How to Stretch a Cowboy Hat

[@mikebarham4117]

Excellent info! My wife bought me a Stetson that I love but it's just a bit too small. I ordered the hat stretcher and will return to this video when it comes in. Thanks for posting this.

[@benjaminmurillo3328]

Did it work?

[@mikebarham4117]

@@benjaminmurillo3328 Worked like a charm. I've worn the Stetson quite a bit since stretching it and it's much more comfortable. I did have to stretch it a couple of more times before it would stay the same size, but now it's great.

[@edwardmccloud8764]

The best video I've seen yet on DIY stretching a cowboy hat! 🤠👍

[@StartupCowboy]

Glad you liked it!

[@kitkat53ftw]

very informational, thank you for this video! I just bought a hat that was a quarter inch too small and thought I was SOL. 🤠

[@SWAMPburning]

Very helpful video, will buy a kettle and a stretcher, this should help me

[@thesixshooter6506]

Very informative and helpful... thank-you. I have a few in need of stretching and now I feel more comfortable giving it a try. Much obliged partner.

[@StartupCowboy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnwalker4251]

All your videos are great, thanks for all I’ve learned about working my western hats! Even reshaped hats for my friends. Question: I got a 10X Beaver Felt Vintage, it’s 7 1/4. I wear a 7 1/2, with a stretcher, steam and adjusting the stretcher for more tension a bit everyday with more steam, do you think it will stretch 1/4”?

[@lalo.g1779]

Wondering if you went through with stretching your hat? I recently bought a 7 1/8 rodeo king that fits more like a 7 and I’d like to stretch it to about 7 1/4. If you have the time I’m curious to know how it went.

[@PapaBeastyy]

Thank you for this!! I received some hats from my Memaw recently, they were owned by me Pepaw before he passed. Somehow the behemoth of a man has a head smaller than me, even being twice my size!!

[@jeremiahlbfg2417]

Will this mess up the stitches in the hat band on the inside I have a have that’s a little small and want it to fit me I never used one of these things before

[@StartupCowboy]

No it shouldn’t damage the stitching inside as long has you don’t stretch it too far.

[@BlaineO]

I have a small head. I am right between a 7 and a 7 1/8. Would you suggest me getting the 7 and stretching it, or buying the 7 1/8? I see where they also sell a foam insulation that will adhere inside the hat to make it fit smaller.

[@StartupCowboy]

Definitely get the 7 1/8. I recommend that you always get 1/8 size too big and then use tape or foam to make it the correct fit.

[@BlaineO]

@@StartupCowboy thanks so much! Those tight hats give me a headache but I wasn’t sure if I could stretch it enough. I’ll get the 7 1/8

[@bigswampy6073]

Thanks,good vid,needed to stretch my stetson hat,been over two yrs since I wore it.bought that same thing from amazon.thanks again,worked great !!

[@StartupCowboy]

Glad to help! S^C

[@martywhite5384]

Good video. I'm going to pick one of those up. Thanks.

[@StartupCowboy]

Great to hear!

[@ushouldntjudgeme3683]

heck I'll make one in my wood shop.

[@jonathanbailey5896]

hi mate thank you for you video it was very instructive, can i ask a question i have a size 69 hat which is only prehaps 1/2 cm to small. What size hay stretcher shall I get a Large Size 7.28" -9.84" would that do the jod do you think?

[@tumbleweedoutdoors1776]

Is there a way to know for sure if I have gotten it to 7.5 or do I just go a little and try it on when it’s dry and then go again?

[@StartupCowboy]

You could measure to see however I would just try it on to make sure.

[@jonathanbailey5896]

Thank you from Bulgaria

[@jackjaworski9458]

Thanks man, super helpful

[@StartupCowboy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@harrydrury4734]

a perfect explanation . thanks .

[@wyattheitkamp55]

I’ve got a hat that is 7 1/8 and I need it to be a 7 1/2. Would that work or would it be too big of an adjustment?

[@StartupCowboy]

Good question! I’ve found that stretching a hat this way can tolerate about 1/4” max. After that, it starts to distort the crown. I wish I had better news for you!

[@wyattheitkamp55]

@@StartupCowboy ah that’s what I figured. That’s alright it was just some hat I found in my closet I had when I was younger and tried to see if I could make it work. Looks like I’m giving it to someone else lol

[@BalotelliFan713]

SOG flash in pocket?

[@goldlong6958]

I want to know how long it needs to sit there?

[@StartupCowboy]

For sure an hour but longer is better

[@ilmagnifico82]

Hello! Can i strech a hard felt bowler hat with this technique? Thank you!

[@StartupCowboy]

Yes you can, however given the nature of the material you can’t stretch it very far. You may check out some of our other videos about finding other ways to make the hat fit better, such as cutting out parts of the band. We will be making another video here soon talking about using water to stretch a hat out in extreme circumstances, so be looking for that as well. Thanks for the question!

[@ilmagnifico82]

@@StartupCowboy Alright and thank you the answer!

[@TexasBeekeeper]

How long will it stay stretched? I have some nice hats that are 7-1/8 and I need to stretch them to 7-1/4. I have a hat stretcher like you have and used my wife's clothes steamer (maybe that's not enough?), and it doesn't seem to do the trick.

[@StartupCowboy]

The Texas Beekeeper, Thanks for the question. My bet is that you are not getting enough heat on your hat. Another possibility is that the quality of your hat might be high enough that it may take pretty extreme heat and over stretching to achieve your desired size. You may also consider leaving the stretcher in the hat when you are not using it. This usually keeps the hat from snapping back to the smaller size. Let us know if this works and if not we might try to solve this issue and make a video with our findings.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

@@StartupCowboy Hey Appreciate the quick reply. Ahh. I didn't even consider the quality playing a role. One is the Resistol 20X Black Gold and the other is a Resistol 100X, so very well could be. Both really nice hats which is why I'm trying to get some more use out of them. I may have to get one of those Hat steamers. I have left a hat jack in and that did seem to keep it to where I could at least put it on, but seems like it doesn't take long and the hat is soon crawling up my forehead because it's shrinking. But again, the steam like you said, probably wasn't hot enough it was just a cheap clothes steamer my wife had. I'll give it another try with some better steam and see what I can get. If not, I'll have to see what I can get for 'em and get me some new ones. Thanks again for the reply.

[@kevinortiz1210]

@@TexasBeekeeper hope I can help , but I usually install the stretcher and boil some water in a good size pot , let it come to a really hot steam/boil and set the hat on top for a couple seconds and see if you can turn it , if not leave it on the pot a little longer then try to stretch it once again you’ll be able to give it maybe a turn or two and keep going till you find the right size . It’s been 4 months so hopefully you found a a way

[@TexasBeekeeper]

@@kevinortiz1210 Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a try

[@samueladams279]

@@StartupCowboy Also beware of to much steam. My Resistol needed a little stretching and to my horror I had a steam burn! I have taken great care to clean it up lightly over a long period of time which has slowly helped in making it go away. Just wanted to add this as it is definitely can happen. best to youall and best of luck.... great video by the way. it also tells my age but there wasn't a you tube back then so i was self taught and hit and miss. see ya!

[@BeforeMyEpitaph]

Will this work with a heavier wool stetson?

[@StartupCowboy]

Yes it will.

[@BeforeMyEpitaph]

@Startup Cowboy thank you sir. I wore mine in the rain and did not properly care for it after. It's my first and only, this video hopefully will restore it to its glory.

[@92nredrappini84]

Would it be possible to stretch a cowboy had from 7" to 7 and 3/8th?

[@StartupCowboy]

Thanks for the question! I think you could try with a little risk but might continue to go back down. If you really want to try, I would make sure the hat band is off so it’s not constricting the stretch. But you do run the risk of disfiguring it trying to stretch it that far.

[@martywhite5384]

Would this work on a straw or palm leaf hat?

[@StartupCowboy]

Marty, This definitely works on palm leaf hats if you get it plenty wet first. Straw hats are harder for this method but I have had some success doing it. S^C

[@ftblust3179]

I wear 7 1/4 and it fit a little big just a little but when I wear a 7 1/8 and it a little to tight what do I do

[@StartupCowboy]

FTB, I have this exact same issue. I always by a 7 1/4 and customize the fit by packing the inside of the band so that it fits just right. I have a video explaining this on the channel if you want to check it out! S^C

[@aldossnow3703]

Can I stretch a small leather hat to large ?

[@StartupCowboy]

Because I can’t see the hat I can’t tell you either way. But what I do know is whether the leather is real or not matters and I would recommend not doing it given that leather can only stretch so far before it fails you/deforms.

[@aldossnow3703]

@@StartupCowboy thanks for quick the reply !

[@brundantheknighttemplar]

How long do I have to keep the stretcher in the hat for so that the hat keeps it’s new size before I can take it out?

[@StartupCowboy]

Brundan, Usually I like to keep a stretcher in a hat for a minimum of an hour. Sometimes I will let it sit in there for 24 hours. If the hat continues to shrink back maybe consider leaving the stretcher in the hat when your not wearing it. Hope this helps!

[@patcronen441]

I’m getting my first felt cowboy hat.. when I store it in summer can I keep the stretcher in all the time?

[@jonathanbailey5896]

a gift from a friend a resistol