stretching a wool plate cap
 

Has anyone ever had any success stretching a plate cap a little bit? My problem is that I ordered a cap from our State Softball Association and they don't stock caps without ASA letters on them. My order then came from Oklahoma City. I don't want to go to the hassle of trying to return it. The size shows it is the correct size for my head but it is a little too tight, maybe 1/2 a size or so. I thought some of you veterans (oldies;) ) or maybe some newbees would have some help for me. Thanks, Dave

Since you're in Nebraska, you should have a "hat" shop somewhere near you. This is a place that specializes in cleaning, reshaping and resizing cowboy hats. They have the tools and knowledge to do it right. They'll use steam and some gentle tugging to resize your cap.

As a bigheaded dude, I have the problem often and can tell you that it doesn't work. The only solution I have found is that when ordering an ASA hat from Oklahoma is order 3 hats and return 2, hoping you get at least one to fit. They use a hat vendor that is terrible at producing consistant sizes.

Didn't wool caps kinda go out with the Elbeco's? Try the mesh, it stretches... Here's a site that you can order: http://www.refereescall.com/

Are you trying to say Elbeco shirts? I was just asking help with a cap, not what type of cap I should be wearing. Dave

Or you can just put on side over your knee and pull on the opposite side. Yes, some of the stitching will rip, but it will fit better :D

Yeah, the mesh stretches but the wool looks better IMO.

After one inning in 95+ degree heat, mine stretches out real good!

Always shrinks back up when dry though!

The western wear store is the probably the best way to go but there is not much they can do with a wool cap (or a mesh one for that matter).

And maybe I am old fashioned but I wear nothing BUT the wool caps. Just my personal preference, and no they didn't go out with Elbecos. (I don't wear the Elbecos, but I have two brand new ones just in case they come back.)

I think maybe the Elbecos and beanie plate caps belong together. Maybe even throw in an outside chest protector for good measure. Dave

I bought a brand-new, baby blue, still-in-the-wrapper Elbeco on eBay for a couple of bucks.

I break it out every once in a while for special occassions- like when all of my "real" shirts are dirty. Or maybe when I'm in an old school kind of mood.

But I only do this in cooler weather and in some local rec leagues that have a rather lax uniform code.

With all the complaints I hear about the old Elbeco's, I'm glad that they were before my time. When I first got into umpiring mesh polos were the norm.

The freshly pressed button-up style seems to get the attention of players and coaches. The reaction is always positive and the Elbecos seem to command a little bit more respect. Something about them just seems to say "real umpire" to the current crop of player who have probably never seen these shirts before.

I wonder if they could make these shirts in a breathable, moisture-wicking material?

If you let it dry at the size it stretches out to, that's the size it would stay. Wool is a very forgiving fabric.

Not unless you put it on something that will keep it at the larger size while it dries; at least that is my experience. And even then, the "resizing" is temporary - until it gets wet again.

No, since as others have said, the wool looks better. I have a couple of mesh and 8 or so wool hats. I hardly ever wear the mesh. Just my personal preference.

I've never been able to get a reliable manufacture of true-to-size hats. The ASA hats are notorious, but others aren't much better. If possible, I always buy hats at a walk-in store, and even then, I have them bring out 3 or 4 hats of the "same" size so I can find the one that actually fits.