# Can a classic wool felt fedora be "shrunk" to a smaller size?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 5, 2006, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159 "2006-11-05T05:02:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159/1 "2006-11-05T05:02:52Z")

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Many years ago when I was a younger man with a glorious head of hair I purchased a stunning classic gray wool felt fedora. Alas, over the intervening years my hair thinned and retreated so much I took the attitude, If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em: I shave my head all over down to the skin now.

Unfortunately, my hat no longer fits properly – it’s too big. I know that a felt hat can be “blocked” a size or two bigger, but can it be made _smaller?_

Btw, I already know you can add filler strips in the inside band to cheat the size down a little bit, but I’d prefer to shrink down the hat itself. Besides, the strips probably could not reduce the size enough.

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159/2 "2006-11-05T05:27:49Z")

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You might want to search here, or ask, if it hasn’t already been answered: [The Fedora Lounge.](http://www.thefedoralounge.com/) It’s a great site dedicated to the clothing styles and other aspects of the 1930s and '40s.

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**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159/3 "2006-11-06T14:03:58Z")

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This thread needs some buoyancy.

_ **Monday morning bump** _

Thanks all.

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**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159/4 "2006-11-06T14:13:59Z")

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You could probably put a band of filler inside the sweatband if you only need to make it slightly smaller.

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**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-classic-wool-felt-fedora-be-shrunk-to-a-smaller-size/379159/5 "2006-11-06T20:24:46Z")

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If it’s 7 1/2 to 7 3/4, send it to me! I’ll gove it a good home on my outsize knob.