This hat needs Jock'd.

[MacKenzie]

Not being a fan of the Balmoral (sorry), I picked up one of these... http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1478&bc=no

Not bad to be Pakistani. Construction is good. Feels good. Price was good.


IMG_20141122_184639_865.jpg
IMG_20141122_184706_211.jpg
IMG_20141122_184728_110.jpg

But my gawd! This thing needs to be "Jock'd".

IMG_20141122_185030_215.jpg
IMG_20141122_185036_115.jpg
IMG_20141122_185221_410.jpg

[Dughlas mor]

Wow, looks like some serious jocking is in order. I trust you can find a stream nearby that isn`t frozen. It`s a pretty good looking bonnet, though.

[Father Bill]

The bottom of a bucket of water with a big rock on top of the bonnet does just about as well as a stream if they're all frozen.

[MacKenzie]

Supposed to rain all day tomorrow. I think I'll hang it out.

[Benning Boy]

No need to go all Druid on the bonnet, just throw it in a sink with some lukewarm water and let it soak a bit. Then lay it on a bath towel, roll it up tight and wring out excess water. Put it on and shape it and wear it until dry, or nearly so. If you want to speed things up, use a hair dryer. When done you can use a sweater shaver, or whatever they are called, and shave the fuzz of the bonnet, leaving a nice smooth finish.

Of course, many of The Lairds like to wear their bonnets Pizza Boy fashion, I guess it's traditional, so if you don't do much to the bonnet, you'll be OK

[ThistleDown]

I'm not sure who might be 'The Lairds' you refer to, BBoy, but most of us with years behind us just let the rain do the trick: wear the thing, squeeze the water out, hang it to drip, put it on the next day, squeeze the water out at the end, hang it up -- day after day after day. A new shirt is a new shirt until it has been washed a time or two, too, but I can't believe you really wash it, blow dry it and shave it before you first put it on. Come now! This is a head-covering we are talking about.

[Grizzly]

..... I can't believe you really wash it, blow dry it and shave it before you first put it on. Come now! This is a head-covering we are talking about.

The most sensible thing I have read in a long while Rex.

[Benning Boy]

I'm not sure who might be 'The Lairds' you refer to, BBoy, but most of us with years behind us just let the rain do the trick: wear the thing, squeeze the water out, hang it to drip, put it on the next day, squeeze the water out at the end, hang it up -- day after day after day. A new shirt is a new shirt until it has been washed a time or two, too, but I can't believe you really wash it, blow dry it and shave it before you first put it on. Come now! This is a head-covering we are talking about.

If one lived in a dismal enough place to let rain and daily wringing do the work that would be the organic, all-natural way to go about it. However for those living in more pleasant climes more expedient processes are relevant. Beret wearing US Army troops have been doing basically as I described for quite a while. It gets rid of the dreaded Pizza Boy look fast, and gives one the appearance of a veteran. Well worn US Army berets eventually loose their fuzziness in time. Thus, shaving the fuzz off to begin with adds to the old soldier appearance. All that remains is to let sun and dust do their work.

Blow drying a beret or bonnet into shape is no more a sacrilege than steam ironing the fell of a kilt into shape, as I see it.

[Bruce Scott]

As a long term Army beret wearer, I am pretty much in agreement with Benning Boy. The process I used over a period of 25 years in Armour (black berets) has been to plunge the thing into very hot water with a little added detergent to assist in the wetting process. I would then squeeze out the excess water and jam and the still steaming beret onto my head and give it an initial shaping before fitting the badge. If you fit the badge first it invariably ends up askew after shaping. Then it's back on the head to ensure everything looks okay. Once satisfied, toss the hat, badge and all, into the washing machine and spin out the remaining water. Then its back on the head while still damp for a final shaping. I would then wear it until dry. The Australian issue beret used to be a very stiff affair with a crown that was close to 12" in diameter as it came off the QM's shelf. Hot water was essential to gain the necessary shrinkage to achieve the look that we preferred.

[plaid preacher]

Canadian Forces is exactly the same. Take your beret home, rip out the the lining - it's too bulky to get a proper form - soak it on til thoroughly wet, shape and wear until dry. Not sure what the highland regiments do with their tams, but I think it involves a coat hanger.