re blocking a tam

[cable scot]

My mother found a lovat blue diced tam in a thrift store and gave it to me
It's old,has a little moth damage and the band is stretched out,but still cool.
I has been ill used of late and I would like to return to it some of it's former glory.So got any advice on re blocking or pressing an old tam?The lable says 100% pure new wool made in Scotland.

Thanks
Andy

[sydnie7]

If it's knit, here is a short description of blocking a tam. The same site has other blocking instructions for various knit items.

[cable scot]

Pics,





Thanks Sydnie,
The diceing is knit how can I tell if the body is?If the band is the body should be right?

Andy

[Mikilt]

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...almoral-57667/

I am not certain, but perhaps this can be of help

[Chas]

Does not look knitted to me. The diced band is knitted, but does not look felted, whereas the hat itself is felted, so I do not think it is knitted.

Regards

Chas

[Harold Cannon]

I think it has some character about it. As far as the band being stretched out you could have grosgrain ribbon attached to the bottom like a balmoral usually would. Then you could have an adjustable ribbon to take up the slack. A new cockade would be nice as well, maybe something in livery colors. As far as blocking and pressing I wouldnt. I would just wet it then put it on and shape it to my liking, then wear it until dry. Just my opinion though.

If you have questions about attaching the ribbon just look at my thread on how to make a DIY balmoral.

[Ryan Ross]

Aye, as someone with more experience here than I'd like to admit to, stretching your wet hat around a dinner plate is a really fast way to end up with sub-par results.

I'm familiar with that style of hat, and honestly, that particular one just looks like it is a bit tired.

[cable scot]

Ryan,
I'm thinking your right,the more I look at it the more I feel it has made the proverbial farm purchase.It's sad but true I think.

Andy

[Pleater]

If you want to stretch out the top part, dip the tam into warm water and squeeze it out, then put a length of fairly heavy power cable into it, with the ends held together with a cable tie - one of the adjustable sort if you can find one. Make the ring of cable as large as possible without it bending out of the horizontal, and make the join as smooth as possible. Leave to dry almost but not quite completely, then brush up the nap to disguise the moth damage as much as possible, put it on and adjust to the final shape, wear until dry.

The moth holes can be repaired by grafting - recreating the stitches either with well matched yarn, or a transparent or dull coloured sewing thread.

The band looks to have been made from a strip sewn together, so it could be undone and something slid into the fold to stretch the band in the direction of knitting during the wet phase of the reshaping, which will pull it narrower, as is the way with knitting. If it isn't possible to open the seam, when the tam is wet take hold of the edges, where it is joined to the top and the outer edge, and gently pull. Go around the brim inch by inch several times until it is drawn out.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Harold Cannon]

Well cable scot and I worked out a trade. I will let him post pictures of what he got but I am happy with lovat blue diced bonnet. I had more moth damage than I thought but nothing that I cant fix. I am about half way through with the refurb work and will post pictures when it is done. I am going for something similar to what the Duke of Argyll wears. It will have a red tourie and a black bottom band.

I am also looking about a tartan cockade or maybe just a black one??????