Palm Frond Hats

[Alicehunter2000]

I know most hats are made from coconut palm fronds. I was wondering what other fronds can these hats be made of? Would a queen palm work? I've heard somewhere that Phoenix species have been used in the Middle East for baskets.........why not hats?

How about Palmate type fronds..... Puerto Rican Hat palms? If Puerto Rican Hat Palms can be used .....why not Cabbage Palms?

And what are the best books and videos on how to make hats. I have a hat that was made for me over 12 years ago in Puerto Rico and it is still great for a light weight shade hat.

[Alicehunter2000]

I've stumped the experts on a palm related subject?

[freekypalmguy]

Did a search and came up with a few.

Hat Weaving

Palm Weaving

[Mike4284m]

I bought "The Guide to Basket Weaving: Creative Weaving with Coconut Palms" and was a little less than impressed.  It was actually pretty frustrating and I'm pretty sure the gf thought I finally went over the deep end.  There's nothing quite like lurking around your apartment complex at night slashing palms with a big knife.

[paulgila]

i have always thought that those hats which everyone thought were made of palm products were actually made from "panama hat plant",which everyone thinks is a palm but really isn't.

i'm confused & i have only myself to blame

[Alicehunter2000]

M.C...........the first link site quote: "

Each sombrero is an individual too.As no two Palm trees are alike or any cluster of leaflets on a frond, no two hats come out the same. The hat style is dictated by the tree. It takes about an hour to harvest the leaf, split, trim and weave the hat."

It does not mention the type of palm....but the second site has numerous links all of which only mention coconut palm leaves.

Thanks for the links, I might have to try one of the books or video to find out what types of leaves can be used.

Mike......."The Guide to Basket Weaving: Creative Weaving with Coconut Palms". Why was it so difficult to learn? Would a video be more instructive in your opinion?

I would really love to be able to use Sabal fronds as we have an abundance here. If I could get proficient at it, it might be a nice little side business in the summer. Sitting here on the beach, under an umbrella weaving fronds, selling them to the springbreakers, watching the bikinis

Seriously I paid 20 dollars 12 years ago in Puerto Rico for a hat that took the kid less than an hour to make. I could probably get 30 dollars easy for one tailored to the person. What a great lightweight hat! It is still in great shape after much use. Palm fronds just don't deteriorate like other materials.

[Alicehunter2000]

Paul, I saw the kid in PR make it with coconut fronds right in front of me. The strange thing is, why wouldn't he be using the Puerto Rican Hat Palm instead? Isn't the PRHP costapalmate very similar to Sabal palmetto? Does anyone know how to make a hat using costapalmate leaves?

[Alicehunter2000]

From the Northern California Palm Society website:

The Sabal causiarum, commonly known as the hat palm, is native to southwestern Puerto Rico; the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and adjacent Caribbean Islands. The common name; Puerto Rican Hat Palm comes from its turf of origin and indeed, the young leaves are harvested, dried and woven into hats and baskets.

Also, RLR palm encyclopedia states in the Phoenix sp. section that the fronds have been used for millenia for basket weaving and such.

[paulgila]

this is a mystery which may never be solved,akin to the abominable snowman,loch ness monster,& "who built the pryamids?".

[Alicehunter2000]

Palma blanca is important to the folk economies of Sonora and Chihuahua. Newly-emerging, unexpanded leaves called cojoyos, primarily of Sabal, are highly valued for weaving twilled and coiled baskets, mats, rope, and other items, and people travel considerable distances to harvest them. Sabal is the only Sonoran palm employed in hat-making.

[Alicehunter2000]

Ah....nothing like digging up an old thread that still seems like a mystery.....weaving with S. palmetto. I ran across this..from the Florida Native Plant Society...does anyone know this guy?

Palmetto Basket Workshop

Dick Workman led the hands-on workshop on how to weave a basket from one palmetto leaf which uses the stem (with the thorns scraped off) as the handle.

There were 25 participants. When asked later if there were too many participants, Dick said, "Well, if they had been fourth graders, it would have been great. Adults tend to overthink!"

[Alicehunter2000]

Check this out......http://www.fnps.org/conference/workshops.........seems that I am not the only one interested in basket weaving....lol..........2014 Workshop.........

[Dr. George]

  On 10/3/2007 at 3:47 AM, paulgila said:

i have always thought that those hats which everyone thought were made of palm products were actually made from "panama hat plant",which everyone thinks is a palm but really isn't.

i'm confused & i have only myself to blame

Yes, Carludovica palmata - pretty interesting palm looking non-palm - gmp

[Ken Johnson]

I love this post and I too have tried to weave with mixed success. I saw a high grade Panama Hat once that was folded into a tiny square and held in a small cloth bag. VERY nice! Coconut frond is durable so it is often used but any waxy leaf is a good choice....alba? Teach the kids? Cha Ching!