One of the most common disappointments when buying a hat is an imperfect fit. The fit is crucial because it ensures comfortable wear even during extended periods. However, you might find yourself in a frustrating situation if you fail to measure your head size accurately. This is when you’ll wonder how to stretch or shrink a hat.
If a hat turns out to be too small and you can’t exchange or return it due to a merchant’s policy or high restocking fees, there are two options. First, find a local hatter who has an electrically-heated metal mold that can stretch a hat for you. Alternatively, you can buy a wooden hat stretcher for just over $10 and do it yourself. It’s important to note that hats with a more rigid structure, such as ushanka, Kuban Cossack, Moscow, and Leningrad styles, can stretch up to a size above the original. On the other hand, softer hats, including ambassador, papakha, Imperial, and shepherd styles, may stretch two sizes up.
If a hat runs one to two sizes large, you can attach self-adhesive felt strips to the lining. Alternatively, you can visit a furrier who can fix this by sewing a string into the hat’s structure all the way around the interior. Then, you can pull the string to adjust the size accordingly.
In most cases, unless a hat is three or more sizes below or above your true head circumference, there’s always a solution available.