay it down on its brim too many times, it ruins the shape of the brim.) Because of this tradition, you will want to be sure your hatband is securely fixed in place so it doesn’t fall off your hat.
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Hat A This steel grey Gunfighter from Rand Custom Hats in Billings, Montana came with a wide ribbon hat band. I added a braided horse hair stampede string which contributed a little bit of decoration. I’d say good to go.
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Hat A Rear view showing stampede string.
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Hat B This is a thick wool hat with fold down ear flaps – great for winter riding and chores. It has a separate stampede string and hatband.
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Hat B All portions of the stampede string and hatband including all tassels are made from horse hair.
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HAT C Another thick wool hat with fold down earflaps. An inexpensive hat that came with a simple leather stampede string.
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HAT C A quick way to add some color to this hat is to tuck the leather tails of a beaded hatband under the stampede string at the back of the hat.
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HAT C You could braid, tie or otherwise permanently fasten the hatband in place but a quick solution is to slide a bead onto the leather strands.
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HAT C Voila ! A little color for those dreary winter days !
Before I continue with the hat showcases………here are a few items that you might find handy.
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Concho hatbands are available at http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/hat-bands/hat-bands.htm
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Double sided tape – means sticky on both sides. This comes in handy to help keep your hatband in position. An alternative to the tape method is using a few stitches at strategically located places.
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Beads with big holes come in handy for sliders.
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You will need a leather punch for some of the upcoming hat projects.
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HAT D This Master Hatters of Texas summer straw takes on a new look with a vintage concho belt hat band.
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HAT D The concho hatband can be secured in place to the ribbon hatband that is already there using a few stitches with dark thread.
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HAT D The back of this hat band has a double buckle. Note the tail end of the ribbon hat band – you can leave it as is or snip it off per your preference.
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Look for hatbands at horsekeeping.com
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HAT E This panama hat made by the J. Peterman Company. of Lexington Kentucky deserves some jewelry. I put a horsehair stampede string on it and added a contemporary sterling silver concho belt hat band.
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HAT E To secure it in place, I took a few stitches around the horse hair stampede string and the hatband.
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HAT E This hatband has a single buckle so was easily buckled in place and the excess leather snipped off.
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Visit horsekeeping.com to see hatbands and concha belts
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HAT F This tan 20X Resistol has a horsehair stampede string which is good but let’s see what we can do.
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HAT F Buckling a contemporary turquoise and sterling concho hatband around it snugly gives an idea of where to punch the holes.
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HAT F The hole has been punched. There is a long tail of leather left over. There simply is not a good way to store this extra leather so it must be snipped.
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HAT F The tail is tucked under the adjoining concho.
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HAT F The front with hatband in place. Looks better don’t you think?
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HAT F Here is the rear view.
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HAT G This old buddy is an Akubra from Australia, complete with a braided kangaroo stampede string. Although the simple ribbon is workmanlike, let’s see what we can do.
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HAT G Adding a simple sterling silver concho belt hat band makes all the difference in the world.
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HAT G Use double sided tape under the hat band to create just a bit of hold between the ribbon band and the leather of the concho band.
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HAT G The buckle can be located on the side or the rear depending on personal preference.
Paula
Native American Jewelry Tips 