I want to recreate this kind of texture, not so much on a hat, but more for clothing. It doesnt have to be perfect, because I realize that would probably include some in depth modeling, but it would be nice to find a way through textures to come close. Thanks for any advice.

I cannot answer your question  but I wonder if you  are going to be making a frilly Partridge Family shirt?

Cuz those are nice shirts!

I would have no clue how to  approach  this in the material room, but i was thinking that if you  want to avoid going to  a  real modeling program and want to stay only in Poser you could deform a few strips of high res square with the wave deformer- frerquency cranked up  high.