How to Form a Bill of a Hat

Baseball caps are a fashion staple in the United States.

Baseball caps are one of the biggest fashion trends in the United States, and have been for the past 15 to 20 years according to the “International Business Times.” The Return to Manliness website says that a baseball cap is just as American as apple pie. The caps started out as part of a traditional baseball uniform worn by players with a brim to help keep the sun out of players’ eyes. The current trend for wearing baseball caps is to form the bill so that it has a slight curve, according to Batter’s Box.

Things You'll Need

• Baseball cap
• Hot water
• Blow-dryer
• Coffee mug

Instructions

1. Place either side of the bill in your hands and fold it inward for approximately 20 minutes to break down the fibers. This action will make the bill more pliable and will allow you to mold the bill into a curve.

2. Soak the baseball cap in hot water. Run it through the washing machine on a hot-water rinse or soak the baseball cap in the kitchen sink in hot water. Wring any excess water out of the cap.

3. Put the wet cap on your head. Dry the cap, using a blow-dryer. The cap it will shrink to fit the contours of your head as it dries. It is important to fit the cap to your head before focusing on curving the bill. The fit of the cap will give you your centerline for curving the bill.

4. Keep the cap on your head until it is completely dry. Go outside in the sun or continue to use a blow-dryer to speed up the process.

5. Place the bill of the hat in a coffee mug overnight. In the morning, your cap will have a curved bill. You can run the bill of the cap under warm or hot water again before putting it in the coffee mug to ensure a perfect curve.

6. Keep the bill in the coffee mug for two or three more nights until the bill achieves the curve you desire. Alternatively, put a heavy-duty rubber band around the bill to train the bill's fibers to curve.

Tips & Warnings

• If you under- or over-curl the bill, don’t worry. The bill of a baseball cap is flexible and can be remolded with your hands or by rewashing the cap in a washing machine to achieve the desired bill curve.

• As the hat dries, even the stiff front panel — where logos are often displayed — will start to meld to the shape of your head instead of standing up straight.

References

• “International Business Times”: Why Does Everyone Wear Baseball Caps; Palash R. Ghosh; January 2011
• Return to Manliness: How to Break in and Care for Your Fitted Baseball Cap; July 2008
• Batter’s Box: How to Break in a Baseball Cap
• Wardrobe Advice: How to Break in a New Baseball Cap; October 2009