tartan flat cap help

[cryerelizabeth]

A friend of mine that is supplying wool tartan for a couple kilts I'm making has asked me to make him a flat cap out of the scraps... Does anyone haven any instructions or anything like that as to how to make one?

the tartan is a surprise to me... he told me how much he ordered, but not the name of the tartan, and I won't have pics till it arrives at my house.

[NeightRG]

I'll be watching this thread closely... If I don't get some guidance soon, I'm going to take a seam ripper to one of my (cheaper) flat caps, and make my own pattern.

[Whidbey78]

I'll be watching this thread closely... If I don't get some guidance soon, I'm going to take a seam ripper to one of my (cheaper) flat caps, and make my own pattern.

Before you do that check a couple of Targets near you. They're selling off last season's stuff. I just got a tan corduroy flatcap for $8 on clearance, and it's a nice cut and fit...on my dome anyhow. I thought about getting a second one to sacrifice for patterning, but decided not to. I'm kicking myself now. There were a bunch that were kind of a patchwork type pattern, looked horrible, and were only six bucks. They weren't fit to wear in public, but at that price they'd be great to get for a pattern.

[NeightRG]

Before you do that check a couple of Targets near you. They're selling off last season's stuff. I just got a tan corduroy flatcap for $8 on clearance, and it's a nice cut and fit...on my dome anyhow. I thought about getting a second one to sacrifice for patterning, but decided not to. I'm kicking myself now. There were a bunch that were kind of a patchwork type pattern, looked horrible, and were only six bucks. They weren't fit to wear in public, but at that price they'd be great to get for a pattern.

Not to worry - most of mine came from thrift stores for a buck or two a piece, and only a couple are even made of nice wool. I have one in mind that I love the shape of it, but the tweed is so obviously a poly blend that I never bring myself to wear it.

[flyrod6057]

I'm staring at this thread now..... I'm thinking of making a flatcap, too.

[NeightRG]

Just went for it - opened up one of my flat caps with a seam ripper... Looks like a really easy job, after the handfull of kilts I've made.
I'm free all day tomorrow.
Unless something comes up, I'll try to make a pattern (and maybe even a step-by-step on making the hat) tomorrow.

[Jock Scot]

Well alright, take a deep breath everyone (are you ready Jeff?)! This thread could cause Internet melt down, so before I go any further let me say quite clearly that if you want to wear flat caps with the kilt then, well, go ahead. But before you all go to a lot of trouble, consider this.

Just for your information, flat caps are not usually worn with the traditional kilt these days in Scotland and elsewhere. People do that is for sure, but it is generally not done. Historically, there are plenty of pictures to make the point, that flat caps were indeed worn with the kilt, but somehow they dropped out of use with the kilt around WW1. Why? I have no idea. Just being mischievous here, perhaps they decided that the mixture did not look right?

So moving swiftly on! In to more modern times the flat cap and kilt do not seem to march together often apart from, it seems, outwith Scotland. Now is this a misguided assumption that flat caps are "normal" kilt attire by those who are new(ish) to kilt wearing? I don't know, but it does seem that way.

So far I have kept this thread away from a personal point of view and backed up with information gathered from a specific question on head-wear from my F4T2(question 24) thread and long time observations, the flat cap when worn with the kilt looks awful and there are far better head-wear options available to be worn with the kilt. I also happen to think that a tartan cap when worn with the kilt looks even worse! Aesthetically in my and it seems many(not all) Scots opinion the flat cap and the kilt do not work.

Feel free to think otherwise as many do and just regard the above as more food for thought. Perhaps?

[NeightRG]

Jock -
I always aim to wear and promote the kilt as a garment like any other. It's not a costume, it's not a uniform, and it's not restricted. While some people waving the banner of "tradition" may find themselves striving for a post-prosciption British military look, others would scoff and say that true tradition lies fifty years before. And so on and so forth, going back half a century at a time until the birth of the kilt.

While I'd never wear a flat cap with a formal 8-yard kilt, an argyle jacket, knee-high hose, and ghillie brogues, I do feel that it plays quite nicely with a more casual 4-yard box pleat, work or hiking boots, mid-calf wool socks, and a t-shirt or a sweater.

My point? What's worn with the kilt has changed drastically over the centuries. Maybe flat caps have been out of fashion for a while because they didn't go well with other things that were popular to wear with kilts at the time - not the kilts themselves.

[cryerelizabeth]

Just went for it - opened up one of my flat caps with a seam ripper... Looks like a really easy job, after the handfull of kilts I've made.
I'm free all day tomorrow.
Unless something comes up, I'll try to make a pattern (and maybe even a step-by-step on making the hat) tomorrow.

That's awesome! It would be a great help since ive gone to the clothing stores around my area and can't seem to find one. Looking forward to you instruction

[tyger]

Well alright, take a deep breath everyone (are you ready Jeff?)! This thread could cause Internet melt down, so before I go any further let me say quite clearly that if you want to wear flat caps with the kilt then, well, go ahead. But before you all go to a lot of trouble, consider this.

Just for your information, flat caps are not usually worn with the traditional kilt these days in Scotland and elsewhere. People do that is for sure, but it is generally not done. Historically, there are plenty of pictures to make the point, that flat caps were indeed worn with the kilt, but somehow they dropped out of use with the kilt around WW1. Why? I have no idea. Just being mischievous here, perhaps they decided that the mixture did not look right?

So moving swiftly on! In to more modern times the flat cap and kilt do not seem to march together often apart from, it seems, outwith Scotland. Now is this a misguided assumption that flat caps are "normal" kilt attire by those who are new(ish) to kilt wearing? I don't know, but it does seem that way.

So far I have kept this thread away from a personal point of view and backed up with information gathered from a specific question on head-wear from my F4T2(question 24) thread and long time observations, the flat cap when worn with the kilt looks awful and there are far better head-wear options available to be worn with the kilt. I also happen to think that a tartan cap when worn with the kilt looks even worse! Aesthetically in my and it seems many(not all) Scots opinion the flat cap and the kilt do not work.

Feel free to think otherwise as many do and just regard the above as more food for thought. Perhaps?

I just have to laugh! Hehehehehehe.