Balmoral #2 - Heather Brown

**usonian** · 17th October 12, 08:20 AM

(Balmoral #1 photos & notes here) Once again I used this pattern.

I wanted to make a less showy bonnet, and make it one size smaller. My head is huge but my first attempt seemed like it might have been over-felted a bit.

This time I used Lion Brand "Fisherman's Wool" in Heather Brown. Michael's stores carries it for about $12 per 8oz skein, and going by weight I have enough left over for another hat - pretty good deal with a 40% off coupon! Figure another few bucks for petersham ribbon for the band and ties, and it's a pretty nice bonnet for about $10 and time spent.

I went without dicing this time. Here it is after felting:

It was a good thing I went with the medium size; this yarn did not felt as densely as the other stuff I used. Even on my huge head, it's a tiny bit loose. I can just make the adjustment notch in the back a little bit larger to compensate.

More photos to follow when it's finished- I had to order more petersham for the band and ties, and I still need to make a toorie.

**David Thorpe** · 17th October 12, 08:25 AM

I like this one very much! Well done!

**usonian** · 17th October 12, 08:27 AM

Thank you David! I think I like the proportions a little better on this one.

**piperdbh** · 17th October 12, 08:27 AM

It looks good. I really like the Fisherman's Wool, especially the "white". It'll absorb Kool-Aid dye beautifully.
You might want to not put a toorie on this bonnet. Most of mine do not have them, and I don't miss them.

**tulloch** · 17th October 12, 11:56 AM

Really nice job. Looking forward to seeing the completed item.

**usonian** · 17th October 12, 02:16 PM

There are countless "how to make a pom pom" tutorials floating around the internet, but this one using a fork is brilliant in its simplicity and makes a perfect, smaller toorie:

http://www.eskimimimakes.com/2012/03/fork-pom-poms.html

**usonian** · 19th October 12, 09:19 PM

Band attached, and I fashioned a cockade with the help of this how-to:

http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/...-cockades.html

**Elf** · 20th October 12, 06:36 PM

Very nice indeed. The shades of brown have a dignified subtle effect that also goes well with your hair tones if I may say so. I can see this "working" on the street for daily wear. Keep up the excellent work.