Carefully Shrinking a Baseball Cap

How to use moisture and heat to reduce the size of a fitted baseball cap that is just a little too large. If you've stretched it too much or got the wrong size, this could help you tighten the cap, but maybe just short of a full 1/8 size of shrink.
NOTE: This technique will not provide a major amount of shrinkage. Other methods may do that, but also have side effects for the shape of the cap!
The BEST OF dre in the 616:
Stretching and Shaping Tutorial - • Stretching and Shaping...
Shaping the Crown - • Shaping the Crown of y...
Smoothing your Caps - • Smoothing the Wrinkles...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 1 Maintenance - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 2 Deep Clean - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Finding the Right 59Fifty - • Finding the right 59Fi...
Storing your Caps - • Storing your Fitted Ba...
New Era Cap Styles - • 59Fifty/Low Profile/39...
Relieving Forehead Pressure
From the Logo - • 59Fifty Comfort - Give...
From poor quality trim - • 59Fifty LowProfile Rev...
New Era Material Comparison - • New Era Cap Material C...

[@mrjcbuc]

New Era hats are extremely inconsistent as far as sizing.

[@ricokingva]

Johnson Cunninghamcus - EXTREMELY

[@josephbriggs7067]

It’s been like that for some time now, new era needs to step it up

[@lac2500]

Johnson Cunninghamcus they are even worse now with their rotation of countries of production. Hats made in Bangladesh are so awful that it prompted me to boycott NewEra altogether

[@kelailie]

Ikr I totally agree

[@maxm.5455]

I ordered a 7 1/2 because I have one in the same size and it perfectly fits but the cap I ordered was like a 8 or even more.

[@davidweir190]

And yes, variation in sizes can be quite frustrating when buying online

[@captainscentsible1811]

Im on my 4th hat off ebay.fkn cant get my size right.i started way to big.its my fault. And going down a size isnt much when it was so huge.but i knew nothing about fitted hats. But spending 100$ for a hat sucks

[@js-zo7ze]

Mike Broskywhodatedhoski measure your head

[@genericwhitemale1114]

@@captainscentsible1811 go to the store and try on hats. Make sure it's the same brand though. With Addidas, all of their hats seem to fit differently now. I have tons of addidas hats yet this new one I just got in the mail today is way too big despite being the same size and style as the other 3.

[@captainscentsible1811]

@@genericwhitemale1114 i got a 7 1/2 and i lined the sweat band with dr scholls pads.it kinda worked.

[@genericwhitemale1114]

@@captainscentsible1811 is it worth doing? I might try it if you recommend it.

[@user-qv8gl7zj4t]

7 1/4 and 7 3/8’s is always suspect.

[@williamgallagher9608]

For sure dude

[@yourifranck3682]

Even the fucking 6 7/8

[@joeymoro5]

That’s why I’m here 😂

[@104dior]

literally why im here rn

[@josephyoung1433]

My life definitely

[@jacedaace01]

Thanx Doug!!! Appreciate your guidance & advice.....I just purchased two New Era caps at my regular size but they were both slightly bigger than what I was expecting. I'll definitely use your tips to help my situation. Thanx again....

[@dreinthe616]

You are welcome - and if it doesn’t get you far enough I have another video on my channel to take up a loose fit. Good luck and thanks!

[@ChillValentine]

Another excellent vid, Doug! This is exactly the type of walk-through I was seeking after purchasing a Retro Classic in my size recently that was just ever so slightly loose. Excellent instructional videos - thank you so much for sharing your wisdom on all things New Era!

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks for the comments, hope this helps with the fit you are looking for!

[@ghostface1014]

Thank you thank you thank you. I've been waiting for videos like this. I appreciate it a lot.

[@dreinthe616]

You are welcome, I'm glad they help. Thanks for the comment, and good luck with your caps!

[@BeardedVato]

I thought you had to mess with the sweat band to shrink it. Now I know. My wife gave me a fitted but it was a bit to big. Once I get home I'm gonna give this method a try. Thank you!

[@dreinthe616]

You are welcome - and I posted a more recent vid that combines this with another technique as well... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpWWgJ-BlNySh9k - in case you need to shrink a bit more. Does not hurt to wet the sweatband, I'd spray that along with the inside of the cap too, thanks!

[@TatyanaHallMusic]

Hi, I love your videos. They're very informative and well done. Could you do a video on how you clean your caps?

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks for the comment! Sure, I had another request for that recently, so I will put it on my list and try to get something out soon.

[@dreinthe616]

Hello again, I just posted a new video on what I do for routine cleaning... see kzbin.info/www/bejne/hImnYWmln6eCfM0

[@TatyanaHallMusic]

dre in the 616 thanks so much! I'll check it out

[@benyerxa2356]

Thanks man, I'll take a look at this. I will also sometimes just throw on a bandana underneath the hat

[@dreinthe616]

Cool, filling space is the other way to shrink, I just posted a combination video a couple of weeks ago icyi - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpWWgJ-BlNySh9k - thanks!

[@aakkz95]

Could you do a video showing the difference between low crown version (on field, right?) and the regular one please?

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, that is on my list to do soon, thanks for watching. I do have a short review of a low profile 59Fifty posted at kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4jPg6dviZmUr9k if you wanted to check it out in the meantime.

[@alexsantiago6421]

Let’s say you did the steam or hair dryer method to mold the cap. How do you get I back to normal because I don’t have a hat jack.

[@ozzmania08]

I just received my delivery of my new New Era 59Fifty size 7 3/8 & it's 100% polyester style cap and it was a little big at first but I think playing around & curving the bill the hat has fit a little better but probably still a little to big

[@jonathanngo7452]

I've had anything from a 7 5/8 - 8 fit me. I got a 7 3/4 recently and they're so big I can tuck my ears under, and of course it's not returnable because I got custom stitching on it

[@tyleradam808]

Hey I was wondering where did you buy those hats they look amazingly perfect exactly what I look for

[@dreinthe616]

I buy from lots of places, a lot of caps from Lids, Hat Club, and New Era directly... but the main thing is that I am pretty committed to maintaining them all - cleaning and storing them properly. I've posted lots of videos on editing and caring for fitted caps, so you can find those at my channel if you are interested.

[@FetsLuck]

I literally did this before looking for any video

[@gamers7800]

Just got a new Indians cap with the original logo. Its a little too big but since their retiring the original mascot I want to keep it in the best shape as possible . Hope this will help with the fit.

[@mnmz6934]

Great informative video! I used your method of shaping new hats and they really worked! Just a quick question, do you know how to shape snapback 9fifties? Or use the same method?

[@dreinthe616]

Thank you for the comment! I have never tried to shape a snapback, but curving the bill and shaping the front two panels will work exactly the same, of course. As for the hat jack and stretching, you should be able to influence the shape of the cap with steam and the hat jack in place, but probably can't overload the snapback with too much stretch... I would just go slowly if you try that.

[@mnmz6934]

Thanks for the reply!

[@BatIord]

@@dreinthe616 as

[@louielaflare]

I’m trying to go 8 to 7 /8 u think this will work ?

[@creeps4lulz]

Paper towels under the ban works as well

[@RafaelGarcia-ju1tc]

Just an update, I did it and it is effective. my cap was polyester. just be patient with the process. Thank you!

[@alexisalbrights8203]

How long did it take

[@RafaelGarcia-ju1tc]

@@alexisalbrights8203 usually i did it for 1 hr each session and i did it twice.

[@enfrno]

Has anyone had the problem with there cap the elastic at the front behind the beak starts to gather and not stay smooth?? If so how can it be fixed

[@pbscsemate689]

Does this work

[@fallen4life080]

I hope this works. Ive been a 7 1/4 for the last 10 years. I bought a 1906 White Sox hat, very rare to find with the correct size and it's wayyyy too tight. I thought it was strange. I bought the next size up and sent back the old one and it was a centimetre too loose the wind could knock it off with the right amount of gust. Since there's no intermediate size i'm going to try this and see if it works!

[@dreinthe616]

If this one doesn't work for you, I posted another video where you can take some of the extra space out of a too-large cap... check it out at kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs - and good luck!

[@davidweir190]

Hey Doug, Greetings from Oz, I feel like I know you already after watching all of your videos, some 2 or 3 times. Question for you, and I think I know what your answer will be but I'll ask it anyway. Have you ever tried to shrink a cap using an oven? There are many videos of people claiming great results doing this but I just wondered what your take on it was? Also, can you recommend any websites that have a good range of caps, MLB 59fifty fitted in particular, which actually ship to Australia ? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Your passion for fitted NewEra caps is infectious, I have recently bought 9 caps and a Hat jack following watching your videos...

[@dreinthe616]

Hey, greetings to you as well David - thanks for all the praise! Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions as far as vendors that ship caps to your part of the world. I was actually going to do a video sometime soon with a comparison of online vendors, but all are USA-based to my knowledge. Sorry I can't help on that one, but I'm glad you're getting value out of a lot of my other vids! And as far as shrinking with an oven - the point is using heat to shrink, so I suppose that could be a source as well... but I have never done it, and would only worry about what is called a 'transition temperature' for the plastic elements in the cap (i.e. fibers in the buckram).

[@biggdogfresh2263]

@@dreinthe616 hey there i bought a 7 1/4 lowprofile hat. Used hat jack but it keep going back to size it wouldn't stay

[@MortuaryManor]

@@biggdogfresh2263 use hat jack combined with a steamer.

[@Unknown-je2fn]

so does this work?

[@rivo3]

Thanks Doug, I'ma try it!👍

[@leivax6149]

hey man great vid! i recently bought a 7 3/4 (59 fifty) and it’s a little bit big just a little i was looking for solution to reduce it to 7 5/8 would it work???? it’s also 100% polyester would it damage it?

[@dreinthe616]

Poly is not as easy to shrink as wool, but do what I show in this video and you can get a lot closer - just make sure you wet the inside of the back four panels, and the sweatband too - then blow dry with heat. You can also do what I show here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs - good luck.

[@carlost6586]

Thanks for all your vids, is there a way to take off or at least hide a little bit the marks of shrinking on the Cardinals one? I did the process with a whool cap and now my hat has those marks on the back panels (not as exaggerated like the Cardinals but you can noticed), I think I did something wrong

[@dreinthe616]

It's tough to restore that look without stretching the fibers all over again... if you decide to do that, what I typically do is try to stuff a towel or t-shirt inside that area and re-steam it to smooth it out under pressure and steam. Keep it on the "form" until it dries out.

[@TheTonyMartinExperience]

Just stumbled across your channel. I have a low profile 59fifty spring training cap with all the logos, in the new material. It is slightly bigger I wear a 7 1/4 but had to buy a 7 3/8. They sold out of my size but....well....... I had to have the hat. I have put in a tissue insert but might try this.

[@dreinthe616]

I'm not sure how the Prolight material responds, but this technique usually only gets a small amount of shrink... it might not be enough to get you a quarter size, but I'd say try it a couple of times and see how it goes. Good luck and thanks for the comment!

[@TheTonyMartinExperience]

I have scar tissue on the front of my head, just under the hairline. The new type of logo is what is causing the problem. The rubber logo has pushed in that part of the hat (cubs). Thanks for the reply and I think I may have a solution.

[@dreinthe616]

I had the same problem with another cap, and finally posted a video of what I also did to solve the problem. You can now check it out at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppixdomZqd-dq68 Although I wonder if high heat from a hair dryer will cause any trouble with the Prolight 'beveled rubber' logo.

[@jsmooth3239]

Cool, thanks man!

[@NecrosisF]

By far the safest method, thank you so much. I have a question: i bought a new 59fify, it's a 7 1/4 cap and it fits well on the forehead, but the problem is that the crown and the up part of the cap is to high and looks very goofy... Does this method will shrink the entire cap if it's made of wool? My ears bend down when i wear it hahah

[@dreinthe616]

No, for a peak in the crown you will probably have to shape the front two panels that have the buckram bonded to the inside - this technique is not great for that. The buckram can be shaped by applying heat (hair dryer) and then holding pressure on where you want to shape it while it cools down. For a couple of examples check out my tutorial on shaping - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn-Qdn9jp9Kaf8U - and locally modifying buckram under the logo - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppixdomZqd-dq68 I'd suggest using your palm to flatten the peak after heating. Good luck!

[@boricua6483]

Same shit with my cap. Shit looks like the Mario bros hat

[@santisn3095]

@@boricua6483 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀

[@crazybonesarecool22]

My brother recently gave me a few diamond era hats and they’re 7 1/8 but I wear a 7. Would this process work with the diamond era material?? Thanks in advance

[@dreinthe616]

Works best with wool of course, but I'll admit I have not tried the Diamond Era. You may also want to try an insert material to take up the slack, my other video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs might be a good way to go, thanks.

[@78monte94]

Thank you man! I had a hat that was 7 1/4 and fit very snug and when I bought a new hat same style brand etc I naturally got the same size again but this time either my head shrank or my other hat over time shrank so now my new hat is too big but after trying this it fits perfectly so thanks man!

[@dreinthe616]

Cool, great to hear, glad that it helped out!

[@allenp303]

Dre have you experienced any shrinkage on the crown/the height of the hat?

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, a little bit - part of this video was to show how to shrink those four panels in back, and it may happen naturally with heat and sweat. The buckram under the front two panels pretty much makes it impossible to shrink, you can only shape those with heat. Thanks.

[@andresascencio5628]

What about diamond era hats ?how a hard is it for those to shrink

[@dreinthe616]

I've never tried shrinking the Diamond Era material, but I have had to stretch those back to shape every few months. Which means they probably have drawn in a little bit on their own, and they will probably respond in the same general way to the moisture and heat in this video. If you try it, good luck, and thanks for watching.

[@iheartculo9449]

I feel like I didn’t bend my grey brim right on my wool 59fifty. Do you happen to have any methods to fix that too?

[@dreinthe616]

I’ve gotten a couple of requests for some brim/visor techniques, so I will add those to my list. In the meantime you could hit it with an iron (with fabric covering the visor) to re-flatten, then bend again.

[@jonstubblefield9023]

Hey this worked pretty good. It did leave a small divet on 2 of the rear 4 panels. What would be a good way to push them back out ? Love your videos keep up the good work

[@dreinthe616]

I'm not sure exactly what the divot might be, but you can always hit it with a little steam to manipulate the fabric if that's where the problem is. If you've not seen it yet, watch my video on smoothing wrinkles using steam (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXbTaXymqraJnJo). Thanks for the support!

[@ozzymorrison8628]

How do I make that top part of the cap shrink?? Mine fits okay but my head looks to big

[@dreinthe616]

You can soften the shape of the crown by finding a couple of my other videos (go to my channel videos tab or look in my playlist "Baseball Cap Tutorials")... but if it's the overall volume you're trying to reduce, you might be more interested in a Low Profile 59Fifty. Thanks for the question.

[@yrejsalaver334]

Hello Doug, may I ask if you have an advice or solution for an overstretched elastic band of 39thrirty caps? Mine went too stretched and it wont fit securely again. Please reply and Thanks in advance

[@dreinthe616]

Unfrotunately I don't - if it's broken or it's 'dry-rotted' from age, I don't have a good way to restore the tension. Sorry, but thanks for watching.

[@yrejsalaver334]

@@dreinthe616 Ok, thanks anyways 💪

[@adamwest3637]

Great video Should probably use deionized water! Tap water might leave minerals on the fabric when it dries

[@dreinthe616]

Good point, although I think the risk is very low with most municipal water systems. If you've only got non-softened well water available, I'd agree to avoid it.

[@alex_rodriguez777]

I have a question, normally I'm a 7 1/8 in 59Fifty caps Would I have better luck stretching a size 7 or shrinking a 7 3/8?

[@dreinthe616]

Stretching is almost always easier than shrinking, esp. if you use a hat jack. Btw, your next size up is actually a 7-1/4, not a 7-3/8 - so stretching a 7 is a better choice. I've got one video on stretching and two on shrinking techniques - go check them out if you have not already - thanks.

[@samdecaprio3575]

Hey Doug, I found a Yankees old 4th of July hat on eBay that I want to get, but it's way too big for my head (size 7 5/8 and I'm a 7 1/4). Is there anything I can do to shrink this that much if I'm gonna buy this hat? I know that the techniques in this video will shrink it some but I don't think that much...any ideas?

[@dreinthe616]

Hey Sam, unfortunately that is way too much to shrink a cap, since it is 1/2 inch in size. The technique shown is really only useful for 1/8 size or less to tighten things up a bit. I think the hat would end up really messed up if you tried anything else. Sorry I don’t have a better answer, thanks for watching

[@joemartinez4091]

Where can I get one of your caps? The dre 616?

[@dreinthe616]

Hey Joe, thanks for the question - I'm actually working on having some of these available sometime in the first half of this year... right now that cap is one-of-a-kind. I'll let you know when I get those done!

[@guangguang1472]

Hey Dre, thanks for your informative channel. I have a slightly loose Ebbets Field 6-panel wool hat with a soft visor. Would this shrinking method possibly work for this kind of hat? As all six of the panels are soft with no firm backing, can I wet all of them for more even results? Do you think the stitched-on felt emblem on the front be affected? Also I too would be interested in seeing your comparative results using a clothes steamer if you ever end up testing that method.

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, and the wool is going to shrink more than a polyester cap, especially with that Ebbets wool. This technique should be effective, and I don't think the applique logo will be affected. Thanks for the comments!

[@larceny93]

Hey Doug, will the heat from the hair dryer damage hats that are made of polyester and mesh? Ex. the 2020 mob spring training hats.

[@dreinthe616]

No, with one of those ST caps, you should be fine - just don't hold it on in one area for too long, keep it moving to heat and dry the cap.

[@ViljanenV]

what to do when the fitted too tall fron the front crown

[@djovechkin]

Where did you get the Cardinals hat at the beginning of the video?

[@dreinthe616]

Online from Lids... it was part of the standard "Black & White" collection, an alternate cap for the Cards - not sure if it's around anymore, though.

[@wrestlingMachine28]

How many hats do you own? Love the vids!

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks for the comment! Counting all caps, probably around 25 - so a small but growing collection...

[@ReadDaBible]

Hey, Doug I know it’s been forever but I have a question. Can I wet the inside of the cap and dry it from in there as well?? I have a hat that has stitching all around it and I don’t want to damage it

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, that's actually important to do also - wet the sweatband and the inside of the back four panels. Thanks.

[@ReadDaBible]

Thanks for the fast reply, Doug. God bless

[@creativename1235]

The foam product you mentioned seems to be only available in the US. I'm in the UK and I got some interfold hand towels and folded them up into a thin strip and stuffed it in the sweat band at the back of my cap. Seems to have done the job but just wanted your take on it from the expert.

[@dreinthe616]

If that works it should be fine, just not as durable... but there should still be some foam strip products available to you under a search for "hat sizing" materials. And if that fails, felt or foam weatherstrip from a hardware shop also works... see here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuXkqd8jpiAb6c - thanks!

[@creativename1235]

@@dreinthe616 Cheers, mate. Love your videos.

[@superso]

i can't stand NE caps. I have one which is 6 7/8 like all of my NE caps but for some reason, the front two panels of the crown are HUGE and won't shrink. The back has shrunk to the proper size. It's horrible

[@aidenduncan9574]

Thanks a lot

[@Vallero760]

I also try and stay away from all methods that cause extreme shrinkage

[@skitspacejr]

I bought a 7 1/2 59fifty Low profile but I normally wear a 7 3/8 how many times should I do the method

[@dreinthe616]

I’d try 3-4, making sure to get the sweatband wet too - but this method will only give a little shrink. I’ve got another video about to go up - with a different way to make the cap smaller - stay tuned!

[@dreinthe616]

In case you didn't see it yet, I posted another way to make the hat smaller... watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs if you haven't been able to tighten the fit enough.

[@bv.hd883]

Just bought a Jayz hat thats a tad too loose for my head but the Medium/Large was too small to me. I'll definitely try the spray/hairdryer technique right away! Thanks man

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks, I hope it works out - it's good for small adjustments.

[@jsmooth3239]

Paper airplane hat?

[@tomruff3500]

Doug just bought 7 1/4 bc they didn't have my size 7 1/8. New era 59 fifty yellow Yankee hat. Also has a side patch. Wondering if that will be a problem? Will the hat be discolored if I spray with water and blow dry it. Hat is 100 percent polyester. Thanks for sharing this technique.

[@dreinthe616]

Ordinary tap water should be fine, should not cause discoloration. And remember this is a very subtle way to shrink, it really just accelerates the action of heat/moisture on the cap material. If you find this doesn't get you there, you can always rely on the other method I talk about here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs - this is a more standard way of sizing any kind of hat. Thanks.

[@cartmantke]

Great video. I do have a question. I purchased a "Salute to Service" 59fifty online, wasnt available locally, and when I received it, it has the fist panel on the right after the buckram, near the button, bulges up like it is either stretched out, or almost like that panel is too big for the rest of the hat. think a bubble on a pizza. I tried the steam technique to smooth the "bulgewithout much luck, If i focused the moister and heat from the hair dryer on that one spot, would it shrink it to not bulge? The crown does say it is 20% wool. Thanks

[@dreinthe616]

I think that might be your best bet - maybe saturate that 'bubble' fabric area with water from a rag or washcloth, then hit it with high heat from the hair dryer. Honestly that seems like the only way to draw in some of the stretch of the fabric - and the wool content should help, I'm just not sure how much. Good luck, and thanks for watching.

[@cartmantke]

@@dreinthe616 i took your advice and nave done about 3-4 sessions of soaking the area the using a blow dryer to dry it. it has shrunk the area a little, however the side of the bulge looks way lopsided. i'm starting to think this was a manufacturing error as it just appears that they used two panels that were a size or two bigger for that side of the hat, plus the American flag patch and the ribbon patch stitched in have just messed up the shape. long story short, should i try a "cap buddy" soak it and toss it in the dryer or iron those panels to get a shape that doesnt look stupid, or just wear it to do yard work? thanks again.

[@dreinthe616]

@@cartmantke Oh man, it sounds pretty bad... I think maybe my first piece of advice could have been to return it for another, if they still had your size. Yes, it sounds like a defect right out of the gate, and the vendor probably should not have shipped it. The dryer will shrink everything, so I'm not sure I could recommend it unless it's a last resort. Have you called the vendor? If it was Lids, I have been happy with their customer service - they usually try to make things right.

[@emranhagi8504]

I bought today a 59fifity and yes it works thx

[@daejahjackson5123]

Did you have to do it more than once?

[@emranhagi8504]

@@daejahjackson5123 nah bro first attempt

[@gustavogovea710]

Is it possible to shrink a poliester 7 1/4 to a 7 1/8 if so how many time would I do the method ?

[@dreinthe616]

For that I'd try it 2-3 times. Make sure you get the outside and inside of the cap wet (including the sweatband, but keep the visor dry). If that doesn't work, I have another video to help - check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs for another way to fix the size, thanks.

[@mrlogick1098]

So for 7 1/2 down to 7 3/8 this should be perfect ?

[@dreinthe616]

You might not get a full size of shrink, but if this technique does not get you there, you can always try this alternative from another of my videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs Thanks

[@Dthegrower]

I’m in the exact same position😭 did it work? “1 year later”

[@josea2924]

How do you get that fold

[@jrram1169]

You just bend the brim a little bit

[@jonsnow8629]

I just got my NewEra hat “one size , fits all” its way too big

[@marioharo100]

that’s where u fucked up😭 get a fitted hat bro

[@flowerseedspike3389]

@@marioharo100 I got a size 7 and a half and it’s wayyy bigger

[@rue1x25]

@@flowerseedspike3389 same g did you shrink it or nah

[@flowerseedspike3389]

@@rue1x25 I tried but it didn’t really make much of a difference I used elastic to sow the inside of it and it worked good

[@rue1x25]

@@flowerseedspike3389 oh okay might try that I heard just placing napkins under the hat stitching might work too but thx tho

[@larceny93]

Will this method damage any sidepatches? For example the recent world series patches

[@dreinthe616]

Not if they are stitched on, like 95% of them are... the patches themselves will hold those areas pretty stable, even if the material around them tightens up a little bit. Thanks.

[@SergioTorres07121972]

My hats are all polyester. I did it once, and there was no change. Do I have to do it a few more times?

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, I’d recommend a couple more times... you can get the inside a little wet too. Poly will still shrink a bit, just not as much as wool. Doing it this way requires patience, but won’t cause the appearance problems you get with tossing it into the dryer. Good luck!

[@dreinthe616]

One other thing - the reason shrinking is tough is because of the plastic sizing inside the sweatband - see my 59Fifty Teardown video for more detail - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5aTdZWJhrBrpqM

[@MrMCLovin767]

Should I buy a 7 3/8s if I’m a 7 1/8? This hat I wanna buy is just not in my size

[@akskdjdjsbxb1815]

Just got a new era hat and its to big all around will this work?

[@dreinthe616]

Depends on how big it is... this can only get you about 1/8 of a size in shrinking. If this doesn't get it all the way to where you need it, you can also take up space in the cap as I show in this other video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs Whatever you try, good luck, thanks.

[@eugenebenjamin7039]

Question, I understand you have this video on shrinking your cap. However, we never saw if the cap was big on (you never showed us the size difference to begin with.

[@dreinthe616]

I am probably shrinking it by 1/8 or less of a size, so I'm not sure a photo or video would really show that kind of subtle change. If you've seen any other videos that I've made, you know I get pretty detailed, but in this case there was probably not enough to visually demonstrate with a before and after. I do have a later video that talks about getting the correct size (esp. if you are planning to curve the visor) so that you don't have to shrink a cap (see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2GwnJ5-ha9rrLc ) - thanks

[@NChapaWI9436]

hey, so i have a 7 5/8 and I'm a 7 1/2. that hat is polyester and I was wondering if you had any shrinking tips

[@dreinthe616]

A combination of two steps is shown here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpWWgJ-BlNySh9k - a newer video, thanks.

[@andrehoudelot1011]

Hey Doug. Thanks for your help with caps! I have a question: can i use steam instead of hairdryer for this technique?

[@dreinthe616]

You could use steam to replace the mist spray, but I would still recommend the hairdryer to shrink it a bit... it's really the dry heat and moisture evaporation that makes the fibers draw in.

[@andrehoudelot1011]

@@dreinthe616 thanks a lot! I will keep the update to you and really appreciated the fact that you show the world the art of using caps ;)

[@andrehoudelot1011]

@@dreinthe616 hi Doug ! I have a Boston Red Sox 100% polyester 7 3/8 . I I have done this technique once and I feel the difference . Do you think that repeating this technique more than omce can help even better? Thank you

[@user-zq1or3ro8u]

André Houdelot did your hat get damaged at all?

[@avgrim7729]

I have a Mitchell and Ness cap that is big enough to put my finger in between the cap and my forehead. Is that going to be shrinkable? Or too much space?

[@dreinthe616]

You can only count on getting about 1/8 of size out of the cap... I'd try the other way of shrinking, which is to add filler - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuXkqd8jpiAb6c - thanks.

[@dannyvillanueva8549]

For someone that doesn’t have a hair dryer, can this be done by tumbling it in the dryer for a bit?

[@dreinthe616]

Usually don’t recommend it, since it beats up the structured crown as its tumbling.

[@Dvillagrana]

I have a question 👋 almost every hat I own puckers like that and the crown on it is very boxy now should I buy a size smaller and stretch it or no just shrink it

[@dreinthe616]

For cap appearance, I think it usually works out better to stretch than to shrink... it helps avoid the visible signs of shrinking if you have to do a lot of it. But I have other videos on adding filler materials that help you avoid having to shrink it that far - I'd check out something like what I suggest here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuXkqd8jpiAb6c - it's a pretty quick alternative to shrinking, thanks.

[@Dvillagrana]

@@dreinthe616 what should I do for puckering like extremely puckering

[@YoChrisWTF.]

i b recently bought a 59fifty low profile and all my regualr hats are a 7 1/4 but the low profile fit so small i had to return and get 3/8. it was a collaboration hat so im wondering if you think thats why or do all low profile hats fit a size small. i wanna buy more because i love the fit but nervous to have to repeat this process again of exchanging. love your videos man!!!

[@dreinthe616]

I have been ok with the same size in low profile, but if I buy more of them I will probably go up 1/8 size, because it gives just a little more volume over the forehead. So I'd say stick with the extra size up if that worked out for you - but remember that all New Era caps are inconsistent in sizing. Thanks for the comment and question!

[@YoChrisWTF.]

dre in the 616 ok thanks that’s what I’ll do. Take care 🙏

[@weirderdolphin9902]

If anyone’s looking for a way to shrink a polyester hat a good amount I found that just putting it in the washer and dryer made the most difference in shrinking it and breaking it in, even tho the washer softens the beak a lot

[@dreinthe616]

It definitely shrinks it, but what I found (and shared in the later part of the video) is that it really draws the fibers in and gives a slightly 'shriveled' or puckered look, in addition to breaking down the visor as you mentioned. I like to preserve the clean look, so that's why I don't go with the 'brute force' approach. I've also posted other videos about adding filler inside the sweatband when you need to go a little further.

[@weirderdolphin9902]

@@dreinthe616 yeah I kind of like the look the washer gives it but it definitely roughs up the hat

[@lucasecclestone8338]

My cap says mid & rear panels are 100% polyester and I tried this method twice now without seeing any results. How many times should I try?

[@dreinthe616]

I have a more recent video that combines this with another technique ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpWWgJ-BlNySh9k )... to answer your question, I usually do this 2-3 times, making sure to get the inside and sweatband wet as well - but this newer video combines it with adding some filler material. The spray-heat method will only reduce by 1/8 of a size or less, sometimes less with poly, thanks.

[@ryancolon7498]

dude can you please tell me where you got that Houston hat

[@dreinthe616]

It was an MLB "Graphite on Black" collection, probably from 2016/17 - I bought it in 2017 from Lids.com.

[@ziggyanderson5477]

Do you think this would be enough to shrink 7 5/8 to 7 3/8?

[@dreinthe616]

No, that would be too much to expect - a full two sizes. This technique is only for subtle changes, but you should check my channel for “The other way to shrink your caps” which has some suggestions for inserts to get a better fit. That is still a ways to go, but good luck!

[@ziggyanderson5477]

@@dreinthe616 Alright thanks

[@JohnAdams-gf6kr]

I have a 100% cotton 59fifty hat that is my size but an extremely large/ high crown. Do you recommend this method or another?

[@elijah4878]

I don’t think you can shrink the size of the crown, and if you were to try you’d probably make the hat too small

[@dreinthe616]

Depends on the buckram in the cap - if it's typical New Era buckram, it can't really be 'shrunk', but it can be molded "lower" to your head. You should check out one of my original videos - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn-Qdn9jp9Kaf8U - and use the third technique there.

[@adren6128]

after we finish doing a round of spraying and drying the cap do we wait a couple minutes to do it again ?

[@dreinthe616]

If you dry it all the way, no need to wait. Just make sure to spray inside and out, get the sweatband too, and dry everything completely under high heat on the hair dryer.

[@adren6128]

@@dreinthe616 thank you for responding on a old video 👍

[@bodegatiger404]

Have you tried this with on field hats? Does it work?

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, I assume you mean the current polyester on-fields... it works, but you may have to repeat it a few more times than with wool caps. If I've stretched a cap (see kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn-Qdn9jp9Kaf8U ), usually I find that the poly caps return to shape over time, so they do shrink a little bit. Keep in mind this technique only provides a small adjustment. Thanks for the question.

[@bodegatiger404]

dre in the 616 yeah I just recently bought a low crown on field. It's a bit big and it doesn't seem to want to shrink but thanks anyways!

[@LowQualityCheese]

Mine's tight enough because of the adjustable velcro strap, but it's too deep and goes over my ears. It says 19-768 100% cotton. Whould this technique fix that?

[@dreinthe616]

Cotton will shrink more than other materials, but I'm not sure it will completely solve your problem with the cap being too deep, thanks.

[@n_saucxytv4487]

Ngl I ordered my size by luck I just ordered it off the LIDS website and it was fitted correctly😭

[@wranefis]

Can I get 7 3/4 to shrink close to my size that’s a 7 3/8

[@dreinthe616]

No, way too far to go.

[@Alexis2026R]

You can also us a steamer

[@vaniguwap29]

hellooo! i tried this once and made a slight difference but not much but i think it’s because i either didn’t wet it enough. or i didn’t heat it up enough. what would u say is a good amount of time i should hear it up when it’s wet. (seconds or minutes) if that makes sense. love your vids by the way!

[@dreinthe616]

I had to do this more than once, maybe 3 times - and heat until it completely dries out each time. Time that you spend depends on the heat from the dryer and how much you soaked the body of the cap. I'd say wet the inside of the fabric panels as well. I've got a couple of other videos related to shrinking, you can find those at my channel also. This method is more subtle than some others, but it preserves the cap. Thanks!

[@vaniguwap29]

dre in the 616 do i still dry it from the inside too or just from the outside

[@vaniguwap29]

do i blow dry the inside*

[@melanantonio]

Is there a way to remove those puckering along the panels? I shrinked my cap too much.

[@dreinthe616]

It's kind of tough, but you can try a bit of a restoration with a bump cap insert (my video on these is here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2rThKykoZmCba8 ) They are right around $10, and when used with heat/steam are a great tool for shaping, maintaining, and sometimes repairing caps, thanks.

[@alo93533]

Hello if you can please kindly answer. Would this method work on A new era SnapBack? For some reason all my SnapBacks fit good but I feel uneasy about a certain one I have. It fits ok but I want it to fit a bit more Snug like the rest that I own. Would the water spray and hairdryer method work?? I’d appreciate the response please

[@dreinthe616]

It will work a little bit, but it's not as effective without the full fabric panels and sweatband all the way around, thanks.

[@alo93533]

@@dreinthe616 I see what you’re saying. I’ll be trying the method. Hopefully it works enough to my liking. I appreciate the response as its been quite a few years since you posted this video. Appreciate you’re content too. Thank you

[@srspielbergo1605]

My god! There's a video for my question I asked you on your other video... #whatagreatservicesir!

[@dreinthe616]

Cool - glad you found it, but I was also going to mention that I have three videos about shrinking, including one about how the sizing works. Please go to my channel, locate the videos tab and search for "shrink", thanks.

[@ur1el554]

did it work?

[@markforever1]

Will this technique work on the mid 90’s 5950’s with the plastic liner inside the sweat band?

[@dreinthe616]

That will make it tougher to do, no doubt. Usually I'd recommend spraying/wetting the sweatband too, but since that plastic liner is also stitched in, it's going to restrict movement. I think you'd be better off taking up the extra room with some sort of foam insert that I showed in my video on the other way to shrink, thanks.

[@markforever1]

@@dreinthe616 thanks Doug, I just watched that video and was going to give that a try as well.

[@markforever1]

@@dreinthe616 Both methods worked great. Unfortunately a little of the sprayed water go absorbed on the brim of the cap (my fault) and has left a water mark. Any suggestions on how to remove this? Thanks!

[@ochosinco2]

Can I use a a steamer for faster results?

[@dreinthe616]

I've never run a side-by-side test between this technique and simple steaming. The application of dry heat from the hair dryer does contract the fibers, and I am not sure if the constant presence of moisture during steaming would affect that at all... but I'll give it a try in the name of science, thanks! Btw, I have published other vids on shrinking, using filler strips is another technique I recommend, see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuXkqd8jpiAb6c

[@frozenflower4307]

Is this applicable to half net baseball cap?

[@dreinthe616]

If you're talking about a mesh back, probably not... that material likely takes more heat to really shrink, but it could also get damaged soon after that point. That said, I've never tried it - but thanks for the question.

[@OscarGonzalez-fc6ru]

What is easier to do, shrink a cap or stretch the cap? I’m between 7 1/2 and 7 3/8. Thanks!

[@dreinthe616]

I've always thought it was easier to stretch. The sizes vary a lot, so sometimes this isn't always true - but if the cap is too big you can't do much to make it look smaller - so I stick with stretching as the easier step. Also covered this in my FAQ video recently - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqe6lZumf5yFnZI - ICYI, thanks.

[@OscarGonzalez-fc6ru]

@@dreinthe616 thank you for the info!

[@davidtrinidad2677]

Will it shrink from a 7 1/4 to a 7???? Or is that to much can you help me out ASAP, please

[@dreinthe616]

1/4-size reduction is tough, but you should watch the video I just recently posted about combining two techniques to get a little more - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpWWgJ-BlNySh9k - or go to my channel to find it, thanks.

[@isaactaylor7227]

this should only bring it down about 1/8 of a size right? because i got a 7 1/2 and needed i believe a 7 3/8

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, correct - it will not bring it down any more than 1/8 of a size, thanks.

[@vicmorgan8782]

Hi bro, I have a 7 ⅛ cap and I am 7 ⅜, do you think I can stretch it to that size?

[@dreinthe616]

1/8 of a size is usually no trouble, but going up by 1/4 size is challenging. Your best bet is to get it on the hat jack, steam and stretch, then leave it on the hat jack for a day, steam and stretch again without ever taking it off the hat jack. I'd also stuff a towel or t-shirt inside the crown, because you're going to get some distortion with each time you stretch it. Good luck if you give it a shot, thanks.

[@vicmorgan8782]

@@dreinthe616 thanks bro, greetings from Mexico city, any social network apart from KZbin where I can follow you?

[@dreinthe616]

Hey thanks... I am on Instagram also, but not actively posting things there yet.

[@Tlducken]

Could one substitute steaming for misting?

[@dreinthe616]

Good thought, and yes, probably so. I'd still hit it with the dry heat of the hair dryer afterward, since that's what will draw in or tighten up the fabric. Feel free to post a comment back if you try it, thanks!

[@mrt1626]

How can that possibly shrink the band and reduce the hat/head size?

[@dreinthe616]

Short answer - it really can't shrink the band and plastic sizing inside. The best thing it does is shrink the fibers in the fabric of the cap, slightly drawing in the band. I tried to make a few disclaimers in the video, this is not a huge change. If you really need to get it smaller without tossing it into a clothes dryer and possibly destroying the look of the cap, I'd suggest this way instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ico5Z7bLqojKs

[@mrt1626]

Ok. Thank you.

[@noway1880]

Are you spraying jist the fabric above the band? Or should I spray the band too? It seems like thats where its too big. New Era and their inconsistency. Couldnt find the one i wanted in store so i couldnt try it on

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, definitely spray/wet the sweatband too - on the inside of the cap also. If that does not get enough shrink after a couple of rounds, you can check my video "the Other way to Shrink" which gives another way to improve the fit, thanks.

[@noway1880]

@@dreinthe616 thank you very mich for answering !

[@exsinz3466]

deos it ave to be with cold water or warm water?

[@dreinthe616]

Cold or room temp is fine, no need to use warm/hot water.

[@TillMyDemise]

Where did you get this color for the Houston Astro’s hat?

[@dreinthe616]

Graphite on Black collection, all MLB, it was available around 2016/2017.

[@TillMyDemise]

@@dreinthe616 solid hat wish they could bring it back