tweed balmoral

[Theyoungkiltman]

I am making a b+w herringbone tweed balmoral. I have cut the band and the "top" but I need a pattern for the middle piece in between the band and top. Thanks and slainte!

[Benning Boy]

Balmorals are knitted and felted, and not pieced together. It seems to me what you're making is a tam, but they are both just round floppy hats, each could be called a bonnet, so the difference is one of degree, not kind in my books. If I understand you right, the piece you're concerned about is just a round piece like the top with a big hole in it for your head.

This describes the making of of such:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/sho...47152&p=599266

I've seen similar instructions on X Marks as I recall, I just haven't bookmarked them. There is also a Boy Scout site that has almost identical instructions. If I were doing one, which I'd like to do sometime, I'd line it with cotton or rayon or the like, and use something that doesn't itch as much as wool on the inside of the headband.

ETA: OK, just found this: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...shanter-58205/

Some how-toes Describe the exact same process to make an Irish Caubeen. Wikipedia says a caubeen is an Irish beret. If it is a beret, then the TOS is a beret, and further the balmoral must then also be a beret, but we all know the Kilt Kops say it is gauche to wear a beret with a kilt. Go figure.

[Theyoungkiltman]

Thanks benning, I thought that you had to offset it in order to make it "droop"

[Benning Boy]

look up Errol Flynn in Master of Balantrae, I think it's on youtube, for a swashbuckling example of what looks like a pieced together bonnet.

Oh, by the way, if you haven't done too much cutting yet, wash your wool in really hot water and dry it on high heat a couple of times. Yes, it will shrink, but it will also felt a bit. I used to have fabric for my wool shirts washed like this before having them made, mostly as a safety precaution, but it did make them washable, but I like the feel of the fabric done this way, and you'll never have to worry about the items not fitting ever again.

[Theyoungkiltman]

Benning, I did a test swatch in HOT water and it did not shrink at all or felt. It may have been pre shrunk. Btw I cut it from a sportcoat.

[brewerpaul]

I've made a tweed bonnet or two for myself and will include a photo and a link to the pfd pattern. I've just used tweed material that I have also made a winter coat with. These are a little different than the knitted and felted versions but with the right tweed they can look quite nice.

Link to the pdf file showing how to cut and sew your bonnet.

http://members.socket.net/~trailrun/...0construct.pdf


And a couple photos of one I made using some great old tweed I bought.






Best of luck with your project.

[Theyoungkiltman]

I like the multicolor tweed of yours paul, I have a harris tweed braemar like that. I am going to dye the tweed brown or tan because the white is a bit too much contrast for me.

[Nathan]

To build on Benning boy's point, military Tam O'Shanters are pieced together and would make a good basis for your tweed. They are very similar to Balmoral bonnets. I wore a TOS with my uniform and even with civilian kit from time to time though I now mostly prefer the Balmoral. In terms of construction, there is the top round bit, the middle band or body that joins at the back and the smaller head band that fits snugly on the head. The middle band should be sized so it can join the fitted headband to the desired circumference of the top.

Here I am in a TOS
rougehike5.jpg

Here is a pic of my dad and I wearing three piece TOS bonnets.
Rick MacDonald and son Nathan MacDonald in Highland Attire at Kingston Scottish Festival 2013.jpg

[MacEanruig]

I like that cromach. Those Tams look smashing.

[GrainReaper]

@brewerpaul every time I see those pics it inspires me to snag a tweed jacket from goodwill and make my own