Although at times you feel a hat is too big, there are some tips on how to make it perfectly suitable for your head size. Be it a custom baseball cap, trucker hat, or even a fedora, all the following tips will help you readjust your oversized hat for a snug fit. One efficient method is using adhesive hat tape or cloth inserts to reduce the interior size. Just insert the cloth strips into the sweatband, and you are ready with a great fit without sacrificing comfort. It’s one of the simplest hacks you can use to get your hat perfect it is from the online retailer or bought off the rack.
Making a Hat Smaller: Easy Techniques
As much as making a hat bigger has been expounded above, there are a few easy ways of making it smaller. To do this, one may immerse the hat in warm water for some time. This can assist in reducing the size of the fibers of the hat material. After washing, do not wring out or twist the hat; instead, let it dry or tumble dry on low heat.
Another possibility is to use a hot air-blowing technique or a hair dryer over the areas you want to shrink. However, one should be careful not to overheat the hat because the type of fabric used can destroy it. That way, with these techniques, you can alter the fit of your hat to match your head size well.
1. Use Hat Sizing Tape
Hat-sizing tape is probably one of the most efficient solutions to make a hat tighter. It is a soft foam that can be inserted into the sweatband of the hat to make the fit slightly smaller.
Steps:
- Buy hat-sizing tape from any nearby store or the (cyber) store.
- If you are referring to the hat’s inner crown band or sweatband, turn over the brim or flip over the cap.
- Place the sizing tape inside, beginning from the front or back, and trim it all around.
- Then, wear the cap and ensure that the position of the tape is correct so that the cap fits the wearer correctly.
This method is excellent if one wants to make small adjustments to the hat’s size without ruining it.
2. Add Padding or Foam Strips
There are many options for sizing tape that you may use in its absence: foam strips, felt pads, or even cotton. These materials are cheap and readily available.
Steps:
- Using a small pair of scissors, cut small foam or felt strips to accommodate it into the sweatband.
- Put the strips there where the head feels free, especially under the sweatband.
- It is also essential to spread the padding uniformly around the band for a correct fit.
This method can be adjusted easily, and it is convenient if you decide to add or exclude more padding in the future.
3. Sew a Tuck in the Sweatband
A more permanent solution is to shrink the hat, which entails sewing a slight tuck inside the sweatband. This method is best if you want to wear your favorite stylish trucker hats for many years, and it is okay if they make slight changes to them.
Steps:
- Take a small portion of a Sweatband and fold it.
- To do this, you should use an appropriate needle and thread of the same color as the hat to ensure that the reinforcement of the fold will not be easily noticeable.
- Sew along the edges so that the tuck is nice and snug; you want it to be a bit narrower than before.
- Put on the hat and potentially change the size of the tuck.
This technique may require some sewing, but it is a clean and long-lasting method of resizing your hat.
4. Soak and Shrink Method (For Fabric Hats)
The soaking and shrinking method is used when shrinking a cloth hat because it should initially be large and loose and should shrink when the person wearing the hat puts weight on it. If you have a large cloth hat (this can be due to wear and tear and is made of the wrong size material, such as cotton or wool), you can shrink it after the soaking and shrinking process. However, be careful because this method will effectively change the size of the hat forever.
Steps:
- Take a sink or bucket and fill it halfway with warm water.
- Take the hat and submerge it in water for 5-10 minutes, letting the fabric absorb the water.
- Take off the hat and blot off the moisture. Do not twist it too tightly, as this will damage the fabric and the strength of the cloth.
- It is advisable to cut off the roots of excessively thick hats and let them dry naturally on a flat surface. For more controlled shrinkage, though, the hat can be worn while wet so that it takes the shape of the head.
Just keep in mind that this method is only effective on natural fibers such as cotton or wool. Shrinking with water may not work on surfaces with synthetic materials.
5. Hat Inserts for a Temporary Fix
The other obvious solution is inserts or liners. These are typically made of foam or material and can simply be packed inside the hat to add the appropriate shape.
Steps:
- Buy hat inserts for this use.
- Fit these inside the hat under the sweatband, especially in places where you think the hat is too loose.
Check how the inserts fit and whether they need any alteration. Inserts are perfect for hats that are a little too big and don’t require alteration.
6. Use Elastic Bands for a DIY Solution
Elastic bands can be considered a personal solution to fix the problem. If you feel creative, there is another special DIY technique where elastic bands tighten the hat and make it fit better.
Steps:
- Sew a piece of elastic band to the sweatband, with the stitching facing backward.
- Pulling it will put it under tension and pull it inwards to give the hat a better shape.
This method is beneficial because hats have extensive protection after the sweatband. If you don’t like using hat-shaping products, this is a functional and inexpensive alternative.
Conclusion
An appropriately sized hat can not only complete your outfit but also keep you comfortable. Whether you choose to use hat sizing tape, stool sizers, sewing, or steam shrinking, all of these techniques will help you achieve the desired fit. When in doubt, apply a method to a cheaper hat than the one at Target. These methods are generally not recommended on delicate hats made of rubber and sandpaper, etc. With these simple steps, you can wear your favorite hat with peace of mind, knowing it fits your head perfectly.
