stiffeners


Pour small amounts of


stiffener into a working jar and refill as needed. This


helps prevent the main supply from drying out or becoming contaminated with fibres or colour.


PVA


Polyvinyl acetate, commonly referred to as PVA, is a synthetic polymer widely used as an adhesive and stiffening agent. It is typically sold in liquid form and is water-


based, making it easy to dilute and apply by brush or spray.


The effectiveness of PVA in millinery depends on its solids content – the percentage of active ingredients


responsible for adhesion, stiffness, and


flexibility. Standard craft-grade PVA, often around 12% solids, is too weak for hat making unless used in heavy quantities, which can leave straw or felt with an undesirable plasticised look. By contrast,


professional or industrial PVAs with 35–50% solids provide reliable stiffening even when diluted, maintaining the natural appearance of the material.


Different trades use PVAs with varying properties: woodworking adhesives


require high strength and stiffness, while bookbinding glues balance adhesion with flexibility. In millinery, high-solids PVA is especially effective for stiffening straw, paper-cloth (such as Shantung straw), and similar lightweight materials, and it has the additional advantage of imparting water resistance once dry.


ROSIN


Rosin is a solid resin obtained from pine trees. It is brittle, glassy, and insoluble in water but dissolves in alcohol and other solvents. In hat stiffening, rosin is often added to shellac mixtures to modify hardness, flexibility, and cost. A small


proportion of rosin in shellac produces a stiffer, more economical solution, while high-quality finishes (such as button-lac) avoid rosin for purity.


© the hat magazine


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