Finishing off the inside of a hat properly is just as important as finishing the outside. When making a traditional brimmed hat style, a sweatband should be sewn inside the crown to absorb sweat and make the hat more comfortable to wear. Leather is a classic and practical choice for this task and leather sweatbands can be purchased from quality suppliers. However, they do need a little work before they are ready to be sewn into a hat.

Leather sweatbands come with a stitched empire tape band around the lower edge and, within this, a nylon reed. The reed gives the bottom edge rigidity and, if used in the correct way, can also help you to create a more comfortable fit for the wearer. In this tutorial, master hat block maker Owen Morse-Brown, from Guy Morse-Brown Hat Blocks, takes you through the process of preparing a leather sweatband to be sewn into a hat.

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