News & Updates

Hello from Toowoomba Queensland Australia

Hat care & products.
No guarantees but a collection of tips and hints that you can use at your discretion.

Rhonda's Refits has over 500 hats in store - Akubra felts, Mexican felts, straw, felt covered straw and palm leaf.

CURRENT SPECIAL: Brigalow felt hats, sizes 53 to 61, made in Mexico, silver/ brown/ black/ cream. Super price $49.95

FIT
Your hat should fit snugly right around your head but not be so tight as to give you a headache.
If your hat is too tight it can be stretched with a hat jack (see below). Sometimes if your sweat band gets wet from sweat, your hat may get tighter if the sweat band dries too quickly. Putting a hat jack inside the hat will prevent this. The other way is to turn your sweat band out each time you have a wet sweat band and stand your hat on the sweat band.
If your hat is too loose you can fold an A4 paper lengthwise twice and pack it inside the hat band, or use some foam.

HAT CARE
Only handle your hat with clean dry hands if possible so that dirt, oils etc do not dirty it. Particularly important for a lighter coloured hat.
Handle your hat by the brim, not the crown.
Do NOT put a hat down on its brim. Place your hat upside down on its crown in a clean place.
Do NOT store a hat in direct sunlight when not being worn.
Parrticularly in hot climates like Australia, do NOT leave your hat in a hot vehicle. The boot of your car is cooler. Certainly a hat on its brim in a hot locked car is not the best place for your hat.
Use a plastic hat protector (see below) for wet conditions to keep your hat dry. These can be kept in their pouch in a bag or in the car for a rainy day.
Occassionally flip down the sweatband and stand your hat on it so that your hat can dry and air.
A hat box (see below) is a great investment if you regularly travel with a hat and don't wear it whilst travelling.
A hat saver that either screws under your cabin lights or sticks to the back window with two suction pads will keep your hat out of harms way whilst travelling.See below

STORAGE
Store your hat in a hat box (see below), or upside down in a cool dark place, or with a hat jack (see below) to stop any shrinkage.

CLEANING
The regular maintenance one is to get a soft shoe- brush (and keep it only for hats) and brush the top of the brim and crown in an anti-clockwise direction. Don't forget to do under the brim in a clockwise direction. This should remove much of the dust.

A vacuum with a brush attachment may be used.

Softdrinks and beverages can be wiped off with a damp cloth - preferably before they dry.Allow to naturally dry. Do NOT use a hair dryer as shrinkage is an issue.

Straw hats can be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened with light soap and water, then one with just water and then air dried or dry with a towel.

HAT SHAPING
Fur felt hats can be reshaped by steaming. Use either a hat steamer (see below) or steam from your kettle - use great care. Apply a light dose of steam to that part of your hat you want to change. Do not over apply steam. Then shape your hat with your hands. Hold that shape until it dries. Repeat if necessary or on another part of your hat. For example, you may want to have the front and back of the brim shaped downwards - do it in two stages.

Palm leaf hats can be shaped by wetting them, shaping and then let naturally dry.

HAT SIZING.
Use a flexible tape measure or piece of string and a ruler. Place the string or tape around your head, about 3mm (1/8") above your ears, and across the middle of your forehead. Completely circle your head. This is best done by someone else. Hold the tape firmly but not tightly. Really, you need to measure where you want your hat to sit.

	Small	Small	Medium	Medium	Large	Large	XL	XL	2XL	2XL
Hat size	6 3/4	6 7/8	7	7 1/8	7 1/4	7 3/8	7 1/2	7 5/8	7 3/4	7 7/8
US (inches)	21 1/8	21 1/2	21 7/8	22 1/4	22 5/8	23	23 1/2	23 7/8	24 1/4	24 5/8
Metric (cm)	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	63

If your measurement falls between sizes, go UP to the next largest size.
Sizes do vary between manufacturers, and this table is but a guide. The best thing is to TRY IT ON.

HAT ACCESSORIES available from Rhonda's Refits. We can freight any of these items if necessary - at cost.
Call for a freight quote 07 46 3 789 33

1. HAT JACK

To care for your headwear, including panama, straw, felt, tweed caps and hats, a hat jack will:
Prolong the usage and maintain a good and comfortable fit
Prevent a wet cap or hat from shrinking
Maintain the comfort and fit.
Easily increase the size of the hat.
Sizes - Small for below metric 57; Medium for metric sizes 57, 58, 59; Large for metric 60 and up.

Available for $36 from Rhonda's Refits shop

2. PLASTIC HAT PROTECTOR.

Folds up into a pouch for easy storage in bag or vehicle
Four sizes:
Small 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 (metric 52 -54)
Medium 6 7/8 to 7 1/8 (metric 55 - 57)
Large 7 1/4 to 7 3/8 (metric 58 - 59)
X Large 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 (metric 60 - 62)

Available from Rhonda's Refits shop for $12

3. HAT BOXES
These come in a single or double.

Single hat box in navy blue, purple, black, orange, hot pink or
yellow $132 . Double in black only $180

4. JIFFY HAT STEAMER

Available in Rhonda's Refits store for $325.

5. QUICK STICK HAT SAVER

Available in Rhonda's Refits store $55.

6. HAT SAVER

Available in Rhonda's Refits store $55.