timtex vs pellon 70

Dear Penny,

What kind of hat are you making? Will the hat be washed? I'm asking, because I don't know what Timtex is, and I hardly ever use Pellon. At least the fusible Pellon, because I haven't had good results with it.

If the hat is to be washed and the brim is supposed to be quite stiff, there is a nonwoven type of nonfusible Pellon that is meant for handbags. It works great for hat brims. Just be sure to throw away the directions with your pattern, and remove all of the seam allowances for the interfacing. You zigzag it to the OUTSIDE brim piece, inside and outside edges, then sew the outside facing piece to it on the outside only. Baste the inside edges together after turning, and (very important) baste right on the seamline and clip every half inch around on the inside edge.

There is a new type of hat "wire" available at Hats by Leko made of memory plastic. I use it in my fancy hats all the time, and it can be washed.

If the hat is not to be washed, double-ply buckram and hat wire can be used to shape the brim.

Teri

This hat will be subject to some abuse, I'm sure as it will be used by a kayaker.

it's based on an older North Face hat, and is somewhat along these lines:

'd go and pick up some of this timtex but the place that sells it is clear on the other side of town.Another option is to just cut up a bleach bottle, but that makes for a very hard hell. I'm playing with the Pellon sewin 70, no fusible for me either. penny s

Dear Penny,

I helped my 12-year old grandson design and make a cap similar to that, and we used the nonfusible Pellon. To help give it strength, he topstitched it every quarter of an inch. He wanted to make one with his name on it and an emblem that he designed and sewed on the body part. All kids, boys and girls, are required to take a ten-week "survival" class that includes a pillow and a small project of choice. It has been washed (and abused) several times, and still looks good, so I think this would work for your kayaking hat as well. Good luck!

Teri

If you've got some really stiff denim around, the sort that wants to stand up in the corner by itself, that makes pretty good brims, too, with a bit of stitching.

Kay