Refurbishing a damaged hat without completely reblocking it can be a difficult task. You are unlikely to find an object of exactly the right size and shape to fit into the hat’s unique contours. Plus using pins will leave lasting marks on the crown, especially if you are working with felt.

Thankfully, there is a very simple tool that can be a big help with this process – a rice bag.  Because rice bags are able to take on the shape of a damaged fedora or trilby without leaving marks, they are the perfect solution for restoring hat grooves.

Georgina Abbott of Atelier Millinery explains how to use rice bags to repair old hats. If you need to spruce up a blocked hat with grooves, dimples or valleys, this hatting trick could be just what you’re looking for.

Category: Hats, Hints and Tips

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